Bold and beautiful dressed to the nines
Fashionistas went for big, outlandish headwear and bold outfits at the New Zealand Trotting Cup Day in Christchurch yesterday. Women from across the country took to the stage over five heats vying for top honours at the coveted Style Stakes fashion competition. First-time entrant Katie Parish, 39, glided through the heats to take out the title of Best Dressed Lady with an outfit she designed herself. ‘‘I’m a wee bit shocked. I didn’t anticipate winning at all. I feel very privileged,’’ the Christchurch mother said of her win.
Parish wasn’t afraid to think outside of the box when creating her outfit, utilising recycled material. The dress was made with curtain material and the handbag had been a cushion.
‘‘I looked at my couch cushion [on Monday night] and thought it would work nicely with my dress, so I sewed it into a bag.’’
The striking orange floral headpiece was a bespoke design by Christchurch’s couture milliner Seventh and Figg.
Parish was joined on stage by fellow Cantabrian and Best Dressed Man Gunther Rowe, who has entered the competition for the fourth year in a row.
‘‘I won the first year I entered, then I had a lull, so it’s good to be back,’’ Rowe said.
Picking the winning man and woman were stylists Luke Bettesworth, and Jackie O’Fee, along with The Hit’s radio DJ Paul Flynn.
Bettesworth was blown away by the competitor’s attention to detail, saying he’d never seen a higher standard of dress at the show.
The popular body art contest was won by Design and Arts College student Daisy Tait. She took home the Body Art Overall Winner award with the help of model Zoe Phillips. Tait’s tutor, Angela Pethig, also competed and won the ZM Blend In, Stand Out Winner body art division.