NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Fashion: The Muse

Dan Ahwa
By Dan Ahwa
Creative and fashion director for Viva and Lifestyle·NZ Herald·
4 Jul, 2014 09:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Isabel Marant sweater, $339, from Workshop. Ingrid Starnes skirt, $299. Joanna Campbell necklace, $5335, from Fingers. Stuart Weitzman heels, $520, from Scarpa. Photo / Greg Bowker

Isabel Marant sweater, $339, from Workshop. Ingrid Starnes skirt, $299. Joanna Campbell necklace, $5335, from Fingers. Stuart Weitzman heels, $520, from Scarpa. Photo / Greg Bowker

A utilitarian staple gets a makeover. No scooter required.

Is fashion art? The question has polarised opinions over the years and continues this season. From Prada's mural art motifs to the giant painterly brushstroke prints at Celine, spring 2014 looked heavily to the modern arts.

Even Karl Lagerfeld's signature tongue-and-cheek approach to Chanel saw the Grand Palais in Paris transform into a Chanel art gallery, forming the backdrop to a collection that highlighted a pop art colour palette even Jeff Koons would be proud of.

While art-loving designers will no doubt be soaking in further art inspiration from forthcoming art fairs such as the Frieze Art Fair in London or Art Basel, it's a fashion story that never runs out of mileage.

That contemporary art print story will continue to gain traction here next season, but for now more subtle variations of the trend are available as they segue into next seasons more daring options, working well with tailored separates.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Strongly influenced by music and books, Kate Sylvester is also known for artistic references, with the exclusive "Spirograph" abstract print from diffusion line, Sylvester, the perfect example of a transeasonal art print. As the designer celebrates 21 years in business this year, who can forget her "Art Groupie" collection from winter 2008?

Taking a cue from surrealist art, the collection had a subversive kick that had the right amount of attitude required for wearing such prints with convincing aplomb. Even though those art prints have evolved since then, that same eccentric spirit still applies.

1. Isabel Marant sweater, $339, from Workshop. Ingrid Starnes skirt, $299. Joanna Campbell necklace, $5335, from Fingers. Stuart Weitzman heels, $520, from Scarpa. Photo / Greg Bowker
2. Helen Cherry dress, $629. Warwick Freeman cuff, $4500, from Fingers. Stella McCartney loafers, $990, from Runway. Photo / Greg Bowker
3. Kate Sylvester skivvy, $195. Gorman quilted jacket, $379. Helen Cherry skirt, $359. Number One Shoes flats, $70. Prada opticals, $539, from OPSM. Photo / Greg Bowker
4. Workshop shirt, $329. Kate Sylvester dress, $445. Stuart Weitzman suede boots, $1150, from Runway. Deadly Ponies goat fur handbag, $890. Photo / Greg Bowker
5. Miss Crabb dress, $390. Karen Walker pants, $585. Stuart Weitzman kitten heels, $490, from Scarpa. Photo / Greg Bowker

Image 1 of 5: 1. Isabel Marant sweater, $339, from Workshop. Ingrid Starnes skirt, $299. Joanna Campbell necklace, $5335, from Fingers. Stuart Weitzman heels, $520, from Scarpa. Photo / Greg Bowker

1. Isabel Marant sweater, $339, from Workshop. Ingrid Starnes skirt, $299. Joanna Campbell necklace, $5335, from Fingers. Stuart Weitzman heels, $520, from Scarpa. Kandya "Jason" chair from the 1950s, $1000, from Mr. Biggelsworthy.

2. Helen Cherry dress, $629. Warwick Freeman cuff, $4500, from Fingers. Stella McCartney loafers, $990, from Runway.

3. Kate Sylvester skivvy, $195. Gorman quilted jacket, $379. Helen Cherry skirt, $359. Number One Shoes flats, $70. Prada opticals, $539, from OPSM. Mandy Flood bangle, $620, from Fingers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

4. Workshop shirt, $329. Kate Sylvester dress, $445. Stuart Weitzman suede boots, $1150, from Runway. Deadly Ponies goat fur handbag, $890. Jess Winchombe leather drop earring, $80 a pair, from Fingers.

5. Miss Crabb dress, $390. Karen Walker pants, $585. Stuart Weitzman kitten heels, $490, from Scarpa.

Stockists
• Buana Satu (09) 307 3282
• Deadly Ponies
• Fingers (09) 373 3974
• Gorman (09) 529 2279
• Helen Cherry (09) 303 3735
• Ingrid Starnes
• Kate Sylvester (09) 307 3282
• Miss Crabb (09) 361 3322
• Mr. Biggelsworthy
• Number One Shoes
• OPSM 0800 444 539
• Ruby
• Runway (09) 522 0808
• Scarpa (09) 520 6127
• The Department Store (09) 489 4202
• Workshop (09) 303 3735

Stylist: Dan Ahwa
Photo: Greg Bowker
Hair and makeup: Katie Melody Rogers using M.A.C Cosmetics
Model: Kendall Tobin from Clyne Model Management
Stylist's assistant: Kama Scretching

Discover more

Lifestyle

Fashion: Working class

14 Feb 08:00 PM
Lifestyle

Fashion: Classic hits

07 Mar 08:00 PM
Lifestyle

Fashion: Boot camp

14 Mar 08:00 PM
Lifestyle

Fashion: Comic relief

21 Mar 08:00 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

'Speechless': Woman's lost engagement ring miraculously found with stranger's help

Lifestyle

Boss’ insane text to gym members about ‘young women’ rule

Lifestyle

King Charles' unprecedented Trump move


Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

'Speechless': Woman's lost engagement ring miraculously found with stranger's help
Lifestyle

'Speechless': Woman's lost engagement ring miraculously found with stranger's help

Diana lost her treasured ring while collecting water samples in the Waiuku mudflats.

14 Jul 07:00 AM
Boss’ insane text to gym members about ‘young women’ rule
Lifestyle

Boss’ insane text to gym members about ‘young women’ rule

14 Jul 02:04 AM
King Charles' unprecedented Trump move
Lifestyle

King Charles' unprecedented Trump move

14 Jul 01:14 AM


Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

01 Jul 04:58 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP