STRIKE A POSE
– FASHION WEEK IS A GO!
Some of the country’s most beautiful faces and talented clothing designers are set to unleash their looks and wares on the catwalk over the next week.
The 16th annual New Zealand Fashion Week will get under way at the Viaduct Events Centre tomorrow night.
First up will be the most-celebrated Kiwi design label of the moment Harman Grubisa.
At last year’s event Madeleine Harman and Jessica Grubisa wowed the crowd in a group show. But this year they are not only the opening act, they are also the coveted “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer.
On Wednesday evening, Lucilla Gray is expected to get the front row talking. Those in the know told Spy they are excited to see this designer’s unique take on next year’s Autumn Winter trends.
Celebrated designer Adrian Hailwood will also be a must-see show on Wednesday, mixing the glamour of the catwalk with a touch of opera.
Spy understands operatic superstars Sol3 Mio will take part.
Thursday night is the Jockey show, and expect plenty of interest — from the media and the ticket-buying public — as Matilda Rice makes her catwalk debut for the underwear brand along with members of the All Black Sevens who arrived back into the country this week after their disappointing Olympic campaign. Huffer will close Fashion Week on Friday night. Afterwards the label will say a last hurrah till the early hours at its famous basement studio at 323 Queen St, a place that has seen many of their shows and parties wow the coolest of the fashion crowd.
Spy is picking Ashleigh Good — who famously walked pregnant in a wedding dress, with Karl Lagerfeld in the finale of the Chanel Haute show in Paris 2014 — to be the model to dominate the catwalk. Her brother William is set to make his debut on the runway.
Spy also revealed last week 19-yearold Boston Ridge — the son of former All Black and Warriors star Matthew, and ex-model and interior decorator Sally — will make his runway debut. The place to hang out and be seen over the next week will definitely be the K1664 lounge, overlooking the water and featuring an amazing bar designed by the team at Stolen Girlfriends, who show off-site on Wednesday night.
The coolest posse to meet are the influential trio of bloggers from Sydney; Brooke Testoni, Chloe Hill and Talisa Sutton.
Among the front row attendees will be a smattering of reality stars including Rice and her boyfriend Art Green, plus Chrystal Chenery, Gabrielle Davenport and the cast of The Real
Housewives of Auckland.
Other famous Kiwis set to attend are Colin Mathura-Jeffree, Jaime Ridge, Samantha Hayes, Nikki Kaye, Jacinda Ardern and Kayla Cullen.