Whitecliffes Fashion Show 2011

Rhianon leading out Jessica Grubisa

Saturday night saw the annual Whitecliffes fashion show held at the sheds on the soon-to-be-constructed Rhubarb Lane site on Wellesley Street. Second, third and graduating fourth-year students pulled together their ranges, their models, their sponsorship partners and as many cheering and clapping friends and family in the audience as they could. Jessica Grubisa, Yun Do, Madeleine Harman, Stephanie Au Duong and Creina Brunton stood out for us in the fourth-year graduating group - a very strong year for Whitecliffes fashion designers - whilst Trish Peng and Kido Den impressed us from years two and three. Showroom 22's Murray Bevan also impressed and should he ever consider moving on from fashion PR has a big future behind a mic somewhere! All images by Yasmine Ganley.

Madeleine Harman

Wunderkammer Garage Sale, this Saturday!

We always love a Wunderkammer garage sale and this Saturday, from 10am at Wunderkammer Showroom, 62 Ponsonsby Road, Ponsonby, it's all on. Half price, or less, off everything on sale, including Wunderkammer Jewellery. This sale will likely be very busy so get in early to the Cabinet of Curiosities...

BLK #15: On set: Karen Inderbitzen-Waller and Rachael Churchward shoot Dasha at Vanity Walk

OK, last shoot for BLK #15 done and dusted. Photographer (and stylist) Karen Inderbitzen-Waller teamed with Black fashion director Rachael Churchward for a shoot that was spawned in the restricted secretary persona seen in the recent Kate Sylvester show but which then grew organically in several directions.  In particular, the editorial explores some of the late 90's styling that Rachael championed for publications like Pavement and revisits the partnership that Rachael and Karen had in those days as a styling team. The shoot reminded us all how good that partnership is. Model Dasha (at Vanity Walk) proved that she has quite a future ahead with an assured performance for a relatively new model, whilst the creative lighting and digital direction by Delphine Avril Planqueel was, as usual, ahead of the pack.  Great hair by Shontal Healey at Stephen Marr using Kevin.Murphy and make-up by Shirley Simpson using M.A.C Cosmetics.

Designer David Trubridge leaves 'traces' on Hemptech fabric

Trubridge design - 3d and 3d

Innovative New Zealand textile company Hemptech began their business in the 1990s when hemp was revived as a credible textile - it was systematically destroyed by Du Pont and Willam Randolph Hearst in the 1930s as it represented a challenge to their own textiles and income - but as a textile option in the nineties it was quickly seen as the domain of hippies, potheads and people with very bad design sense. To Hemptech's credit, they realised that hemp was in fact a superior product but that as a fabric or covering no matter how good the product, the stigma remained. Success lay in the design, the art and the quality of the product would carry itself. Today Hemptech has gone way beyond the stereotype of cannabis leaf logos on sacky-looking bags to team with one of Aotearoa's leading designers, David Trubridge. 

Thom Kerr and Anthony Lister: Colab

"Colab is not just eyewear, it's art on your face" - so says the opening gambit of the snazzy Australian company's website. When Sydney-based Black photographer Thom Kerr collaborated with rad Aussie artist Anthony Lister and a range of Colab glasses, the result was nothing short of stunning. Thom's team of stylist Cassandra Scott-Finn, beauty genius Sinden Dean, producer Jovita Lee and assistant Sian Scott-Cash helped create this utterly vivid rendition of a special place where eyewear meets photography, fashion and art. Love it to pieces!

Sparkling Underneath - Pleasure State's Crown Jewel

The list of collaborations and creative partnerships with iconic crystal brand Swarovski is extensive but this limited edition Pleasure State couture Crown Jewel lingerie set really does seem like the perfect match. Only 500 Crown Jewel lingerie sets in exquisite jet black satin, Japanese leavers lace and embellished with Swarovski crystals will be available worldwide this Christmas and, in Australasia, will only be available from Myer Department stores in Australia. Having said that, at an RRP of $300 for the push-up Balconnet bra and $150 for the accompanying thong, it might encourage a few lingerie-loving Kiwis to make the trip over the ditch. Sexy and sparkly...  

Chucks, whiter than white!

After spending some time recently trying to wash and whiten our much loved collection of white canvas Chuck Taylors to find that a number of stains or marks remained it was pleasing to receive this wee film from our friends at Process PR this morning. Baking soda seems so obvious and was probably a staple Chuck-cleaning technique of the 50's housewife or the Mom from Leave It To Beaver but we quite simply, hadn't thought of it. Thanks Converse and Process, shiny white Chucks here we come!

Black #15 on set in the bush with David Shields

Kelvin at Clyne in Jess Grubisa

For once, it was not raining as we shot fashion editorial for an issue of Black Magazine with David K Shields. In fact, the sun even broke through a couple of times as fashion director Rachael Churchward and assistant fashion editor Jessica Grubisa styled up an eclectic mix of local and international labels. Greg Murrell, assisted by Lydia Mahon styled the hair in a Ryder Salon style using KMS California and Stacy Lee Ghin did the make-up with a little help from son, Freddie. The models were Kelvin, Seon and Evgeny at Clyne and Andrej at Red 11. Te Rahwitiroa assisted Mr Shields.

Black #15 On set with Russ Flatt and Kevin.Murphy

Today we completed our third to last shoot for Black #15 with photographer Russ Flatt and hair maestro Kevin Murphy. Kevin delivered six fabulous hair looks with models Rosie at Nova, Imogen and Bec at Red 11, make-up by Shirley Simpson with hair assistance by Shontal Healey at Stephen Marr. Fashion editor was Rachael Churchward. Here is the last look of the day, full colour Bec....

Black #15 On Set With Marissa Findlay by Yasmine Ganley

Last Sunday, as is becoming normal for a Black editorial shoot, our Black team battled the elements of wind, rain and a surprising cold for this time of the year, for Marissa Findlay's editorial shoot for Black #15. Skateboarding model, Daniela K from Czech Republic was a real trooper and gave us the strength and charisma needed for this shoot.

Fashion Director Rachael Churchward was able to explore one of her favorite looks, a combination of black, leather and bondage. Make Up by Amber D at Mac Cosmetics, Hair by Jason Chong-Li from Stephen Marr. Assistance from Michelle and Phoebe.

Black #15 New York cover girl: Gertrud Hegelund

We are excited to announce our New York cover girl for issue #15 of Black, Gertrud Hegelund. The Danish beauty, fresh from a stellar season on the catwalk, gave her all for photographer Chadwick Tyler, fashion editor Michelle Cameron and Black New York editor Valery Gherman on make-up and Shin Arima on hair. Gertrud recently appeared in the amazing Louis Vuitton campaign (above) shot by Steven Meisel. With our shooting schedule nearly complete, we are fully immersed in deadline and loving it - as usual! See you on the other side...

Inside Auckland's Coucou Boutique

Coucou is a new boutique located next to the lovely MADE in Aucklands Britomart Precinct. Coucou is an eclectic mix of beautiful vintage pieces and pretty things from all around the world. Brought to you by the same people behind MADE who’ve travelled far and wide to hand pick the best vintage and one off pieces they can find. 

Behind the scenes of a beauty shoot by 9-year-old Tyla Novak

We were shooting beauty for Black #15 this week with photographer Greg Novak when his 9-year-old daughter Tyla, a budding photographer herself, took these great pictures. M.A.C's Amber D came up with a fun, pop concept, Jason Chong-Li of Stephen Marr whizzed up the hair and Rachael Churchward styled the models Kendall and Ella, both at Clyne. There is something unique about the angles and aspect of these images, nice work Tyla!

Shen: Mary-Ellen's perfect circle

Life for Mary-Ellen Prendergast has been something of a circuitous route which is, perhaps, exactly why she has called her new label Shen. A graduate of Wellington Polytech's fashion school, she cut her teeth with legendaryAuckland designer Patrick Steele before spending two years working at Savage London and Top Shop stockist Poetic Gem in the UK. Upon returning to Auckland Mary-Ellen spent a decade at High Society as designer for the label Obi where she learnt enough to feel confident about starting her own label.