KEY POINTS:
There was a lot of pressure on designer Alex Jaeha Kim this year, after last year's show catapulted him into the spotlight and made him one of the most hyped young designers New Zealand has seen.
A lot has been made of the "fashion editor stampede" that
made its way backstage to congratulate Kim after the show, and he told me before he showed this year that he was definitely feeling the pressure.
You could feel the packed crowd's anticipation before the show started at St Matthew in the City.
The show kicked off with the haunting sounds of Everybody's Free, and a model in amazing floral lace stockings and a paisley print dress.
Am I a dork because it made me get all teary eyed? It must have been the combination of the holy music and being in a church. One minute into the show, there was even a loud knock at the door - God knocking perhaps?
The collection, cutely titled Call Me Princess, My Daddy Says So, is based on a clash of the naive and the sexy, directly inspired by everything from The Little Mermaid to Russian princesses and folk tale Vaselina.
Kim's signature draped silk georgette dresses made a return, this time in plaid and tie dye prints, and structured jackets were detailed with zips, ribbons and bows.
Gorgeously flowing floor length gowns reminded me of gothic brides.
Stylist Dan Ahwa put models in massive heels, bows and quirky headpieces, with some wearing crowns made of forks (a reference to the Little Mermaid, who brushes her hair with a fork).
Jaeha menswear also made a debut, with classic and fresh tailoring all given Kim's design twist - layered pockets, multiple sleeves and tie dye sweaters.
One male model even walked out in an oversized faux fur stole made to look like a fox (apparently a reference to the way children perceive their mother's fur to be massive).
So did he meet the hype? It would be hard for Kim to match the frenzy that occured last year with his debut show - but it was still one of the best I've seen so far this week.
And by the look of the line of people waiting to congratulate him after the show, he managed to win over some of the industry's heavy hitters.
