Kiwi couture gets plug on red carpet
BETH ARKO-SAINDON will be promoting Kiwi couture when she takes to the red carpet twice this month.
Husband Eric Saindon, a Weta Digital visual effects supervisor, is one of four people nominated for an Oscar for their work on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Ms Arko-Saindon will be wearing velvet creations by Wellington designer Alison Blain for the Bafta Awards in London next week and the Academy Awards in Los Angeles later this month.
‘‘I love both of them. I prefer to support local designers over buying off the rack in the States,’’ the mother of three said yesterday at her final dress fitting.
She will wear a black velvet top and skirt with a side split to the Baftas, and a fluted pinot velvet dress to the Oscars.
Daughter Waverly was a fan of the black design, but was quick to add that her mum looked pretty in the pinot gown.
The 8-year-old got to try on the black outfit yesterday, though it was a little big. ‘‘I kind of like this one because it’s in two parts and got the split so, if she has to walk a lot, she can, like, get some air.’’
Ms Arko-Saindon first attended the Oscars three years ago, when her husband was nominated for his work on Avatar. ‘‘We were starstruck. I was following Robert Downey Jr the whole time so that I could find us in pictures. It’s a circus, it’s kind of surreal – just wild.’’
Dresses designed by Wellington’s Sophie Voon will also be seen on the red carpet, worn by the partners of two other Oscar-nominated Weta Digital visual effects supervisors.
Katherine Hurst will attend the Academy Awards, wearing a turquoise lace gown, with partner Martin Hill, who is nominated for his work on Prometheus.
Jenny Bloomfield will be wearing Voon designs to the Baftas and Oscars with husband Chris White, who is nominated for his work on The Hobbit.