From glamour to banger

Rachel Hunter says she likes comfort these days and is using a Honda Civic to get around Auckland. Photo / Natalie Slade

She may enjoy limousines and designer glamour in Hollywood, but Rachel Hunter has revealed a life more ordinary when she is in New Zealand.

After launching a collection of clothes for The Warehouse, the former model said she was using a friend's old Honda Civic as a runaround.

She also confessed to displaying "muffin tops" - areas of flesh that spill over the top of pants or skirts.

Speaking to the Herald after the launch, the former Glenfield College student said about the car: "It's actually not mine, it [belongs to] a friend of ours. But yeah, it's been fun, it's a great car to get around in."

And it seems Hunter can sympathise with those whose fashion budgets have been squeezed by the recession.

She told the crowd: "I always think comfort and flexibility no matter what ... it's so important right now because we're not buying how we used to."

Hunter, the ex-wife of musician Rod Stewart, identified the dark blue stretch denim jeans she wore as her favourite piece of clothing from her line.

"They're not as low-rise as a lot of the jeans are, for us who want to get rid of our muffin-tops," she said, to laughter from the crowd.

There was more humour when she was asked what the best thing about working with The Warehouse was. "Coming back home," she said.

Hunter said she managed to visit New Zealand once or twice a year but was working with manager Andy Haden to increase that frequency.

"It's something that I'm definitely wanting to do now that my kids are much older."

In the country for only a few days, Hunter said she would try to find time to attend the races at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday.