A glass of bubbles and it's on with the show

By ALAN PERROTT


"This is my test match," said designer Trelise Cooper, "this is like running for the gold medal."

It's hard to avoid sporting metaphors when you're backstage and only moments away from one of the flagship shows of the Air New Zealand-sponsored Fashion Week.

This was a team effort. From Cooper's pre-match pep talk: "I need you to look happy and sexy, like you like life," to the models geeing each other up and the pit crews changing their designated girl in and out of the most intricate of garments in fine Formula One style.

And what a team. Thirty one models, seven dancers, 31 dressers, 31 staff helpers, and, of course, several boxes of Moet & Chandon champagne, darling. Drunk through a straw, can't mess the make up, especially after some models took up to fours hours of primping and prepping.

A quick drink may not be in the Graham Henry school of coaching, but as one helper cried out, "you've all got empty stomachs, so drink up quickly, we're going to have a great show".

From the experts who know these things, yesterday's show was one of Cooper's strongest yet. And it was an occasion carrying the mystique of a big-time rock gig: celebrities-a-go-go, amorphous anticipation, long queues, a lengthy delay and loads of happy punters hanging outside the doors afterwards comparing notes.

More than 100 outfits had been paraded before a crammed house stretched around two sheds of Alinghi's old America's Cup base - the concealing skirts were up again, but this time we were on the inside. Despite an early trot along the silver runway, a swift map had to be charted to guide some of the more confused clothes ponies along their horseshoe course.

And yes, at any one moment during the show there were about a dozen amped young things wearing only what they were born in, but the atmosphere was so pumped up with getting a job done it lacked any cor blimey factor. Really. Okay, it was a little cor blimey at times.

Then, when all was suddenly done and dusted, it was claps and Fantasy Island smiles all round - plenty had been on the line.

"My reputation is at stake with each show," said Cooper just before kick-off, "and so is the next six months of the year. I employ a lot of people and they all depend on this being successful and working. This show will provide my next Look Book which will be shown to buyers in Paris, New York, wherever. I would like it not to be, but the reality is this is quite stressful.

"I definitely feel the expectation and that is not something I take lightly."


Herald Feature: Fashion Week

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NZ Fashion Week - official site