Moochi news

The latest news from the Moochi team - fresh from my inbox. I hope all you Moochi lovers appreciate the update. And yes, you have read correctly - the famous Moochi factory sale is on THIS WEEKEND! It's times like this I wish I lived in Auckland. Oh well, if you're in the area and end up going, please think of me when you buy amazing Moochi sale pieces. I'll just sit here feeling sorry for myself! (ha ha). Happy Friday everybody!

Images: moochi

Topshop store to open in Australia

It's official... Australasia's first stand alone Topshop store is set to open in Melbourne by the end of the year! The store is set to open in December (just in time for the high season!), and will also include Topman, for the boys.

The Australian store is set to be similar to other Topshop stores in terms of stock and services, such as personal styling. Despite the difference in season, the group behind Australian Topshop are confident that the youth market that Topshop are aimed at are more interested in fashion than what is actually seasonally appropriate. (Embarrassing, but true).

This is probably the most exciting news I've heard in a long while! I'm heading to Melbourne for Christmas and needless to say, I will be making a beeline for the brand new Topshop store! I'm praying for a New Zealand Topshop sometime soon!

Images: Vogue.com.au, refiner29.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!

Henry Holland teams up with Le Specs

Henry Holland

British designer Henry Holland has teamed up with iconic Australian sunglass brand, Le Specs, to create a collaborative range of sunglasses. Exciting news, or what!

Holland gained fame a few years back through his fashion label , House of Holland, and his much publicised friendship with fashion icon Agyness Deyn. Holland's label is well known for producing 80's inspired T-shirts with risky catch phrases such as the infamous 'I'll show you who's boss Kate Moss'.

The collaborative collection is due out in September this year (just in time for the sun!) and will be available in selected stores for a teeny tiny $89.90 a pair. Although nobody quite knows what to expect from this collaboration there are rumors of floral prints and metallics being a key player is many of the designs; in line with what House of Holland has been producing recently.

Watch this space!

Isaac likes his new sweaters

The new Isaac Likes Branded Sweaters

One of New Zealand's most successful fashion bloggers, Isaac, from Isaac Likes, has been dabbling in the sweater design scene since August last year. The result of his first design collaboration with Katherine Lowe was the infamous 'Shawty Wanna Thug?' sweater that sold like wild-fire. Now Isaac brings us his second sweater sporting the catchphrase 'Thugged Out Since Cub Scouts'.

With the new release comes a much-anticipated re-release of the 'Shawty Wanna Thug' sweaters, along with a new range of t-shirts sporting both catchphrases. These little pieces of joy are available exclusively at Area-51 or online at the all new Isaac Likes store. Prices start from $60, but be in quick as these gems wont be around for long!

Choice!

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!

Good as Gold moves house

A sneak peak at the new GAG store

Good as Gold is well known by Wellington fashionistas as being one of the coolest little boutiques in town. And stocking brands such as twenty seven names, Therese Rawsthorne, Stolen Girlfriends Club and chronicles of never, it's easy to see why GAG has such a loyal following of fashion-loving customers.

The biggest news on the street this week is that Good as Gold has moved house! Yesterday they made the move from their well-known Victoria street store, to their brand new store on the corner of Victoria and Manners Streets. The official opening of the new store happened today at 12pm. Fashion-lovers from all over Wellington were spotted lingering around the store minutes before the grand unveiling, in hope of being one of the first few through the shiny new doors.

The new GAG store has enthusiastically been described by local fashionistas as 'SPECTACULAR!' And with three luscious levels, a super-cool decor, loads more space for new stock, and frigging awesome changing rooms (as seen above), it's easy to see why people are raving about GAG's new pad. And if you're not already convinced that you must go check out the new GAG store tomorrow or you will DIEEE, then try resisting a cool 20% of all shoes, sunnies and Cheap Monday jeans! But only until the end of tomorrow (Friday 27th)!

Good as!

fashion quarterly looks for the next BIG thing in fashion design

Jodie Webster, 2006 Winner

Fashion Quarterly's 'Young Designer of the Year' competition first started in 2006, and since then it has been giving aspiring, young, Kiwi designers a much needed chance to get noticed on the international fashion scene.

"It's not easy being a young designer in New Zealand", says third year Fashion Design student, Lara Lee. "It's cut-throat because there's so many young Kiwi's wanting to be the next big thing in New Zealand fashion. [But] the truth is that many young designers will never be able to make a living off being a fashion designer alone. A lot of young designers are forced to work regular day jobs and treat their design as a side project. It's really unfortunate, but just one of the realities of entering into such a competitive industry. Unfortunately the New Zealand fashion industry just isn't big enough for everybody to succeed, and sadly half the time it doesn't even matter how talented you are; it seems to be more about how lucky you are. It can be as simple as being in the right place at the right time. The exposure that a young designer would get from winning this competition would be invaluable in helping them to get noticed, not to mention the money!" Lara says with a laugh.

So what must I do to get this invaluable exposure?, you may ask. Well, entrants are asked to design a capsule collection of three pieces, of which one must be constructed and realised to a standard New Zealand size 10. The brief may seem slightly daunting, however there are no rules against using designs or garments that have been previously created for assignments (thank goodness for that!). As long as it is your own original work and it fits the brief, then pretty much anything goes.

For some however, not having the option to design garments for a male has put them off entering the competition. "I know a few guys from my classes that would have entered if they had have been given the chance to design something for a male." Lara admits. "But I guess, the female fashion industry is where the money is, overseas especially. It just tends to be more diverse because females are naturally more experimental with their fashion sense. I guess for this kind of competition, designing something for a female allows designers to have more options; creatively I mean".

The competition is open to all students who are currently enrolled in a fashion or textile design course in New Zealand, or graduates with no more than two years of industry experience. The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 to help launch their career, as well as exposure in Fashion Quarterly.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, especially if you've already got a library of your own designs and garments itching to be seen by industry professionals. I had a look at the designs of a few of the past winners (2006 winner seen above) to get an idea of what the general standard is, and was pleasantly surprised to see the diversity in what the judges considered to be a 'winning' piece. If you're unsure if you're designs are up to scratch I encourage you to just enter anyway. You never know what will catch the judges eye this year, and as Lotto has taught us - You've got to be in it to win it! (ha ha).

To enter email youngdesigner@fashionquarterly.co.nz for an entry form and conditions. Entries close Monday June 27, 2011.

Good luck!