For pleat's sake!

Is everyone as happy about the presence of the pleated skirt as I am? It's a classic number that ducks in and out of fashion, and right now it's very much in. Thin, lady-like pleats that is anyway. None of that Britney-esque box-pleating scandal. Just simple, elongating lines. The best thing about these sort of skirts is that they can often be sourced from many a good op-shop too. Don't hem them though, be sure to keep the classic length and complete the look with some towering loafer-heels.
My op-shop of the moment is The Bread and Butter Letter, a lovely wee cubby-hole tucked away on New North Road in Eden Terrace. It's worth a visit as the owner has done all the curatorial work for you but kindly kept the prices so they're still an opportunity.
http://www.breadandbutterletter.blogspot.com/

Karen Walker pleated skirt and shirt from Perfect Day 2011

What I'd wear to a Royal wedding!

Romance and royalty have never really gone hand and hand (illicit affairs excluded of course) until now...and it's all thanks to the absolutely gorgeous Kate and the previously-attractive Prince William. This delightful couple have brought hope to the world that watch them by simply choosing each other and being allowed to do so. Throwing the wedding of the century is no easy task though and not the least of all is selecting an outfit. Kate's dress is of course the epicentre of attire and will be the star attraction, but guests' ensembles will be paramount too. Not too much flesh, preferably a headpiece of some sort, a demure cover-up that can be removed post Westminster Abbey and the whole thing must be at an approproate length...
I'd opt for this Armani Prive metallic number as it ticks all the boxes but the futuristic shimmmer and UFO-style hat and leggings add a little something-something that just makes me smile. I'd also arrive via spaceship.

Who wears the pants?

Judging by the looks of this Autumn it certainly seems I will be wearing the pants! Trousers, as they are formally known, are really making themselves at home in my wardrobe of late and I have to say I am welcoming their presence. I used to find the old pair of pants.. well "pants!" really, to adopt a common Brit-type derogatory term. But these days I think a pair of well cut trousers can do wonders for many a lass. Nicely fitting trousers can be so much more flattering on the female formed compared to a pair of jeans and it's easy to see that the high-waisted variety does wonders for the length of your legs!
The icing on the cake for me though is how wonderfully they accompany a pair of insanely high, uber-sexy stacked heels or wedges.

Dominique trousers from Kate Sylvester's Lost and Found Autumn Winter 2011



Stolen Girlfriends Club supermarket flash mob

An everyday Thursday morning was transformed into a unique experience thanks to a Stolen Girlfriends Club and Red Bull collaboration held at the College Hill New World last week...
Guests were told to meet at the bottom of the car park stairs at 11:30 sharp to view the Spring 2011 range titled "Untitled" in a rather intriguing manner. As the fashion folk filtered through the aisles, legitimate shoppers continued to load their trolleys whilst feigning a nonchalant lack of interest. Then as White Lies started to pump on the sound system and deadpan models strutted up and down the aisles, past fruit and veg and right through to the deli, people couldn't help but delight in the quirk-factor. The best bit, aside from the gorgeous garments of course, was watching a few determined shoppers endeavouring to reach between a washed-out denim vest and a flowing flame-coloured gown to grab their eggs!
I can't wait til next Spring to wear this little number - I may even do the grocery shopping in it!

Stolen Girlfriends Club Spring 2011 Untitled

A.M. and Poppy hit Clooney!

My darling friend Poppy Fox has been home for several weeks (wedding season) and it has just been lovely! So many occasions to dress up for - we even managed to fit in a delicious 8 course meal at Auckland's Clooney Restaurant (get the full low down on www.theadventuresofpoppyfox.blogspot.com).
I just loved this shot of us taken as we left the restaurant, pleasantly full and just a little bit tipsy...

What I wore to weddings...

Despite suspicions that I had dropped off the fashion planet evident through lack of posting, I am in fact alive and kicking. Kicking it to weddings left, right and centre that is. Joyful activities with treasured loved ones that have kept me rather busy hence my lack of contact. I apologise if I have caused you concern, but please be assured that I have made the most of each occasion by wearing a little treat every time.
Two of my favs are documented below.... Outfit one, a purple haze by the iconic Oscar de la Renta was debuted at Mr and Mrs Summer's nuptials. While the Romanesque Kit Willow golden glow came out for Mr and Mrs Bond.

Oscar de la Renta Summer 2010

 

Willlow Spring/Summer 2010

Out and about in Therese Rawsthorne

A day of shopping spent lapping up all the post-Christmas bargains and lunching with the girls called for this sexy-yet-practical Therese Rawsthorne outfit. The flat shoes made it easy to put in several solid hours conquering the retail jungle, while the metallic skirt added an appropriate amount of sheen to the whole affair.

Therese Rawsthorne S/S 2010/11

Zac Posen for Christmas

The tree is up, the twinkling lights are shining and the presents are waiting patiently. However... I am a little ashamed to say that I have already ripped into one of my gifts! It was a matter of urgency and there was no other solution...  I had a very swanky party last night and nothing new to wear. But from simply squeezing the beautifully wrapped secret treat, I knew it was a Zac Posen gown from the 2011 Resort Ready-to-Wear range and that this was an opportunity not to be missed!

Zac Posen Resort RTW 2011

Hi There Sailor Girl

A sailor went to sea sea sea, to see what he could see see see, and all that he could see see see... was a cute mouse in super hot sailor get-up from NZ's beloved Karen Walker and her Hi There range.
I wore this ensemble during the weekend when I was out Christmas shopping. I'm not entirely sure it helped though as I came home with a bundle of new outfits for me and hardly anything for anyone else! Never fear though, I'm not a selfish mouse - I went straight to my lappy and began an emergency session of online festive purchasing.

Karen Walker's Hi There Summer 2010-11

Party Season!

In the world of fashion there are many seasons (including those identified by the weather!) but one of the most vibrant and chaotic ones favoured by clothes-ponies is the build up to Christmas!  I have to admit this "silly" season is largely to blame for my lack of interaction, but please rest assured that I have been making the most of each occasion and wearing some fantastic numbers that just don't get a chance to shine throughout the year.
A personal fave is this Viktor and Rolf cocktail frock that I wore to a very private shindig last night... and I can tell you there's no better time to wear flowers on your feet than a smokin' hot summer night during Party Season.

Viktor and Rolf Spring 2010 RTW

Sonia Rykiel...Parfait!

We can thank the French for many things... cooking with butter, beautiful peachy-pink rose wine, multiple air kisses and an inspirational First Lady. But one Frenchie I am particularly grateful for is the innovative and pioneering Sonia Rykiel. She introduced the world to "la demode" way back in 1976 and it's a philosophy contemporary fashionistas are still rocking today. The concept basically translates as "un-fashion" and encourages women to simply wear what suits their personality. And I totally think this chic, over-sized pom-pom headband definitely suits my personality!

Sonia Rykiel Fall2010 Ready to Wear

Luella love...

While you lot threw fashion to the wind to engage in some bloody, gory and ghoulish get-ups for Halloween, I stuck to my guns and kept things prim and proper with this fabulous Luella number. Don't get me wrong, I love dressing up as much as the next Mouse, but you know me, I'm more Dior red lippy rather than faux blood drippy!
And in all honesty, I couldn't go past this yellow bow!

Luella Spring/Summer 2010

I love Alice McCALL!

Honestly, I do. I can hand on heart say that I seriously love every single piece that comes out of the Alice McCall design studio. Oh yes, every little Australian droplet of urban, boho brilliance is a welcome addition to my Walk-in-Wardrobe. Especially this smashing, slightly-smockish wee number that comes in a rather flattering shade of apricot. Maybe this love affair has something to do with our shared initals, A.M?

The Forever Changes dress from the 1st SS10 collection The Gilded Garden.

Any point in Reinventing the Wheel?

There's definitely point in Reinventing the Wheel if you're talking about the new range from kick-ass NZ streetwear label Lower. It's packed with dynamite new prints, a scattering of this season's shade of denim and a sprinkling of uber-cute printed leggings. The icing on the cake though? A collection of gorgeous wee day-dresses. As you know, my penchant for frocks often gets the better of me and this was certainly the case when I popped into Lower's flagship store Thanks while I was in Mt Maunganui in the weekend.

The Sandy dress from Lower's Summer 2010/2011 Reinventing the Wheel range.

Chanel is forever...

Fashion's most iconic personality Coco Chanel has been thrust into the limelight on quite a few occasions of late thanks to an array of movies and books. Glorious little tidbits created to remind us all of her unsurpassed, influential role within fashion history and the latest edition to this enjoyable homage collection is due to hit shelves this month; Justine Picardie's Coco Chanel. The legend and the Life.
Hence why I thought I'd throw on a little Chanel and strut it like the lady intended.

This raw edged and rather youthful ensembled can be credited to the man at the helm of contemporary Chanel: Karl Lagerfield and his epic 88 piece show in Paris recently.

Top Shop Unique to The Department Store

Top Shop gear has proven to be an absolute smash amongst Kiwi lasses, so much so that the clever cats at The Department Store made a call earlier in the year to bring out a few pieces from the 

fantastic Top Shop Unique collection.

This is a seasonal range that has a little bit more "jusgh" than the regular pieces and the collections tend to tie together more conceptually rather than being just trend focused. 

The first few bits landed in Takapuna last Friday, so I of course made a bee-line over there straight away.

Tulle frocks never looked so cool.

Last but not least...

Ok it may be slightly obvious by the lack of updates that as fashion week continued, I got a little carried away which unfortunately meant the posts diminished! My apologies fashion fiends, but let me tell you it was all for good reason. So to make it up to you, I have two more treats up my sleeve... my fav from the sassy young Michelle Yvette; as well as scenester's dream ensemble from NZ's street front-runner Huffer.

 

Michelle Yvette NZFW 2010

A to-die-for orange coat is the sort of thing every style-conscious girl needs in her wardrobe.

I must say also, that the delish white chocolate and raspberry Kapiti ice creams were a tasteful way to kick off the very glam affair. It was quite a giggle to see the front row ripping into the floral wrappers to get to their dessert before the show had even started!

Huffer NZFW 2010

They warned people to rug up for the outdoor show, but thankfully the same gods that have smiled down on Huffer throughout their trail blazing fashion-life, made an appearance to hold off the rain for the 1000 strong, celebrity dappled audience.

My fav... this little frock with a cute bow adornment styled with a straight up pair of over-the-knee socks. (These seem to be the take-home concept of the week really! They'll obviously be around for at least another season or two)

Day two of NZFW...

Another day of glorious garment parades has left me with a well known syndrome I've aptly named The Wanting... it's a serious condition that develops through exposure to too many nice things, the body and mind simply "Want" for these items, the imagination starts to dream about them. It almosts feels as if life can't continue without them. The treatment: buying them. (Or living in a cave in Siberia?)
The Wanting began for me yesterday with the Ruby show at the uber-sleek Lily and Louis showroom where my mousey tush sat on a snug sheepskin covered seat. But the syndrome reached an uncontrollable high at Adrian Hailwood's show...

A spotty number from Adrian Hailwood's Going Platinum show.

My fav from day one...

It's always tricky to identify a favourite for the day, especially when the crop is so ripe for the picking. However, as I am always partial to Juliette Hogan's overtly feminine aesthetic, it will come as no surprise to you that my choice was a sexy wee number from her new collection.
Word on the street is that everyone was very impressed with the good-girl-gone-bad twist to her sacarine-sweet style and that the ladylike get-up is just the trick for the coming seasons.

Naughty but nice? Juliette Hogan NZFW 2010

And so it begins...

Well it all kicked off last night with the launch soiree for the country's 10th NZ Fashion Week and this year the coveted event is flying solo without a naming right sponsor. I kinda like it, it makes it seem orginal and impartial - and it's certainly easier to say! But thankfully, Air New Zealand still came to the party to bestow the Designer Export Award upon the very worthy lads at Huffer. Well done team.

But as any seasoned fashion weeker knows, the launch night is not for letting your hair down. There's a big week ahead and a lot of heel tottering to be done. So it was just a brief appearance made by this little mouse, but it was still a great opportunity to break out my new Mulberry get-up I picked up after last week's show. Let the games begin!

A bright blue Mulberry frock matched with a cropped jacket adorned with bows (from their SS11 NY show) was the perfect way to start the sweek of style feasting.