The Avant/Garde Diaries

Earlier this month Berlin hosted a festival of innovation called 'The Avant/Garde Diaries'. Eleven artists contributed to one exhibition that set out to define what our society considers to be ahead of it's time or Avant-Garde. This is one exhibition that I honestly wish I could have been there to see! It looks like it was just absolutely mind blowing.

Not only does the exhibition itself look amazing, but the people that went to the exhibition too, are something to look at in themselves. I love the fact that fashionable people are always attracted to all things avant-garde, and this is shown in the fact that many photographers had a heck of a time taking the most amazing street style photos at the exhibition. Above are some of my favourites.

Click here to read more about 'The Avant/Garde Diaries'.

Images: anywho

Alexa Chung at Glastonbury 2011

While we're on the subject of the recent Glastonbury festival, I thought I'd share these pictures of the beautiful Alexa Chung at the festival the other day. I love everything about Alexa Chung's style at the festival, but my favourite is the fourth look - loving the hat! Very inspiring indeed.

Images: http://alexachungblog.tumblr.com/

Good as Gold is having a party at their new store

A few weeks ago I wrote about the opening of Good as Golds new store on the corner of manners and Victoria Streets. For those of you who haven't had a chance to go in for a looksie yet, here are some pictures of the amazing new three-storied store. The thing I love most about GAG's new home is the tree-house feel it has to it. Stepping into it is almost like stepping into another world where childhood fun is mixed with amazing fashion (possibly the best combination ever!).

If you are yet to see the new store, then tonight is the perfect chance. The team from Good as Gold are throwing a wee party tonight. It kicks off at 7pm and there will be a generous supply of free beverages to top off the festivities.

For more information check out Good as Golds facebook page.

See you there!

Karen brings ballet into fashion

Illustrations of some of Karen Walker's designs for the Royal New Zealand Ballet

New Zealand icon and longtime fashion designer, Karen Walker, is well known for her ability to design effortlessly cool clothing, and for her unique fashion point of view. But when it was announced that Walker was going to design the costumes for the Royal New Zealand Ballet's production of 'Satisfied with Great Success' (part of the Stravinsky triple bill), Karen fans went into frenzies of excitement.

"What I loved about Stravinsky's original approach to ballet is that he casualised ballet by bring real clothes into it", Karen comments. "That idea of high/low and contrasts is very much in line with how we approach fashion, so we felt there were some parallels there that we wanted to work with."

It is clear that Walker drew inspiration for her designs from her current collection 'Perfect Day', with her modern gray and yellow 'tutu' (pictured above) closely resembling many of her current collections pieces - in both colour and style. The non-traditional style of her designs is a result of choreographer, Cameron McMillan, stating that for this ballet he did not want 'costuming'; but instead something modern, wearable and fresh. "He came to us because we're not costume designers" Walker explains. "My idea was to create a product that could live with ease, on and off the stage."

Performances of the Stravinsky triple bill started on May 20th and will go until June 9th. So far Karen fans have been thrilled with the show, many commenting that her modern designs seemed to make the ballet so modern, fresh and accessible. "I think a lot of the time ballet seems so inaccessible to the general public, as many think that it is reserved for the social elite of our communities" says Wellington dance teacher, Fiona Kent. "I really commend Karen for going where many designers never go and branching into costume design. It seems that people are going to see the show because they feel like they can since Karen's designing the costumes; especially fashion people. Society no longer responds to the snooty, intimidating environments of some traditional ballets. By making the costumes more casual, a wider variety of people are more likely to come and see the show. It's innovative really."

With two more cities to go, and numerous shows still to be performed, there is still plenty of time to see Karen Walkers designs on stage. Show and ticketing info is available at the Royal New Zealand Ballet website. Believe me, you wont be disappointed.

Good on you Karen!