Excess all areas at Fashion Week

By CATHRIN SCHAER hands out Fashion Week's Behind-the-Scenes Awards

Best Distraction From Clothes

There were so many non-fashion distractions on the runway this year. Among them were rappers before the Dawn Raid show, Matthew Ridge in short shorts, Marlene Dietrich impersonators and even a giant boar wearing a silver evening gown. But possibly the best were female members of the Candy Lane dance company who appeared at Trelise Cooper's epic runway extravaganza. They started in white feathers and a dapper 20s theme and ended half-naked in black lingerie on a platform above the stage. You couldn't take your eyes off them.

Best Party

The off-schedule launch of Little Brother's range of T-shirts, which followed the Zambesi show. It was held in a dirty downtown warehouse with tables of beer at the ready and featuring the D4 and the Mint Chicks.

Best Fashion Export

It's not only the clothes that receive attention during Fashion Week. Male model Vinnie Woolston, of Auckland agency 62 Models, flew off to New York straight after the event finished. International agency, IMG, representing the likes of Tyra Banks and Gisele Bundchen, loves his look. So do designers such as Hugo Boss, Jil Sander and the people at super-cool art and New York fashion magazine Visionaire, all of whom have expressed interest in seeing the Aucklander while he's in town. He was spotted by them when iD magazine did a photo shoot here after last year's Fashion Week.

Most Embarrassing Moment

You're about to sit down in the front row, unaware that the flip-up seat you're about to rest on has just flipped back up again. So, in front of a crowd of well-dressed onlookers, you land heavily on your goodie bag, fancy frock, high heels and all. Oh the shame. Yes, it happened to one middle-aged front rower at one of the biggest shows.

Best Goodie Bag

Goodie bags often contain small samples of the sponsors' product but the Trilogy girls gave away lifesize versions of their potions and lotions at the Angeline Harrington/Miranda Brown show. Kate Sylvester gave cookbooks, T-shirts and the novel which inspired her collection. An Anna Sui toilet bag and lipstick were the Trelise Cooper treats.

Most Coveted Footwear

The heels on Kate Sylvester's runway had shoe addicts in the audience salivating. With a pretty round toe and gorgeous ribbon straps, they were designed and made for the show; fabrics on the shoes even matched that of the dresses. Happily for all those who remarked on them, the shoes from the show will go on sale at Kate Sylvester stores. However they won't be made in bulk.

Most Celebrities in An Audience

An even split between Kate Sylvester and Trelise Cooper.

Best Quote

"Row F - is there a row F? Where's that?" from a long-time fashion editor who always sits in the first row and, yes, that's Row A.

Strangest Accessory

The carved wooden ankhs carried by models wearing Roisin Dubh's oddly Egyptian themed prints. What will they do with them afterwards? Firewood?

Silliest Rumour

About an hour before the Karen Walker show, word spread like wildfire that Paris Hilton would be appearing in the show. This chatter was eventually traced back to an over-imaginative makeup artist but, by the time the Walker show started, the rumour had become so big that local society page columnists were in a flap.

Best Soundtrack

Just as many of the designers were inspired by retro shapes and vintage silhouettes, so were their soundtracks. Onlookers heard Neil Young and David Bowie at Tanya Carlson, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Pixies at Kate Sylvester, Jesus and the Mary Chain and Wire at Nom*D and Nirvana and Nick Cave at Workshop. But first prize must go to the obscure, unexpected, but rather fabulous track at Zambesi - Dolly Parton covering Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven.

Worst Soundtrack At A Show

The prize for the most irritating soundtrack belongs to the New Generation designer who used old crooners and cafe songs that stopped about 30 seconds into each tune. After this there was a pause, when the next track would begin - and stop. Over and over again.


Herald Feature: Fashion Week

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NZ Fashion Week - official site