Workshop BMW show 1: Takapuna

Gabrielle @ Red 11 and Levi @ 62 giving the thumbs up

Rhiannon @ August, Michael Whittaker @ Clyne and Lewis @ Clyne

Hal @ Red 11, Tim @ Visage, Elena @ Red 11

We love doing fashion shows - especially for clients like BMW NZ and Workshop/Helen Cherry, it's just so much fun. Last night we staged the first of four Workshop BMW shows to celebrate the launch of the new BMW X1 which is indeed a thing of beauty in itself at Jerry Clayton BMW in Takapuna. Rachael loved styling and mixing the combinations available to her; Workshop Denim, Helen Cherry, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Vanessa Bruno, See by Chloe, Twenty8Twelve, Hudson, Yours and more and the models and H&M crews from M.A.C and Stephen Marr had fun all round. Here are a few of the backstage images from the day/night. Thanks to Jo, Sarah and the staff at Jerry Clayton for being so accommodating. Tonight - Team McMillan BMW in Newmarket...

Black Fashion Editor Rachael Churchward and crew have it all lined up

Rhiannon @ August

MAC make-up maestros at work on Barbara Fiahlo @ Nova (above)

and Gabrielle @ Red 11 (below)

Here's looking at you Sherie

Happy Easter!

Today we have been shooting the Sherie Muijs Spring/Summer 2011 collection look book at Kingsize Studios. The collection is beautifully designed and tailored - and a lot of fun to boot; stripes, linens, the odd dropped crotch, strong silhouettes and of course, a seamless androgyny suggests the collection will appeal to existing fans of Sherie Muijs, and garner many new followers. Desirable, and wearable. All-in-all, another great leap forward from one of New Zealand's most exciting new designers.

Photographer: Russ Flatt

Stylist: Rachael Churchward

Hair: Greg Murrell 

Make-up: Karenina Jackson

Model: Barbara @ Nova

Olivia's Beauty

Most people will know Baz Luhrmann's 1996 version of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy Romeo and Juliet but a far more beautiful version was made by the great Italian film maker Franco Zeffirelli in 1968. The film starred beautiful actress Olivia Hussey and young hunk Leonard Whiting as a love-struck teenagers and left teens for a decade or so afterward, as somewhat love-struck themselves. We came across this image of Hussey from the film whilst searching for something else and were reminded of just what an incredible face she had.

Black 12 - Michael Schwartz to shoot Alana Zimmer for Black 12 cover

This weekend in New York, incumbent Black cover snapper Michael Schwartz is at it again with New York editor and make-up artist Valery Gherman and stylist Elizabeth Sulcer to shoot Alana Zimmer for the cover of Black 12. The Ontario, Canada native is something of a runway stalwart and has covers and editorials for the likes of V Magazine, Numero, Italian Vogue, 25 Cent, Numero Korea and French while her most recent campaign was Sonia Rykiel SS10. We love her strong, yet beguiling classical beauty. The crew will also shoot an editorial of Alana for our fashion section.

Who Dares Wins

Kia ora, apologies for the lack of posting in the past couple of weeks. We've just come off the back of an extensive shoot schedule for Black 12 - the largest New Zealand fashion component we have yet had in Black - and on top of that we've had computer meltdowns and the attendant new computer transfers to deal with this week. But that's all behind us now.

This week, some great news from the wonderful Impossible Project. Despite some technical and logisitical hurdles The Impossible Project launched the first of its instant films at an event in New York City on March 22 - attended by Black New York editor Valery Gherman. Several packages of the new film - described as offering "a new, broad range of possibilities, fresh characteristics and results" - are currently winging their way to Black photographers in New York, Sydney and Auckland for inclusion in a combined photographic feature in Black 12. This first film; PX 100 and PX 600 Silver Shade is nicknamed First Flush (after a type of premium tea with a rich and fresh aroma, picked in March) and is a black & white film - colour films are being lined up for distribution later in the year, up to 10 different films by the year's end. Each of the photographers contributing to our feature will also contribute one shot each to be included in The Impossible Collection, a gallery of work featuring Impossible films that will be housed in the Musee de l'Elysee in Luasanne.

Even better news for instant film fans is that the film is now available to anyone, online here at The Impossible Project shop. It will be available from selected dealers globally thereafter.

Black and Kingsize Studios are planning an exhibition of these works in May.

Black 12 - Rupert Tapper shoots Annabella

You've seen her on one of the lovely new covers for No 9, and you'll see her in Black 12 and a host of other magazines in the months to come because ex-pat New Zealander Anabella Barber is, in model agency parlance, "hot!" Sydney-based photographer Rupert Tapper and Black's contributing Australian fashion editor Paul Bui have teamed up with hair wizard Jenny Kim and make-up artist Diana Dusting to capture the moods of Anabella, undoubtedly one to watch.

Wellington Model Call - Workshop/BMW

Becky @ Vanity Walk in the Workshop Ponsonby store opening show, Nov 2009

We are currently casting for Wellington models for an upcoming fashion show we are producing for Workshop/Helen Cherry and BMW. We are working with the existing Wellington agencies but we require at least 24 models so Black fashion director Rachael Churchward will conduct an open casting in Wellington on Sunday March 28. If you, or someone you know, is suited to the Workshop and Helen Cherry brands as a model then we are taking expressions of interest. Please email grant@blackmag.co.nz with a photo of your face and a full length photo as well as providing your contact phone number/email and your sizes if possible.

Here is the criteria:

Women: 16 - 25, at least 5 ft 8.5 inches and over, size 8 - 10

Men: 16-25, 6ft to 6ft 2 inches, 31-32 inch waist.

The show date is Wednesday, April 14, you will be paid, and you would need to be available from 2pm until 9pm that day. Successful applicants will be provided with the times and address of the casting. We look forward to hearing from you...

Black 12; On set Beautiful Youth Day 3

Greg finals on Tas wearing Stolen Girlfriends Club and Cybele

Sakura standing by wearing Cybele

Emiliene hair finals, wearing Stolen Girlfriends Club

Ariel wearing Glassons beret, Juliette Hogan

Above: Greg and Jannine at work with Mary wearing Alice Howard.

Below: Black Fashion Director Rachael Churchward

having a thoughtful moment.

Russ Flatt shooting at Kakamatua

Same crew; photographer Russ Flatt, fashion editor Rachael Churchward, hair editor Greg Murrell and make-up artist Margo Regan, different location and models. Kakamatua is a pretty Pohutakawa-laden harbour bay just short of Huia on Auckland's Manukau Harbour where the tide goes out a long way, and comes in very fast. It's also a handy 20 minute walk to our chosen location from the carpark so Greg Murrell and myself now have extra long gorilla arms from carrying flash unit batteries, but it was well worth the walk. Jannine @ Ryder was hair assistant. Models today were Tas and Ariel @ August, Sakura @ 62 Models and Mary and Emiliene @ Visage.

Black 12; On set Beautiful Youth Day 2

Greg Murrell adjusting the hair piece attached to Frankie's brushed-up 'fro

Sabine in make-up

David; model, and temporary photo assist

Attaching (and removing) hair pieces is harder than it looks

Hair pieces, sequins and a little more fluoro sparkled in the bush at Waiatarau yesterday for the second day of shooting our Beautiful Youth story for Black 12. Photographer Russ Flatt and fashion director Rachael Churchward teamed closely with hair editor Greg Murrell and make-up artist Margo Regan to continue themes and stories over the two days of the weekend and across eleven models. Models for Sunday were Sabine @ August, David @ 62 Models, Michael @ Vanity Walk and Frankie @ Visage. Here's a few close-up images of hair and make-up. Day 3 this Wednesday at an obscure and slightly-difficult-to-get-to-beach...

Black 12: On set - Beautiful Youth Day 1

Rebekah & Rhianon @ August and Becky @ Vanity Walk

wearing Cerys Dallaway dresses and Karen Walker hats

Greg Murrell's finishing touches on Rebekah's hair

Margo Regan applies the brush to Rhianon

Margo draws a lip line on Becky

The trusty KW Resene Burnished Orange-painted

Converse with tights by Federation

Russ shooting Rhianon wearing Cerys Dallaway

Yesterday we shot the first day of our extended Russ Flatt/Rachael Churchward collaboration this issue: Beautiful Youth. Here's a few pics of the day although I missed the first flight of shooting as I was in town picking up the Habitual Fix for lunch but managed to capture some images of this, the second story of the day. Greg Murrell on hair, Margo Regan, make-up and Maxy assisted photographically. Models for the day were: Rhianon, Tyla and Rebekah @ August Models, Hannah @ 62 Models, Becky @ Vanity Walk and Chanelle and Alice @ Visage. Day two today, so will post some images later...

A NZ Fashion bible?

Blacklog readers, both local and international, will be interested to hear of a forthcoming book by Te Papa Press and Random House. Simply titled New Zealand Design the book is a panoptic overview of New Zealand fashion design by Angela Lassig (Senior Curator, History, at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa) with an introduction by Peter Shand (Head of Department at M.I.T and Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland.) Both have had a long-term interest in, and involvement with, New Zealand fashion; Lassig as a curator of numerous fashion exhibitions at Te Papa, and Shand as curator of fashion shows/exhibitions at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

It looks to be a serious resource as well as an historical document with a group of twenty five designers interviewed and profiled, and over 500 pictures, some of which are sure to be well worth seeing again.

The book goes on sale April 2010 and will retail for NZ $150 rrp.

M.A.C's audience with Gaga, Lauper and Osbourne

M.A.C have announced today that they will be launching their new Viva Glam spokespeople; Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper, with an online streaming discussion live in London this Monday, March 1. Sharon Osbourne will be hosting an 'audience with' the two superstars and the combination of the three women alone will make for interesting viewing. The event will be broadcast on a stand-alone FaceBook tab on the M.A.C Cosmetics FaceBook page and, if you become a fan of the page, you will be able to post questions for consideration by the flamboyant pair. The discussion aims to get people across the globe to think and act differently about AIDS, and in particular the effect on women and girls around the world. Fans can post potential questions on the page's wall with the preface: "Question for Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper" and a select number will make the cut.

Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper engage in discussion about HIV and AIDS for M.A.C Viva Glam, hosted by Sharon Osbourne.

Event streaming from 4pm GMT (4am NZ), Monday, March 1 online here.

FTV Designer Call

Fashion TV Oceania is announcing the arrival of the FTV designer Awards, an online award for emerging Australian and New Zealand designers scheduled for March 2010 - July 2010. Run entirely online, it's an opportunity for emerging designers to enter an award that comes with all of the attendant FTV coverage on Foxtel in Australia and Sky in NZ. The preliminary judging round will include a panel of selected sponsors and the public vote whilst the winner will be judged by a panel of industry experts. It isn't clear yet whether there is a fee to enter but you can register interest in the awards here.

We're Addicted

We're shooting fashion today for Black 12 with Vanessa @ Nova (above). Craig Owen is the lensman, Rachael Churchward is styling and Stefan Knight is in charge of hair and make-up. It's a good time to mention our latest addiction Habitual Fix, which is quickly becoming our catering of choice for Black shoots and for breakfast and lunch in general. In 2006 founder James Tucker enlisted the culinary help of Tim Benest and they set about creating something they felt was missing from Auckland; real fresh food, and fast. The pair spent two years prior to opening finding the best fresh food growers and producers in the region and opened the first Habitual Fix in Beaumont Street, St Mary's Bay in 2008. The concept has already proved so successful they have opened another outlet on Customs Street, near the Queen Street corner.

Everything - bread, pita, sushi, juices, salads, pitas, wraps, 97% fat-free smoothies, sandwiches, gluten-free options and more - is all made on site, on a daily basis, and it shows. The servings are large - if you wish - and cost-effective. In no time at all - we're addicts.

Habitual Fix:

120 Beaumont Street, Sy Mary's Bay Ph: 09 368 1273
Cnr Queen & Customs Streets, Auckland CBD Ph: 09 916 1178

Vanessa wears top by Helen Cherry and sups a Strawberry Pash smoothie

Sneaky Squizz - Black 12 - 1

Robert Erdmann is no stranger to shooting stars. Nor is Australian hair master Kerry Warn who was name-checked in the last issue of Black by Sam McKnight as a hair-dressing legend that had helped to create a path for sessions stylists world-wide. So when the pair got together with stylist Kimi O'Neill (Paloma Faith, Issue 11) and make-up artist Georgina Graham to shoot rising British pop star Ellie Goulding (above), the sparks flew on a shoot that looks so perfectly then, as now...

Carrie's Shoe Coup

Aussie-based Kiwi shoe designer Carrie Cooper is getting a roll on (or should that be sole on) in her new incarnation as head designer for House Of Last. Black readers will be familiar with her semi-eponymous label Beau Coops which have already been lusted after on both sides of the Tasman. Cooper's role at House of Last involves more than Beau Coops though and keen observers of Aussie label Sass & Bide's AW 2010/2011 collection at London Fashion Week over the weekend may have noticed one of Carrie's co-creations with Sass & Bide looking rather splendiferous on the runway. The shoe (pictured above) is Cooper's first co-op with the label and will soon be available from selected, hand-picked outlets globally. We love...

Black 12:Retro Zambesi with Vinnie out back

Yesterday for Black 12, we shot a ten page Rachael Churchward homage to Zambesi's 30 years at Mangawhai with photographer Marissa Findlay. Rachael styled up a Zambesi story based upon her vision of a label she has long admired, and it was amazing to see how completely cohesive this great New Zealand brand has remained over so many years. Shirley Simpson saw to hair and make-up and Zambesi Man's Dayne Johnston assisted Rachael in the styling department. It was a hot mid-summer's New Zealand day which felt beautifully incongruous and perfect all at the same time. Also beautiful were Ukranian/Polish model Olga S (62 Models/Chadwick), a Zambesi natural and our favourite boy in town, or out of town as the case may be, Vinnie Woolston (62 Models/Premier). We have been working with Vinnie for nine years and he just keeps evolving beautifully each year. Rachael cast Vinnie in his first shoot, for Workshop Denim's 2001 campaign, and fell in love with his personality, manners, and respect. His capacity to model naturally is unsurpassed in our experience. We think he is one of the hottest male models. Yesterday we were driving to a location in the truck and Vinnie wanted to ride in the back of the cab to "feel the wind on his body" - and that, in a nutshell, is what we love about Vinnie...you can't take Raglan out of the boy...

Black 12: Annabella Barber

Image: Capital City Pretty

Just getting high res images through of the amazing Annabella Barber - shot for Black 12 by Rupert Tapper and Paul Bui with truly amazing hair by Gavin Anesbury. Annabella is of course an ex-pat New Zealander who has been making waves in Australia through Priscilla's Model Management. Eyes, nose, mouth, hair (blonde in our shoot); pretty much everything about this girl suggests superstar...

Down The Stone's Way

"The songs have been written all over the place...in stormy corners of backstage rooms and rusty windows of old hotels in sleepy towns" say the Sydney based brother and sister duo Angus & Julia Stone. Affectionately known as "The Stones" the duo have been one of our favourite Australian acts since 2007's A Book Like This; a sublime collection of melody, harmony and acoustic loveliness. So when a package turned up this week with the new album Down The Way inside, it went straight into the drive and it has stayed there. They say the second album is always difficult (the band produced two EPs earlier; Chocolate and Cigarettes and Heart Full Of Wine) but Down The Way is simply difficult to ignore.

Mature, emotional song-writing, superb production and an undeniable sibling chemistry creates a solid platform, but it's the pair's singing which lifts the album to another level. Although the writing and recording of the album was literally a voyage (from an old sawmill in Golant, Cornwall to New York to Coolangatta, Australia) it is a seamless affair from start to finish with Hold On, Black Crow and Julia Stone's husky vocal on And The Boys and Walk It Off emerging as early favourites. Angus's palpable vocal on Draw Your Swords will strike a chord with fans of Lee Hazelwood and Grant Lee Buffalo among others.

Down The Way is due to be released in March.

Keep On Running

Having something of a proclivity for 7" vinyl we were pleasantly surprised to receive the new Parallel Dance Ensemble single in the mail this week, and it's more than just the charm of wax that appeals. Run is a lovely thing; a lilting groove punctured by stabby disco keys, produced, played and arranged by Danish musician/producer Robin Hannibal. The rap by the artful Coco Solid is everything her local fans expect and enjoy, and the pretty, floating vocal by the mysterious Bobbi Soxx caresses the tune in a way that would capture Sia or Zero 7's attention. Recorded and mixed at Red Bull Studios in College Hill the single with instrumental b side is released as a Red Bull Music Academy project, speaking of which...

Red Bull Music Academy 2010 is mid way through week two in London and as we've written before both here and in Black Magazine, we love RBMA and the relationships and on-going camaraderie it creates. Run is a perfect example. Here's RMBA radio.

Tiger Tiger

Boh Runga, in association with NZ Mint, has released her latest line of jewellery. 'Tiger' is a range based upon both her Chinese heritage and 2010, the Chinese Year of the Tiger. It's a sign of bravery, the Tiger that is, and was admired by ancient Chinese as the sign that kept away the three main tragedies of a household - fire, thieves and ghosts. The collection looks to be even more desirable, and wearable, than Runga's last and represents the first time the talented designer has made rings. The Tiger 'Lovecat' cocktail ring (above) bears steely sapphire eyes and heart-shaped ears and the collection also features the earrings, bracelets and pendants she has created so convincingly in previous ranges.

Recommended retail prices start at $315 for the ring, $149 for pendants, $169 for bracelets and $135 for earrings inclusive of gst (currently 12.5%) - all in NZ dollars.

Available from selected NZ Mint jewellery retailers and online here at NZ Mint.

Not so Neff

Over the past month or so Matias Aguayo has provided something of a soundtrack to the way we are thinking about Black 12. Me Vuelco Loca, Rollerskate and Walter Neff spell both house and pop genius but also sound independent of both genres. Ay Ay Ay!

Aussie beauty mate!

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Spring

We shot beauty for Black 12 at Kingsize today with photographer Craig Owen, Black fashion director Rachael Churchward and the make-up artistry of M.A.C's Amber D, her assistant Kiekie Stanners - and model Alexandra Spencer (62 Models NZ/Chic Aust). We loved her. Alex, both a quality fashion model and beauty face, is pretty active both sides of the camera. 4th and Bleeker, her blog, is registering an average 100 comments per post which puts her in the serious league of fashion bloggers, and it's a beautiful blog; she knows her fashion. A visit to the 'store' on the site reveals the Jeepers Creepers Jumpsuit, designed by Alex who also models the same garment over four seasons, a great idea in itself. The JCJ has had a fantastic response already and there are more designs and a possible production partner in the pipeline. She says she never wanted to force anything down people's throats but rather to have her ideas evolve organically. The evolution is well under way...

Strangers in Hong Kong

It seems a long way from Dunedin to Hong Kong but not for local designer Sara Aspinall's Company Of Strangers who have just confirmed a partnership with Hong Kong stores Ballet and Voulez Vous - with a third store about to sign. Aspinall, who was assistant designer to Margi Robertson at Nom D for some years, made the connection when she attended the Rendezvous trade show in Paris recently and the relationships mirror a growing interest in New Zealand designers from the region. This campaign, shot by Olivia Hemus also features the styling talents of another Nom D assistant designer, Charlotte Rust. More proof of the depth of talent stemming from NZ's biggest little fashion city, Dunedin...

Photographer: Olivia Hemus
Styling: Charlotte Rust
Model: Chloe @ 62models
Hair and Make-up: Margo Regan
Graphic Design: Craig Fraser

Online Lonely-ness

Update: Just had word that this site will in fact now be a web site for the overall Lonely Hearts brand. Still launching on March 1...

Those lovely, not-so-lonely people at Lonely Hearts are planning an online store for their range of lingerie Lonely - to be launched on March 1. In this day and age when women tend to know their size and shape shopping for underwear on the internet seems like a smart option. The online store will only sell Lonely by Lonely Hearts.

Image:

Photographer: Karen Inderbitzen-Waller
Styling: Karen Inderbitzen-Waller
Model: Corrina @ August Models
Make-up: Margo Regan
Hair: Matt Bens @ Stephen Marr

August's next top model #4 - Stevie

When Rachael met Stevie prior to this shoot she learnt that Stevie thinks outside the square, loves animals and is a passionate horsewoman. We also think she's a natural New Zealand beauty...

Photography: Stephen Tilley

Fashion: Rachael Churchward

Hair & make-up: Stefan Knight

Dress by Lonely Hearts, necklace by Wunderkammer