We're being Teesed this week!

Everyone loves a good T-shirt. Like jeans, sunnies and sneakers they are a staple of our wardrobes unless of course you are a politician or Karl Lagerfeld. This week we received a few emails from folk who are producing lines of t-shirts for various reasons and thought we'd post our three favourites here:
This week Glassons continued their completely admirable support of the Breast Cancer Research Trust by launching the Cure Shop - the world's first store dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. Gotta love that and buying this classic Karen Walker t-shirt (above) is a perfect way to say you do.

Yesterday, Black editor Grant Fell was interviewed by Jennifer Weather-Centre for an upcoming bNet radio documentary series that celebrates the 30-year mark for New Zealand's greatest label, Flying Nun. Since founder Roger Shepherd regathered the reins there has been a quiet excitement building in local and international indie circles. A feature of the iconic-with-a-capital-I imprint has always been the arty covers and none is more iconic than this little beauty from The Clean's seminal Boodle Boodle Boodle ep. Barkers have been into this collaboration for a year or so now and good on them for realising the importance of the label. The 'Boodle' shirt (above) from the second range is on sale now at all Barkers stores.

Finally, as huge fans of the Warriors (yes, we are and always have been) we simply cannot wait for the NRL final this weekend. New T-shirt girls about town Anoinette Tahere and Jane Robinson (Bagabond) know the size of this love affair only too well - and as good Point Chev girls - have produced two shirts to capture the mood of the nation at the moment. This grouse Warriors option and the just-as-direct All Black option "This is an all black shirt." These are available from Bagabond directly and are selling like a hot Shaun Johnson run to the line, feigning, passing and scoring! GO THE WARRIORS!

Black #15: Paul Empson and Sam Ranger shoot Anna de Rijk in London

Anna de Rijk, Vogue Nippon by Inez and Vinoodh

The shoots continue to roll in for issue #15 of Black Magazine. Last week our Paris photographer Paul Empson jumped on the train to shoot in London with stylist Sam Ranger who took the latest Louis Vuitton range and styled up a storm on Anna de Rijk for one of our covers and an editorial. Dutch beauty Anna has long been one of the girls listed on Models.com's Top 50 that we're most interested in, love her, so strong...

Image: displacedbones.blogspot.com

Black #15: On set - David K Shields shoots Michaela at Portfolio/Red 11

It always seems to rain, actually, it always seems to pour when photographer David K Shields and Black fashion director Rachael Churchward team up to shoot fashion for Black Magazine. Yesterday was no different when we travelled to Piha and Kare Kare on Auckland's West Coast to shoot Michaela from Portfolio/Red 11 in a pretty, free-flowing editorial co-styled by Jessica Grubisa with hair and make-up by Nicky Paton at Angels Nest using KMS and Living Nature. To provide a point of difference and to suit the styling concept Nicky cut Michaela's hair short for the editorial.

Michaela will be familiar to fans of last season's NZ's Next Top Model as runner-up to eventual winner Danielle Hayes.  Of South African extraction, Christchurch girl Michaela is a natural talent blessed with all of the important model attributes; a great face, a body to match, a strong work ethic and excellent attitude. Whilst it is no secret that appearing on NZNTM is certainly no guarantee of a successful modelling career to follow, Michaela's (and Danielle's) very appearance in magazines like Black are proof positive that NZNTM isn't harmful either - as long as a model has the goods in the first place and the right attitude and desire to work.

Lui Hon: Whispering Roots AW 2012

We're fast becoming steadfast fans of Melbourne designer Lui Hon. His AW 2012 "Whispering Roots" collection is a yin yang thing of black-and-white beauty nicely encapsulated in these look book images by photographer Peter Ryle.  Models Ayor at FHM and Renee at Viviens are perfectly cast, hair & make-up by Blondie at Agent 99 with assistance from Rebecca Savva and Thomas Frimi. Hat's by Richard Nylon for Lui Hon. Shoes by Santini.

Wunderkammer, Costume National, half price? Sounds good!

Anyone who has walked along Ponsonby Road that possesses even the slightest note of sartorial savvy will know that this is the window of the one-and-only Wunderkammer store. Those same stylish pedestrians would also note they're having a sale of Costume National women's shoes, like those below - all half price! Just thought we'd bring it to your attention....

Backstage Karen Walker Spring 2012, New York Fashion Week

It warms the cockles of our Black fashion hearts to see New Zealand designer Karen Walker’s continued appearance, season after season, on schedule at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. Inspired by Taxi Driver, that most New York of movies, the collection bookends Betsy and Iris from the film as two different types of women that inform the range: “Betsy is feminine, elegant and aloof; Iris is tough and girlish” Walker told Maya Singer on Style.com. Black photographer Adam ‘Instant’ Custins captured some lovely backstage portraits on the day for inclusion in Black #15 but in the meantime here is a backstage teaser to celebrate...

New Faces: Boys at Portfolio Christchurch by David K Shields

Leo and Lyu Ishizuka

Prolific, itinerant and bearing his own special casting skills David K Shields just loves taking photos of fresh new faces. He recently travelled to the recovering city of Christchurch to shoot some of the fresh new faces at Portfolio Models and as these images attest, the city might be somewhat broken but the kids are still beautiful. First up, the boys, including 16 year-old twins Leo and Lyu (above) and in a post to follow, the girls...

Oli Stone

The All Blacks really are Super Heroes

HBTV: New Zealand All Blacks - all heroes from HBTV on Vimeo.

Pretty much every New Zealand kid knows that but kudos to adidas Originals and the Auckland-based creative team of artist Elliot F. Stewart, Qubic store's Frank Liew and Shaun Wallace of Eyeball Moving Image for turning that thought into a reality, or unreality as the case may be. This short film, directed by Liew and Wallace succinctly details the creative process of the talented artist as he interviews All Black greats Jonah Lomu and Dan Carter alongside rising colossus Sonny Bill Williams and Liam "Tatts my number" Messam about the type of super hero they might become. Stewart's interpretations are as masterful and skillful as great All "Heroes" would expect them and the accompanying limited edition Campus 80's sneaker created by adidas Originals couldn't be more apt, and desirable, than right now in the middle of our Rugby World Cup. Limited numbers of this awesome sneaker (below) available now at Qubic store.

NZFW 2011 - Key M.A.C looks of the week by Rene Vaile

Zambesi - Key artist: Amber D

As usual M.A.C rocked it across New Zealand Fashion Week with beautiful looks provided by artists like Amber D, Nicole Thompson, Fatima Thomas, Shirley Simpson and more. Here is a selection of our favourite looks shot by Sydney-based NZ photographer Rene Vaile.

NZFW 2011 backstage photo essay by Greg Novak #3: Workshop and Helen Cherry

Last Thursday night, Workshop Denim and Helen Cherry showed in the grand old dame of Auckland rooms, the Auckland Town Hall. It was the first fashion week appearance for the iconic New Zealand labels since 2005 and for fans of the labels and newcomers alike it was a welcome return. In keeping with a long tradition of artistic collaboration, Workshop's Chris Cherry took this season's collaboration to a new level. Max Gimblett is himself iconic in the art world and delivered a series of quadrafoils and skull prints that fit perfectly with the new Workshop Wunderkammer Jewellery range launched at the event. Gimblett, in town, and represented by Gow Langsford Gallery, even painted a couple of outfits with his trademark 'swooshes.' The WD range showcased the designer's flair with denim and openly embraced leather. Helen Cherry delighted her legion of fans with a modern take on her traditional thinking that referenced the past, present and future: she quipped on the night that the Helen Cherry girl was "well-bred but had run off with the band circa 1975." London-based stylist Jamie Huckbody added the sort of stylistic panache he has brought to the last few seasons of Workshop and Helen Cherry campaigns, the 40 strong model contingent was sweetly cast by Rachael Churchward, and Scratch 22 cleverly synched the music from several decades and the immediate future. M.A.C's international key artist Fatima Thomas lead a team dedicated to a very strong look and Lauren Gunn headed up the crew from Stephen Marr. These images once again by Greg Novak.

NZFW 2011 backstage photo essay by Greg Novak #2: Stolen Girlfriends Club

Stolen Girlfriends Club, complete with a cardboard cut-out Luke Harwood, put an element of surprise into everything they did at their show last week. The men's range was launched outside, thankfully the rain held off, whilst all and sundry wondered if they had seen the entire show only to be corralled into the larger shed for the show proper. Scaffold dominated the catwalk and the vibe was suitably electric before the opening scene revisited the famous McQueen backstage silhouette concept in red. The first group of models came out onto the catwalk wearing, well, prom dresses, only to stop and discard them on the catwalk to reveal the real collection beneath. Lots of fun, a heaving room, a little mystery, this is why we love Stolen Girlfriends Club. Styled by a very busy Zara Mirken (three show week) with great hair by Greg Murrell and the Ryder Salon team using KMS California and make-up of course by M.A.C with New York maestro Fatima Thomas at the helm backstage was tight, and right on the night. Photographer Greg Novak beautifully captures the backstage hair and make-up teams in action...

NZFW 2011 backstage photo essay by Greg Novak # 1: Jimmy D

A closer look at the make-up by Amber D, hair by Liana Coscia and styling by Chris Lorimer for Jimmy D's AW 2012 collection shown this week at New Zealand Fashion Week. Intimate docomentary photography by Greg Novak. Twenty photos...

NZFW 2011 backstage looks by Greg Novak #1: Jimmy D

Jimmy D returned to NZFW 2011 with a punkish, light and dark ode to witchery that celebrated all that is dark and mystical or the fire in between. "It's a Kind of Magick" signalled a strengthening of the Jimmy D vision, a maturing of the relationship with three-year artistic collaborator Andrew McCloud and simple but strong ideas from long time stylist Chris Lorimer. M.A.C key Amber D demonstrating her ability to put the 'artist' into make-up artist also continues to mature and Liana Coscia headed up the hair team for Fudge with a mix of braided and free-flowing locks. We'll follow this post with a documentary-style photo essay of the crew and models backstage by Greg Novak.