Something to add to the bucket list... WOW

It has been one of the biggest weeks on the fashion calendar in New Zealand. There have been double bookings, and busy yet beautifully dressed ladies rushing from one city to another. While ANZFW closed on Friday night, a whole other Fashion extravaganza begun: the 21st Montana World Of Wearableart™ (WOW®) Awards Show.

Once again Suzie Moncrieff and her team have created a Masterpiece. Every year, the Montana WOW® Awards Show never fails be anything other than utterly indescribable. WOW® is so much more than simply a competition, fashion show, or art exhibition. It transcends boundaries: a mix of art and sartorial styling all sewn together with a carefully selected soundtrack, incredible dancing and entertainment. 2009 was no exception, this year had the audience up and dancing in their seats with male dancers dressed in sequinned chaps and hot pants! Oh and I must mention the Topp Twins open the show with some comedy, and they do return with those sequinned cowboys!

Despite the spectacle and entertainment, it is the garments which shine through. How designers come up with such incredible ideas, and then manage to make them wearable leaves me lost for words. Each of the seven categories were breathtaking in their own unique way. For me, it was the first and last sections which blew me away: the Children’s Section ‘At the Bottom of the Garden’, and the Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section.

The Children’s Section, has always been a personal favourite of mine. Maybe it is a combination of the gorgeous little models and the themes... this year it was “At the bottom of the garden”. ‘The Dandelion Clock’ which won the section, stole the show, with its three little models replicating a dandelion blowing in the wind. And ‘The Daisy Chain’, which did not place, took my heart. I have a love affair with the hippie girl in me as soon as Spring hits, and this piece was so pretty and sweet.

The Avant Garde section is really where fashion and art collide. The pieces are revolutionary, extravagant and extrovert, but still stylish without the commercial reality and restrictions of fashion. This year there was a dress entitled ‘Afternoon Tea’ which had a cake trolley built into the skirt!! It really was a combination of the best things! Cupcakes and sweets in a gorgeous skirt! The Montana Supreme WOW® Award winner came from this category. ‘Lady of the Wood’, designed by David Walker a carpenter from Alaska, was a 17th century ball gown made entirely from wood. This dress was exceptional, looking so perfect, and as if made from some strong fabric from afar, yet up close the extreme skill and spectacle was clear: this really is a wooden dress.

While these categories made a mark on me, all seven were incredible, and each of the winners entirely deserving.

So although these garments were all on the catwalk, they won’t be making their way onto the streets as many of the fashion week trends will be. But as Annah Stretton, a judge this year mentioned in her prize giving speech, this is show that everyone should add to their bucket list.
WOW® runs until Sunday October 4th at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington.
For more information and full results see: http://www.worldofwearableart.com/

ANZFW 2009 - MY PICK: TWENTY-SEVEN NAMES & JULIETTE HOGAN

The champagne is chilled.

The designers are making last minute decisions and cutting the loose threads.

The goodie bags are full.

Front Row invitees are perfecting their outfits.

The media are ready for the onslaught.
The countdown is over.

It is Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2009.

Welcome abroad.

There are high hopes for ANZFW 2009. It is to be the best yet. The line-up certainly excites those in the know. The invites are both alluring and intriguing, from doodles on lined refill, to dream catchers. Fashion Week 2009 is going to stand out. Here’s why.

Kicking off with, “What is Your Damage?” , an off-site film installation from Lonely Hearts the week promises to be both fashion forward and entertaining.

It is Day Two, Tuesday, however which I am shaking in my stupidly high heels for! Cybele, Sable & Minx, Twenty-Seven Names, Juliette Hogan, Basquesse, Annah Stretton, Alexandra Owen, and Zambesi!! Oh My!

I am picking the combined showing of Twenty-Seven Names and Juliette Hogan as the standout of the week. Both are fresh New Zealand labels which transverse boundaries and hold cult followings. It is going to be an unbeatable combination of Twenty-Seven Names part rebel part dancer style, and Juliette Hogan’s sexy contemporary fashion under toned with a classic femininity. Juliette Hogan swept so many of us off our feet with her latest collection, and Twenty-Seven Names has left its cult followers gagging for more. I seriously cannot wait. It promises to be a collision of the most beautiful kind.

And Basquesse, with their signature of daring styling, use of colour, texture, and superb finishing make them one label I will be keeping my eyes on this year! Of course, Zambesi cannot be forgotten. Although this year marks the labels 30th birthday, they are anything but middle aged as they go from strength to strength. They have shown at every ANZFW to huge acclaim, and this year promises to be no different with an off-site show to end the terrific Tuesday.

Day Three sees the dark intellectual style which has become synonymous with New Zealand fashion continue from the night before, as Nom*D show first on Wednesday. Yet colour is promised with Sera Lilly’s show. The rising star of New Zealand fashion has a love of fabric, and flattering feminine styles, but always puts her unique twist on garments. Wednesday also sees The Carpenters Daughter show the stick thin models that high fashion is for real women with curves too! Trelise Cooper promises an intriguing mix of luxurious fabrics, and the quirkiness we have come to know and love from a designer who loves living on the edge of the world here in NZ. Day three winds up with a firm favourite of mine – Kate Sylvester, whose shows always create a bit of hype – this year entitled ‘Diamond Dogs’ already has commentators guessing as to the inspiration coming from Bowie, bling or both!?.

Day Four has the ghd New Generation Group show. Always exciting, fresh and inspirational. I am especially excited for Emma Ford Swimwear... amazing prints, colours and cuts are promised, and I want it all – it will be a good summer when you are wearing one of these suits by the pool! Stolen Girlfriends Club will undoubtedly leave their own stamp on Fashion Week, as has come to be expected of the fresh but cheeky label! And it would not be ANZFW without the Westpac Red Collection – a show which is planned with utmost secrecy, and always delivers! Last year models walked on water – literally, and this year organisers are promising an ethereal and out of this world experience!

On Friday there really is a mixed goodie bag to round off the week, we get Stitch Ministry, Trelise Kids (which will be oh so gorgeous, and cute and will leave us all clucky for the little models!), Federation, A*Muse featuring Pamela Anderson (an animal friendly range of shoes and casual clothes), and of course, I can hear you all saying where’s Karen? ANZFW would not be complete without Karen Walker and Huffer. Karen will be fresh off the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, so we can expect BIG things! And there is no question; Huffer will close the week in style.

Oh I am sooooo excited! And you know what, the wait is over! I can hear the champagne corks popping in celebration already.