NZFW Highlights 2019 — The Wardrobe

Your front seat ticket to NZFW 2019…

Last year’s NZFW 2018 was a hard year to top, with designers on the list like Trelise Cooper [Full runway and backstage coverage here] and Twenty Seven Names, it was a particularly important year celebrating twenty years of New Zealand Fashion for many. This year it was time for fresh new faces with the likes of internationally renown Maggie Marilyn, and a number of new and upcoming designers paving the future of New Zealand fashion with big contributions both creatively, ethically, and aesthetically. Here’s my list of the top five shows of NZFW 2019, based on show performance elements, presence, creativity, styling and makeup, and atmosphere.

Listed in order, below are my top five New Zealand Fashion Week shows!

Ready to rumble at NZFW opening night 2019, I’m wearing New Zealand brands - top + Hat from Glassons, Necklace from Karen Walker.

1. Kate Sylvester [Opening Night]

What a stunning show to open New Zealand fashion week’s first night on the main runway. Kate Sylvester’s collections are always a delight for me, both from a performance and aesthetic point of view. Last year we were dazzled with vibrant 80’s colours, and this year was a soft and feminine wonderland of old-school romance. The runway was scattered with hundreds of love letters, copied from a letter between Kate’s own grandparents. These set the scene for a delicately exquisite show, earthy tones in the pieces with pops of colour in pinks and reds. As the show began, large fans on either side of the stage encouraged the letters to swirl and dance around the model’s feet, creating waves as each model made their way down the runway. It was simply breathtaking and the audience was transfixed, watching the entire runway come to life at the show’s beginning. The ‘Love Letters’ collection is graceful and refined, with a charm and elegance within the shapes and the details.

Accessories were beautifully placed and thought out, leather belt bags made a strong appearance, emphasising the waistline and feminine shapes in the garment silhouettes, with lace handkerchiefs popping out from sleeves and pockets as a nod to an earlier era of the 1940’s. Berets were also very popular throughout Fashion Week this year, which is exciting to see as they have recently been a big favourite of mine also. Models styled them in various ways, either on the side or placed on top and usually echoing the colours of the outfits.

The makeup and hair was fresh and minimal, with a lush red lip. Gorgeous ruffled locks and graceful up-dos finished the look.

View the gallery below of my favourite outfits, and a glimpse at the magic!

Backstage at New Zealand Fashion Week for the Kate Sylvester Show with Kiekes MUA 2019

The finale of the Kate Sylvester Show 2019 ‘Love Letters’

Belt bags making a statement this year, featured in a range of shows. Kate Sylvester’s designs feature leather and lace.

Feminine colours, pink floral prints for next year’s Kate Sylvester A/W collection.

2. Maggie Marilyn [The Glasshouse]

One of the most anticipated shows of New Zealand fashion week 2019, the Maggie Marilyn NZFW show was a full house. Held in Mt Albert at the Glasshouse, it was a show unlike any other. Maggie appeared at the start of the show to give a fantastic speech, detailing her motivation for creating fashion that values sustainability, ethical manufacture throughout her entire production process from design to garment completion. Her passion is contagious, and infused within almost every aspect of the show with an organic aesthetic. Designed to emanate a Sunday market, there were gorgeous arrays of fresh flowers in many colours amongst the trees and foliage, brown paper bags filled with lemons, oranges and fruits, and the runway itself was even a legitimate grass floor! Hung up above us with pegs on a line were previous garments from Maggie Marilyn’s other collections, decorating the ceiling space like a washing line. The vision and artistry in the design of her show was incredible. The audience was seated in the middle and the models made their way around them in a circle, with the photography pit at the end overlooking the entire scene. In terms of the runway, I was lucky to get a spot beside the main photographer James Lowe in order to capture the models with the depth of the runway behind them, during their main walk before the turn. Scroll down to view the magic!

Below, view the show highlights from the runway and before the show detailing!

Fresh tulips, lilies and flowers creating a ‘flower market’ feel at the Maggie Marilyn Show 2019.

Details of the flower extravaganza at Maggie Marilyn NZFW 2019.

Grass for the catwalk, complete with daisies. Oranges and lemons in brown paper bags decorate the runway.

3. Hailwood

Adrian Hailwood continues to evolve and wow audiences year after year with his unique aesthetic of Hailwood. Always with that sultry dark undertone, the sleek and undeniably effortless pieces range from timeless day wear, to one of a kind evening garments like no other. Hailwood’s designs include a number of couture pieces, with influences from leading European designers yet unmistakably distinct. As a big fan of Hailwood from the first show I photographed a number of years ago, I love the direction that Adrian has taken his work, continuing to satisfy and surprise audiences year after year. I captured the magic both backstage and on the runway to bring you one of my favourite shows of New Zealand Fashion Week.

Below, view the show highlights from the runway and backstage!

4. Jacquilline Anne [Racewear]

A fresh new face at New Zealand fashion week this year, and a highlight of the week for me Jaquilline Anne’s work was beautifully classic, and full of colour. Designed for evening wear and the races, her pieces had a very strong Euopean feel which I loved, and garments like the one below combined a touch of modernity with influences from the 1940s. This era made an appearance influencing the work of a number of deisngers this year, and it was exciting to see. If you are looking for unique, classic and utterly feminine pieces this designer is one to watch.

Below, view the show highlights from the runway this year!

5. Paris Georgia

A name created by two women, Paris Georgia was a highlight for many. An ‘avante garde’ and conceptually clever show from runway to the styling, this collection took us on a journey from beginning to end with fashion for all seasons. Berets featured throughout this collection too, with belt bags and fantastic statement accessories contrasting with the unapologetic silhouettes and effortless drapery. Colours ranged from understated soft shades to loud reds, oranges and yellows not for the faint hearted or the pale skinned. Many of the pieces in this collection were polarising, nothing was watered down and so there were some garments I fell in love with, while others felt out of place there was something for everyone. Paris Georgia was a show unlike the others, and a refreshing new face for New Zealand fashion.

Below, view the full show gallery including my favourite looks!

Evening wear shimmer with this sophisticated look and tailored jacket from Paris Georgia.

Vivid, startling colours like this fire engine red in crisp silk dresses with beautiful drapery.

Oversized silhouettes continued, with white shirts and hats a trend many applauded and welcomed.

Timeless elegance melds with a futuristic feel in the final look for the Paris Georgia show 2019.

The final walk for Paris Georgia models showcasing the vast array of colours and textures throughout the show.

This year for New Zealand Fashion Week 2019 I wrote several articles with in depth, unique photographic coverage of my favourite designers, including international sensation Maggie Marilyn, Kate Sylvester, and Hailwood. You can view these in full from the links above!