The Marr Factory 2013: A film by Veronica Crockford-Pound

THE MARR FACTORY 2013 from Stephen Marr on Vimeo.

During this year's Marr Factory at The Golden Dawn, we noticed a series of captivating short films for Stephen Marr being screened previous to the shows. The director of those films was Veronica Crockford-Pound, a director with a firm footing in both the fashion and art worlds. Here is Veronica's sumptuous black and white rendering of the week that was, covering all five shows; Karen Walker, Zambesi, NOM*d, Workshop & Helen Cherry and Kate Sylvester. Director/DOP: Veronica Crockford-Pound. Make-up: M.A.C Cosmetics Hair: Stephen Marr using O&M. 2nd camera: Isobel Dryburgh Music: The Conjurors "Our Love Is Dead."

Blacklog Editorial #60: David K Shields shoots 'Sauvage'

Tess wears: Collar by Lela Jacobs, top by Company of Strangers

He's back in Paris again now, but photographer (and Mr Prolific) David K Shields seems to have a never ending repository of shoots in his back pocket. Here, for Blacklog Editorial #60 David teams with stylist Chris Lorimer and H&M artist Dean P. at Green Apple Italia to shoot some of our favourite local faces in Lela Jacobs, Kiri Nathan, Jimmy D, Company of Strangers, Nyne and Kate of Arcadia. Models are: Lily, Rhianon, Tess and Jay at Clyne, David at Nova and Josh Skelton.

Blacklog Editorial #59: Adam Bryce shoots 6 girls x 1 Stolen Girlfriends Club outfit

Ashika at 62 Models

Photographer Adam Bryce keeps it simple on the styling front by using one sweet outfit from the fab Stolen Girlfriends Club 'Dirty Magic' collection but shoots six different models. Using suitably moody lighting, the black leather studded vest and skirt assume different meaning with each girl. He even convinced long time 62 Models favourite Lily Montana to don the outfit whilst she was home from Sydney on holiday. Love it! Photography and styling: Adam Bryce. Hair & Make-up: Sophy Phillips at Stephen Marr using O&M. Photo assist: Andrei Blidarean Models: Lily Montana, Eden, Felix, Ashika, Nicole and Amy - all at 62.

Lily Montana at 62 Models

Blacklog editorial #58: Thom Kerr shoots a key selection of faces from Dallys Models

Dallys Models - Left to Right
Rae wears Stouls suede vest @ Sans Peur Workshop, Han pants, Topshop Unique shoes
Josh wears Han shirt and trousers, Beau Coops shoes
Sapphire wears Farron leather & silk tank @ Haut Boheme, Stouls leather pants @ Sans Peur Workshop
& Kenzo boots @ Maryons Shoes
Angus wears Gail Sorronda tee, Lee jeans, Dr Martens shoes
Nicole wears A.F Vandervorst dress @ Sans Peur Workshop, Givenchy boots @ Maryons Shoes
Joel wears Han leather jacket, Acne trousers, Tods boots
Grace wears Farron blouse @ Haut Boheme, Stould leather pants and Cinzia Araia wedges @ Sans Peur Workshop
Rui wears vintage trench coat from stylist's archives, Lee jeans & Dr Martens shoes

There's something in the Queensland water. The north east state of Australia seems to be producing some of Australia's most promising faces - both new and established. Black Australian editor Thom Kerr decided to profile some of his favourite models from the area, starting with Brisbane based Dallys model management. Thom kept it in the family once again with local Blacklog contributors including Sarah Birchley on styling, beauty by Gemma Elaine & Ashlea Penfold and some very special hair by Iggy. Alongside these beautiful portraits, Thom Kerr interviewed agency director Jodie McLean about the philosophy behind the agency to get an insiders perspective. All the pictures were captured at the Elisabeth Willis studio with styling assistance from Nyla Jade and hair assistance from Angela Rallings. Interview and images to follow...

Sapphire de Goede - will soon head to Paris for her first round of shows
Sapphire wears Ilaria Nistri dress @ Sans Peur Workshop and Farron leather bra

Black Vimeo fashion film: I Love Being Me by Kimberly Clarke

BLK 19 I Love Being Me by Kimberly Clarke from Black Magazine on Vimeo.

For issue 19 of Black Magazine, Black Australian Editor Thom Kerr shot gorgeous Eva Downey at The Agency Models Australia in an editorial entitled "I Love being Me".  Here, film maker Kimberly Clarke captures the sexy shoot beautifully, and cuts to Edwyn Collins' "Girl Like You." Killer styling by Emma Read with hair and make-up by super talented Black Australian Editor, Melbourne, Justin Henry. Eva wears: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Zambesi and much more...

Kate Sylvester's new eyewear collection KS Sun

We are liking Kate Sylvester's approach to their new sunglasses collection.  Kate Sylvester has created three modern classics that not only look great but are high quality in construction, designed to last for a long time like Kate's highly successful optical line. The styles, named after three of the designer's literary heroes; Holly, Patti and Lux all feature polarised lenses and are all designed to frame the face rather than override it. The 'Lux' features a unique chrome nose bridge and smokey grey colour way whilst the 'Patti' modernises the classic tortoise shell frame. The sunglasses will retail for $345 and will be available at all Kate Sylvester stores, selected optometrists/eyewear stores in NZ and Australia, online and through Anthopologie in the USA. Here are a couple of shots from the campaign featuring New Zealand's biggest model du jour, Ashleigh Good (at RPD), shot and styled by Karen Inderbitzen-Waller. Lighting & Digital: Delphine Avril Planqueel Hair: Lauren Gunn at Stephen Marr using O&M Make-up: Amber D for M.A.C Cosmetics.

Deadline song: Life's What You Make It by Talk Talk

Every deadline we have a song (or twenty) that represents what we are feeling over deadline. This issue it has been 'Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk. Here's a sweet version of Talk Talk performing the song live at Montreux in 1986, because let's face it, it is...

JAIME LEE MAJOR: Backstage diary at PFF 2013 for her new collection 'Light Magic' by Thom Kerr

Tallulah Morton opens the Jaime Lee show

On Thursday evening the 12th September, Western Australian designer Jaime Lee Major premiered her new collection Light Magic at the Perth Fashion Festival to rave reviews. The collection features 22 insanely embellished hand beaded looks combining Swarovski crystal detailing, french lace, original digital prints and silk tulle. Held inside the city museum, top model Tallulah Morton (who features in our next issue) opened the show on a catwalk made of perspex mirror garnished with a floral garden set built by Rebecca Grace from Natural Art Flowers. The opening dress featured 200 metres of silk cut flowers and some of the dresses have nearly 700 hours work of individual beading. The inspiration behind the collection was based on the way in which light plays within the stained glass windows of the medieval cathedrals of Europe. The following is a brief backstage diary of the girls transforming for the show - with regular Black collaborator M.A.C. directing beauty headed by the calm and collected Carol Mackie and hair constructed by Brad Ngata for the L'Oreal Creative team. Look out for the next issue of Black which will feature an exclusive interview with Jaime Lee!

Underground Sundae "Hell" campaign by Stephen Tilley

“I have been to hell and back and let me tell you it was wonderful.” Louise Bourgeios likes it hot and so do Underground Sundae, the Dunedin-based jewellery company who explore the transient nature of life with their 'Hell' collection, a collection based upon the idea of transformation and destroying regular objects into 'works of art'. For their latest campaign Stephen Tilley shoots gorgeous new model at Red 11, Juliette Perkins in the 'No Tomorrow' headpiece and 'Hell Necklace.' Styling by Jojo Ross. Hair & make-up by Sky Cripps-Jackson at Stephen Marr using O&M and Becca Cosmetics. So cute...production by Process PR...

Blacklog Editorial #57: Thom Kerr and Justin Henry shoot Leila from Chic Management

Wake up and Glow foundation by Rimmel London
Ignite Extreme Sheen lip gloss by Hourglass
Clinique Chubby stick shadown in Pink & Plenty
Givenchy Jelly blush in sheer coral
Bitter bitch nail colour by Tom Ford

After recently judging the Face 2 Face makeup awards in Sydney, Australian Black editor Thom Kerr decided to shoot a bright lipped beauty story with Melbourne editor Justin Henry. The pictures feature striking american beauty Leila Goldkuhl in town with Chic Model Management! It's all about beautiful skin, glossy eyes and a strong hit of colour featuring some of our favourite beauty brands. All hair and makeup by Justin Henry and shot at Studio 501 Sydney. Pop!

NZ Fashion Weekend: AOK show photo essay by Ishna Jacobs

NZ Fashion Weekend provided an opportunity for designers to show what's-in-store-now to the public and fans of the brands in a relaxed atmosphere. A quartet of designers who all have stores or workrooms on Auckland's Karangahape Road; Hailwood, Maaike, Lela Jacobs and Jimmy D joined forces on Saturday afternoon at the Viaduct Events centre in a sweet coming together of clearly symbiotic style to create the A.O.K show. Lela Jacob's sister Ishna Jacobs was on hand to shoot these sometimes intimate, sometimes poignant but always beautiful images in a behind-the-scenes photo essay for Blacklog. As far as a behind-the-scenes portrait of a fashion show goes, we think this is more than A.O.K!

Black Vimeo fashion film: The Never Wavering Few by Delphine Planqueel

BLK 19 The Never Wavering Few from Black Magazine on Vimeo.

Delphine Planqueel captures her own unique take on Karen Inderbitzen-Waller's Black Issue 19 shoot 'The Never Wavering Few". Featuring 9 models: Ash, Dillon, Jay and Rachel at Clyne, Nick and Emily at Red 11, Lucas at 62 Models, Amberley at N Model Management and Shannon at RPD this film also gives you a close up look at Amber D's lovely make-up for M.A.C Cosmetics and Shontal Healey's equally perfect hair for Kevin.Murphy. Shot at Kingsize Studios and featuring the soundtrack of "Geology" by The Knife & Mt Sims.

NZFW 2013 - Stolen Girlfriends Club "Dirty Magic"

Situated in the sprawling basement of the Red Bull building Stolen Girlfriends Club once again showed just why the label has grown so popular with their Dirty Magic collection. The biggest crowd of NZFW 2013 surged around the criss-cross catwalk supping on Steinlagers and cocktails in the now legendary jam jars whilst waiting for the show to begin in quiet anticipation. Dirty Magic could be tagged 'grunge', 'boho' or 'punk' but to these eyes at least there was a healthy dose of rock'n'roll hippy as well, 'Got a Black Magic Woman' sprung to mind. Heavy velvet, paisley, and plaid chiffon added a tone of incense to the air but the soundtrack of The Dead Weather, The Kills, The Horrors and The Datsuns - who played at the after party - was decidedly more rock'n'roll/punk in keeping with the tartan and leather themes in the collection. Stylist and long time cohort of the label Zara Mirken added footwear and accessories to suit and several very cool pieces created by colab partner Fernando Perra straddled the themes within the collection perfectly. Oh, and there were hats, great hats! M,A.C supremo James Molloy and his crew created a stunning rainbow eye to the brief; "Pagan Punk in Inky Tones" and Greg Murrell and the team and Ryder excelled with several outstanding mohawks and vibrant, pretty brushed look across the girls. Of special mention was the sweet set design by Paris Kirby and Dominic Oldrey that did much to transform the concrete bunker status of the room into something more akin to 'Dirty Magic". Congrats to Stolens for an accomplished collection. All BTS images here by Sam Lee.

NZFW 2013 - Zambesi - BTS photo essay by Sam Lee

We were gutted to have missed this epic show by Zambesi, by all accounts one of their best ever. What a great concept to roll back the walls at the start of the show to provide a clear cut view into the machinations of the backstage show environment of the great New Zealand label. That the collection was wall-to-wall with elegant, gorgeous pieces adorning a brilliant cast of models only added to the occasion. Liz Findlay said in Black several issues ago that if she wasn't a designer, she would have been a stylist and alongside the uber talented Dayne Johnson this was a superbly styled show. Amazing make-up as usual by the Amber D-led M.A.C Cosmetics team and equally fabulous hair by the Jason Chong-Li-led Stephen Marr team. Sam Lee was there for Blacklog to capture BTS images.

NZFW 2013 - Hailwood - BTS H&M photo essay by Sam Lee

Adrian Hailwood is now a fashion week stalwart, his show always one of the most anticipated and always one of the most enjoyed. This year was no different and featured the talents of M.A.C Director of Make-up Artistry Asia, Mr James Molloy. James is a legendary make-up artist that can turn his hand to any style and for Hailwood he created beautiful lips in burgundy and fuschia that reflected a brief to suit the collection; "40's film starlets and 70's screen sirens." James' work will soon grace one of our BLK #20 covers with Ruby Jean Wilson shot by Thom Kerr. Hair for Hailwood by Danny Pato using Joico was suitably glam and to the brief. Here is a selection of backstage images by Sam Lee.

NZFW 2013 - Company of Strangers - BTS photo essay by Sam Lee

We were unable to attend three of the shows we really wanted to on Fashion Week's Big Tuesday due to the malaise of late Winter flu and all of its attendant complications but luckily Sam Lee was still on hand to capture images. Here is a selection of BTS action from Company of Strangers' great collection in the 'Underground' environment of the Sofitel Hotel's basement car park - such a welcome addition to Fashion Week in general. More of that please! Loved the styling by Charlotte Rust, make-up by the KieKie Stanners-led M.A.C team and rockin' hair by Lauren Gunn and the Stephen Marr team. All photos by Sam Lee.

New Zealand Fashion Week 2013 - Lela Jacobs

Photo: Ishna Jacobs

This might have been Lela Jacobs first showing at New Zealand Fashion Week but her show was put together like she had been there every year for a decade; suitably brooding ambient soundscapes courtesy of live act Tzar Behemoth, a great cast of models that bordered on eccentric, an element of choreography (yes, the sometimes dreaded choreography in fashion) which was pulled off with aplomb by the models, "glance off into the crowd about half way down then glance off at the people watching you on the other side again as you come back," a little circle at the end in front of the photographers, very strong hair and make-up concepts - these are things that many designers attempt only when they have built up years of confidence, bravo Lela. The collection, intriguingly entitled 'De' - a prefix - was as minimal yet complex at its name suggested with strong elements of construction, texture, layering and detail. The colour palette was unashamedly swathed with black, creamy white and shades of grey and accessories included spikey crowns, a must-have long hair 'necklace' that, in a styling sense, went oh-so-perfectly with the model's own hair and a variety of fine metal pieces by local designer John Troy O'Sullivan aka Abnumeral. In a visual sense the message was clear "de-centralize" and even that was printed in a font that seemed entirely suitable for Lela Jacobs. Also loved the painted finger concept. Make-up by the Caitlin Lomas-led M.A.C team. Hair by the Sky Cripps-Jackson-led Stephen Marr team.  All-in-all an assured and cohesive debut at NZFW for the talented Wellingtonian cum Aucklander. Great images here by Ishna Jacobs and Sam Lee.

Blacklog Editorial #56: Daniel Sangermani shoots Sapphire and Grace at Dallys

Shieltiel Mask Headpiece
Jessica Tovey laser cut dress
Christian Louboutin heels

It's no secret here at Blacklog that we lean towards things a little darker in taste. Photographer Daniel Sangermani discovered this abandoned burnt out house and couldn't resist creating a fashion story inside the lonely destination. Featuring Grace and Sapphire from Dallys with fashion by Kymberly Louise, the two girls explore the space and these pictures are the final results. Beauty by Carla Sakrzewskie at Arc and Hair by Reichen Hodson at Hare's Hair. 

Sapphire wears Shieltiel Calamba gown
Grace wears George Wu gown
Both wearing Miss ShowPony veil

The Marr Factory 2013 - Thursday - Kate Sylvester

Photo: David K Shields

The final day of The Marr Factory saw Kate Sylvester revisit one of the most iconic, nay, immortal fashion shots of all time, the William Travilla dress which Marilyn Munroe famously wore over the wind-blown grate in the 1955 film, The Seven Year Itch. Kate Sylvester's Wayne Conway spent some time building a podium with built-in fan to ensure the many beautiful dresses of Kate's latest collection were given plenty of air and added a spotlight to give the podium moment a filmic treatment. The result was a perfect finish to a great week of shows. The styling by Karen Inderbitzen-Waller was, as always, gorgeous, hair by Lauren Gunn and the Stephen Marr team was suitably flowing and beautiful and Amber D and the M.A.C team created a strong eye befitting a Marilyn moment from 1955. After a long week, all of the show models delivered their own version of that moment when Marilyn said, "Ooh, do you feel the breeze from the subway?" Priceless. All podium shots here by David K Shields, all other shots from the hard working and creative Oliver Rose.

Photo: Oliver Rose