1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo; 2. Jeffrey Campbell Agustin bag in blue and orange

The Hillier Hobo has the perfect classy-but-casual vibe going on; and the colours on those Jeffrey Campbell bags are incredible (plus, I’ve always been a sucker for a bucket bag).

3. Deadly Ponies Mr Mohawk. 4. Rebecca Minkoff Striped Cherish Mini Tote Bag in Black/Cream

I’ve wanted a bag by Deadly Ponies for years, and the Mr Mohawk has always been a favorite (albiet, a little impractical with its four fluffy tails!); and cute is this stripy tote by Rebecca Minkoff?

5. Alexander Wang Marion Bag; 6. Diane von Furstenberg Harper Laurel Bag

I love the structure in both of these bags! The Diane von Furstenberg would look perfect around the office, while the Marion on the other hand would be the perfect partner on midnight adventures.

I’m torn! Which one would you choose? Or do you have another bag in mind that I should be looking at(!)?

The omission of Karen Walker’s name from New Zealand Fashion Week was glaringly obvious… But it has lead to a lot of curiosity around her anticipated NYFW spring/summer 2012 show.

After trawling through the images online, I have to say… I don’t think many people will have been disappointed. There is a lot to like.

Karen Walker consistently nails the median between sophisticated and playful, while simultaneously gesturing in both directions. In this collection we see a number of KW’s signature prints (that number sits at around 14 – 15 different prints), with plenty of awkwardly-clashy shapes, prints and colours. These themselves included giant checks, micro dots, thin stripes, graphics, and vibrant florals. I’m far from covering them all here, you’ll have to check them out yourself for the full effect.

The feminine dresses were what initially caught my attention, and the prints, colours and shpes are nothing short of spectacular; The blues (above), mustards and maroons’ definitely hit the mark.

Printed blouses over prim skirts, and and smart blazers over printed dresses epitomize playful sophistication (and the colour of that blazer is beuuuutiful!).

Keeping in line with KW’s menswear influence, man-style cuts and boyfriend blazers featured prominently throughout the collection. While these pieces don’t usually do it for me, I found a style-crush in the more subtle man-style looks below.

I love this blue micro-dot print, although that is hardly surprisingly given my typical gravitation toward anything blue and spotty.

Honing in on the blazers again, I also quite like these two styles. Brown isn’t something I see regularly in a blazer. I also love how it’s been styled with short-shorts, a sheer top and turban. The white + blue micro-dots are something I’d like to see more of in my wardrobe in general.

The styling deserves a mention of its own. The patterned turbans look like a natural finish rather than a trendy after-thought, and the colourful bug-eyed sunglasses are something else.

I liked these shoes in particular, and colour-popping purses were often a nice finishing touch.

According to Style.com,the collection was inspired by the film ‘Taxi Driver’, which I’ve never seen myself, and plays with the idea of two of the films’ characters, Betsy and Iris, who represent two very different kinds of American Women. Betsy being feminine, elegant and aloof, and Iris tough and girlish. In retrospect, these characters come through rather strongly, and in my opinion stand for KW’s aesthetic rather aptly.

All photos: NYMag.com

MAC Opening Party (My version of this shot is of far poorer quality on my iPhone!), photo from Getty Images

New Zealand Fashion Week happened for me in a less then conventional way. I hadn’t planning on getting amongst it (having ~10,000 words worth of assignments due that week kind of killed that for me), but I somehow managed to attend the Moet & Chandon Launch Party, and the MAC Launch Party, make good on an invite to Andrea Moore, attend two of the Friday shows and hang around the venue long enough with a media pass to meet some pretty cool people.

Of course, I was also digesting fashion week vicariously through the fashion media.  Here’s a short-list of a few things that really caught my eye…

WORLD

The WORD show was, without a doubt, the biggest show of the week. In part, because of the live New Zealand’s Next Top Model finale, but also because WORLD is remarkable in itself. I was wow’d by the styling and luxurious clothing the fashion house sent down the runway.

 Photos from Getty Images via Zimbio

I really liked this floral print, modled by NZNTM contestant Rosanagh.

Photos from Getty Images via Zimbio

MisteR

I had the pleasure of meeting the designer-duo behind Christchurch based label MisteR on the Monday night, so I was really looking forward to their show later in the week. I wasn’t disappointed – it was a fantastic show! The styling was eye-catching with frizzy hair, rosy cheeks and rag-doll gingerbread men. The clothes were so sweet, with a good dose of stipes and plaid, with smart blazers and collars.

Photos from Star Canterbury (x2), NZ Herald

Ruby and Liam

Ruby debuted a new sister brand in their Wednesday show, as well as showcasing their main range. Liam offers something very distinct from your typical Ruby collection, with must cleaner, more modest and sophisticated looks. Bold colours, and feature details such as the shoulder-ties on the gorgeous blue dress (below) were a stand out for me.

Photos from Getty Images via Zimbio

I liked Ruby’s mainline as well, which was quite different from what I’ve come to expect from Ruby. I’m not quite sure how to explain what I mean, but rather than being easily put into the ‘cute’ category, the majority of the looks were simple and elegant. And while I wouldn’t usually dig metallic leggings, when paired with a pastel brown (?) coat they seem like a natural choice in accessories.

Photos from Getty Images via Zimbio

Celine Rita

My eye has been on Celine Rita for awhile ago, because this girl just keeps on ‘wowing’ me with stuff that I really like. I loved the combination of lace, floral and red velvet in this collection.

Photos from the A List

Photo from Celine Rita via Facebook

Stolen Girlfriends Club

At the top of my NZFW wishlist for 2012 is attending the Stolen Girlfriend’s Club show. The anticipation and excitement the builds around this show is something in itself. While this year’s set-up was pretty cool, with the models walking through a scaffolding structure, the theatrics were much more of a highlight. The models walked onto the runway in what can only be described as ‘garish 80′s prom dresses’ (Always, Sometimes, Anytime has some great shots), and then stripping the dresses away to reveal the AW 2011 collection.

I loved seeing the influence of seasons past, with mesh panneling and bell sleeves making a solid return. My favourite pieces were those that featured this black and white print (pictured below), and the killer coat on the right.

Photos from Getty Images AsiaPac via Zimbio

While this is just the super-short list, I was definitely impressed by my favourite designers this fashion week. And while I may have been taking it all in rather vicariously this time around, next year’s goal is to get much more up close and personal.

Have you noticed the small change in my hair colour as of late (hint: it’s a big one!)? Yes – I went blonde! I’ve been wanting to make this change for awhile now, and earlier this year I decided to make it make it happen. It did put my hair under a lot of stress, but thankfully my hair has since returned to its previously-excellent condition.

I have received a few emails wondering how I did it, especially how I minimized the damage. In response, I thought I’d share the process that I went through so that if you’re thinking of making a similar change you can learn from what I’ve already been through.

(although, I’m not a hairdresser and I cannot guarantee that by doing the same as I did that you still won’t lose your hair. If you have any serious concerns, please ask your hairdresser!)

1. I got it done professionally

When it comes to my hair, I’m a big advocate of leaving it to the professionals. I’ve recently started using a new hairdresser (Michael Kent Hairdressing in Takapuna, Auckland) and I feel so much more confident with them than I ever have with my previous hairdresser.

2. It took 2 goes to get the result I wanted

Blonde didn’t happen for me overnight, although this was hardly surprising considering how dark my hair was when I started out. I had an in-between period where my hair was partially blonde, partially brown and partially red, and I waited three weeks before undergoing the second round of bleach.

3. I opted for the protein treatment

It’s a (little) bit extra, but I think it’s worth it considering the amount of stress you are about to put your head under. Play it safe, it’s better to be out $30 – $40 than to be out of a head of hair.

4. In the weak that followed, I deep conditioned and stopped using heat

Actually, initially I went at my hair with a hair straightener for three days until I noticed that it was feeling like bubble gum in the shower. After a quick Google search, I learned that this means it is basically fried. I stopped applying heat immediately, and and deep conditioned twice that week, but…

5. I started using Kerastase shampoo and a heat protecting serum

…and it wasn’t until I started using Kerastase that I started to see a real difference in the health of my hair. I used two products, the Bain De Force shampoo and the heat protecting serum, Ciment Thermique. I totally recommend these products, especially Ciment Thermique which I religiously apply after coming out of the shower before I blow dry and straighten my hair.

Putting the initial stress, and a few still frazzled ends, my hair has made a pretty remarkable recovery and I am completely happy with the result.

If you are considering then going blonde, then I hope you find my experience somewhat useful, and GOOD LUCK. Life is too short to wish for a different hair colour when it is so easy to make it happen.

There are three reasons as to a lack of photos of myself & what I’m wearing. The first being that the auto-focus on my camera has miraculously stopped functioning which makes photographing humans a little difficult. The second is that I’ve bleached the hell out of my hair and am still getting used to how I photograph with it (yes, I’ve gone blonde!). The third is that I have three massive assignments all due in on the 30th of May (ack!).

I have had time to muse on my favourite shoes though, and though I’d go ahead and share as it’s been a good while since I’ve last done so.

I acquired these last Friday when I visited Moochi for their Dress Week launch. They’ve been attached to my feet ever since. They are extremely comfortable and pair especially well with leggings & skinny jeans.

I bought these when I was in New York, on one of the days spent loitering in SoHo until I collapsed of near exhaustion (jokes!). I’d been admiring these on the web for quite some time, and after seeing them in person I couldn’t say no any longer. They are heavy! Initially they’d fall off every time I tried to take a step in them, but gel inserts seem to have resolved the problem.

I’ve had these for awhile, but they are my favourite flats and I cannot live on heels alone (it’s totally normal!). I love that they come in black glitter which definitely compensates for their lack of elevation.

What are your favourite shoes right now? I’m willing to make room on my shoe-wishlist – so I’d love to hear what you suggest!

every girl should have a great wallet…

A great bag is one thing, but a great wallet is another. On my lust list for awhile has been a great wallet, and I was hoping to pick one up while in New York (a token of my visit, for sure).

I went to the Woodbury Commons this afternoon, and spent a good few hours browsing through store… after store… after store of high end brands and labels. We have very few stores at the top of the high end in New Zealand and let me tell you; it was a treat (the outlet prices didn’t hurt either).

I settled on a black Miu Miu wallet (and I was only too ready to throw out the old – I was NOT attached to it).

I expect it to last awhile – especially as a token of my (first) trip to New York (& the USA!).

Tell me a little bit about your wallet or purse (is it special, or one that just does the job)? Is a wallet something you’d splurge on?

New York Fashion Week Fall 2011 has been and gone – so I wanted to revisit it and hone in on some of the details. These are a few of my favourite things from the fall 2011 runway collections.

At Rodarte…

Full skirts in Rodarte’s prairie inspired collection. I liked the sweaters too. They looked cozy.

At Diane von Furstenberg…

I love these sunglasses, bold and an unexpected grey. I’d have liked to have seen them featured in the collection a bit more than they were. Backstage photo via Fashionologie.

At DKNY…

The shoes! This backstage photo captures them perfectly. I love those chunky heels, especially with the white cap on the toes.  Via Fashionologie.

At Kira Plastinina…

The leather shorts and the tucked in button up shirt in a pop of colour.

At Marc Jacobs…

I loved this take on the bucket bag from Marc Jacobs. The fall-inspired colour pallette, the fur, the leather strap.

Rebecca Minkoff…

There wasn’t much I didn’t like about Rebecca Minkoff’s collection. I loved the limited colour palette, lace, that incredible blazer, the hats and the right amount of leopard print.

On a more somber note: My heart goes out to anyone who has been affected by the Christchurch Earthquake that struck here in New Zealand early Tuesday afternoon. For those who do not know, there have been 70 confirmed deaths and 300 still missing in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck central city Christchurch in the middle of a work-day. If you can, donate. I hope that any readers affected by the earthquake are OK, as are your family & friends.

Perhaps in part to Kiwi-pride, I do look forward to Karen Walker’s appearance in New York Fashion Week. Regardless of reasoning, her fall/11 collection that walked yesterday was a treat. There are a number of pieces that I really liked, and the added inspiration behind the pieces had me liking it even more.

The collection is inspired by the Northern Soul scene, titled North, and this wouldn’t have meant anything to me hadn’t I happened to have taken a paper in pop music history last semester.  Thus, fascination with mapping history to the clothes ensued. Northern soul was an ossified scene, frozen in time and based on failed and rare soul, with a fast pace that spurred on all-night dance parties fueled by speed and populated by the working class until returning to their jobs come Monday.

I love Karen Walker’s description of how she captured the dynamics in this scene in the collection:

“I loved the idea of combining the three ways of dressing that went into the scene. There was this very working-class thing, with dockworkers’ coats and caps, and then the racer-back singlets that were worn for the more athletic dancing. And then there was the super-femininity of some of the women’s looks. They’d turn themselves out in their Sunday best clothes, with these full skirts that really moved on the dance floor.”

You can actually see this in the collection to (yes, I’ll admit that sometimes I have no idea what a designer is talking about), which incorporates a work-wear + sports-wear + Sunday-best mish-mash through floral shirts tucked into work pants, floaty skirts and grey t-shirts, work t-shirts and pants with beautiful royal-blue coats.

The pops of yellow I thought were very refreshing, and the long-line pleated skirts following on nicely from her last collection Perfect Day. They are also, not-coincidentally, perfect for swooshing up a storm on the dance floor.

Karen Walker consistently walks several gorgeous prints down the runway each season, and this collection was no exception. The icy-florals are rather beautiful and I can imagine this print being well worn throughout the cooler months.

Another look at the Northern Soul influence: Floaty, feminine pieces in the form of sheer blue fabric…

…contrasted against hard, working-class man-style pants and jackets.

What I didn’t pick up on was the fact that this yellow print (below) actually pays homage to the ‘patch’ culture in Northern Soul, adorned by the attendee’s of all-night parties. Karen Walker uses to motif to refer to her older iconography including the owl and the Runaway girl’s boots (thanks Issac!). Pretty cool.

Favorite Pieces:

Pleated skirts, the floral pussy-bow, royal blue coats, and the sweaters (preferably in blue).

On a side note, Beau Coops were, once again, behind the shoes that walked in Karen’s New York Fashion Week show. Hats are off to this winning collaboration, again.

Superette is the kind of store where you can’t help but be jealous of the super stylish ladies behind it. The boutique hosts an impressive line-up of designers, and amongst them are Bec & Bridge, Deadly Ponies, Stolen Girlfriends Club, TwentySevenNames and Wildfox.

Their online store-front underwent a recent re-design – a perfectly good reason for window shopping stalking. Turns out, I clicked on at about the right time – in time for autumn/winter pre-orders which meant loads of new stuff to covet in the months ahead.

If I had to put it down to two items, it’d be the Friend of Mine I Love Lucy dress and the Bec & Bridge Huntress Jumper. They’re my hands down favorites. Let’s see if I treat myself this Autumn!

I have been completely obsessed with bucket bags for awhile. I love the casual-luxe look of these, perfect for throwing the essentials into and slinging over a shoulder on the way out the door. I have black and studded versions, but next on my list are the tan and leopard print styles.

1. YesStyle Drawstring Studded Bucket Bag
2. Street Level Mini Bucket Bag
3. YesStyle Leopard Print Bucket Bag
4. Topshop Mock Croc Embossed Suede Duffle Bag
5. Alexander Wang Diego Bucket Bag
6. Balenciaga Medium Pampille Cross