KEY POINTS:
Each year the Verge Breakthrough Show plunges a handful of new designers into the depths of Air New Zealand Fashion Week.
This group show, generously sponsored by manufacturing giant Verge, kindly gives up-and-coming designers the opportunity to take centre stage.
This year, it was newcomer Emma Wallace who really hit the spot for me.
Of the five newcomers on show, it was the Emma collection that seemed to me to be: the most adult, most pulled together and presented as a succession of garments that looked like a polished collection. Watch this space as only good things can follow.
ON MY SHOPPING LIST: The oily grey leather-like shirt dress. Sultry meets demure - all in the one package
STYLING NOTE: Team a grey knit dress with red-riding hood tights. I loved this look so much I'm going to try passing it off as my own.
TREND TO WATCH: Quirky knits teamed with floral print frocks.
JUST PLAIN CLEVER: Crafty styling saw models wear opaque tights OVER their shoes. Totally impractical but it looked hot, hot, hot on the runway.
NOT SO HOT: The use of home-spun mufflers to accessorise. Less is more, less is more!
Click here for photos.
