Deadline looms and projects are firing up (not to mention a backlash from NZFW) so there hasn't been much time to blog lately. Here is a tweet I saw of Imogen Heap, showing the beginnings of a score she is working on for the documentary film The Happiest Place. I love how it is more of a doodle of ideas and impressions rather than formalistic notation at this stage.

@imogenheap: Beginnings of score writing process for @HappiestFilm :) http://instagr.am/p/PweI8VFEL0/ 

Now that all of that fashion business is over, let's move onto something more architectural and reorientate ourselves... or not.

To conclude Fashion Week, Sunday was a strange mix of last minute activity and packing up. A bit of fresh stock for the Designer Sale and the last lot of weekend shows. We shot the last of the Designer Selection Shows (been to 5 of them, and all exactly the same!) and tried to get a better angle. Some of us even got a few goodie bags for our efforts.

Once again, the shows were more about entertainment than hard fashion:

Moochi


A medium calibre fashion label, Moochi launched their new brand with this show. A live performance by singer Tali opened the show with high spirits and an explanation of their new kiss-kiss logo.

Popping colours and prints really stood out in this collection. Moochi is also the more public-friendly and accessible brands there too which is why they were put in the weekend.

Servilles Hair Show

Starting off with a powerful taiko drumming performance, the rest of the show was dominated by large costumey hair pieces and colourful bob cuts. I was expecting a lot of sculptural hair work which would show off Servilles' skill but it wasn't really about that. I don't really know what it was about other than being a dramatic statement show.

Day 3 under my belt at New Zealand Fashion Week - 12pm to 9pm, a day of amazing shows. I missed out on the Taylor show though (apparently it was a lot of floaty chiffon) because I had a chance encounter with two ladies at the wine bar.

It was the first NZFW experience for all three of us, and they had been wanting to experience NZFW for years! One was an artist who was preparing to exhibit in Paris, the other was with Karen Elizabeth, a stylist for Andrea Moore. It made me realise what a huge opportunity shooting at the all the shows was. Some of the shows are very pricey to get into, if at all.

After a drink together, we parted ways at the Annah Stretton show, which was a world of its own. I really like these sorts of encounters.. I seem to attract/encourage them a little. Like that time in London.

Stolen Girlfriends Club

They got everyone to get our their mobile phones and light them up,  a wee bit of crowd interaction.

Another off-site show, this time in a grungy carpark in Ponsonby. I had a friend who commented that everyone attending the show was "painfully indie" and it did seem to be the most alternative-gone-hipster-gone-mainstream thing I had ever seen. The setting and lighting design was very evocative of SGC style though (albeit a real pain to take photos of) and you could really feel the banal carpark architecture relivened for this catwalk.


Charlie Brown


Everytime I hear of Charlie Brown I think of Snoopy... somewhere on the NZFW website someone even put the Snoopy-related website up (.com) instead of the NZ fashion label (.co.nz) This show was full of sophistication and classy Asiatic influence. A huge open mouth backdrop framed the catwalk and the goodie bags were well worth keeping. I think this was the show with a wonderful line of Lana Del Rey - her poignant tune tied it all together.


Anna Stretton


This show exhibited two collections, one regular winter collection and another celebrating 20 years of Anna Stretton's label. It was a bit strange with a boar headed model coming out first, then many others coming out with twirls and naughty poses. Think Midsummer Night's Dream + wood nymphs in a frenzy. Just goes to show that Stretton dares to be daring in her girly style way.

Backstage

I also got to see the backstage area - very different from what I imagined to be honest. I was a small square, packed full of activity with one model stuck in the middle getting her hair done. Interesting shots there.

The first 2 days of shows at New Zealand Fashion Week has shown me that being a photographer at Fashion Week is hard work! Although I come back each day exhausted, it's offset by the experience of it all. Shows I really enjoyed were:

Hailwood


The lighting reminded me of an enchanted forest - matched with their mysterious Trojan horse logo, the setting really accentuated the clothes and their natural qualities. The ambience was spot on and the photographer's pit was spilling to all sides.

DMONIC INTENT


The first set at the New Generation Show, it really took the crowd's breath away. The looks were edgy, hardcore and suitably styled. It's a challenge - to typical perceptions of beauty, independence and strength. And challenge they did. They dominated the New Generation Show, showing something which we had not yet seen in Fashion Week, a strong stance which deviated from the blandness of the following acts. DMONIC INTENT will also be showing their more avant garde pieces at the Miromoda Show on Friday and taking part in the design challenge on Saturday.

twenty-seven names + Ingrid Starnes


I remember their debut a few years back in the New Generation Show of that year and they made a point of having effortlessly hip designs before being a hipster was even a thing. Having an off-site show at the Australis Room in the newly hip Britomart, the show was well set with a double arm catwalk and rustic brick-wood architecture. Ingrid Starnes offered some very clean designs with popping colours. A very fast paced show with lots of interesting movement throughout the stage.

Deryn Schmidt

Notice NZFW head honcho Pieter Steward leaning forward for a better look!

A really pumping show. A Wellington designer, she must have brought the fierce Wellington wind with her! A soundtrack of Florence the Machine in a half-daze chant brought the clothes to life. The clothes were full of feminine strength and character. 

New Zealand Fashion Week is finally here and I can't wait to see the vast amount of creative effort that has gone into this event. The fashion world is often an exclusive one but I don't find it is too inaccessible here in New Zealand which is a real plus. This year TV3, as a broadcast sponsor, will also be screening the fashion shows on their website throughout the week for all to see.

Inside the Viaduct Events Centre, getting dressed up for New Zealand Fashion Week. One of the many bar areas (there's quite a few...)

What will I be doing there? I'm taking part in the photography competition run by Samsung. This means I get access to the more non-public shows and so forth which will really be a new experience for me! Yesterday we were given a briefing at the venue, the Viaduct Events Centre by Moller Architects, and shown the photographer's pit. I've heard some, if not nasty, uncomfortable things about that spot in the catwalk (imagine a pack of photographers with all their bulky equipment jamming onto the small stand). You also have to be careful about getting in someone's shot as you'd become much less popular.

I'm sure the event will give me a new perspective on design (fashion, performance, events) as well as the waterfront itself. I'm very excited to be a part of it all! I'll try to blog throughout the week and hopefully I'll have some good pics.