What do you do at Viva?I am writer and my job is to always be in on the hunt for cool new things to write about for print, social media and Viva.co.nz. Mostly, I write about fashion but my job involves a bit of everything, including curating shopping galleries, styling products, attending range viewings, events and more.
Where were you before Viva?I started at Viva almost two years ago. Before this I was the fashion features writer at Fashion Quarterly, and prior to that I was working in film production and was a stylist assistant. I had a stint in Beijing working at the Chinadaily.com, and had worked at TVNZ as a junior reporter and on the assignment desk.
What will you be doing at Fashion Week 2016?Lots of different things. Firstly being on the ground gathering stories, attending the shows and filing copy for Viva Daily and Viva.co.nz, and contributing to all our social media platforms.
What's the best part about Fashion Week? The best part is getting excited about what is coming up for the season ahead, and seeing clothes and hearing stories that you can't wait to write about and share with our Viva audience.
And the worst? Probably sore feet.
What's your favourite fashion week collection to date?I always enjoy the Stolen Girlfriends Club shows, from their Western Springs show in 2014 to their show last year at the St. James Theatre. Last years' Harman Grubisa collection was pretty glorious. I wanted everything from that range, and it was very cool to see my friends owning it at Fashion Week – thumbs up to Madeleine Harman and Jess Grubisa, who are opening fashion week this year as the Mercedes Benz Presents designer.
How did you get your start in the industry?I studied journalism and communications at AUT, made friends, hustled, I worked hard and often for free, assisting and styling on fashion shoots. That was kind of how I got my first foot in the door.
Favourite part of your job?The fact that I get to tell interesting stories about incredibly talented people that never gets boring and that no idea is a silly idea - you can literally make anything you dream up happen.
Least favourite part of your job?Deadlines. I mean they have the word dead in them and that is sometimes how you feel at the end of them – but of course they are also essential to getting work done and the feeling of hitting those goals weekly, daily, hourly is pretty cool.
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Advertise with NZME.What’s your second career option?It would probably involve living on a sunny island somewhere and surfing every day and inventing some sort of really, cool worthwhile product that helps people.
What are you favourite news sources outside of Viva?Vogue.com, Vogue Runway, British Vogue, Manerepeller.com because it's smart and funny, Tatler becuase they have some serious wit. I get a lot of information from Instagram, I love a good podcast too, like PanDolly or Women Of The Hour.
What's your weirdest party trick?Still figuring that out, but maybe the toilet selfie.
