Jaeha Alex Kim showed 40 garments at Auckland's St-Matthew-in-the-City. Photo / Richard Robinson
The pressure was on for designer Jaeha Alex Kim after he was hailed as one of the bright young things at Fashion Week last year.
In a bold move, the young designer decided to have his first solo show off-site and opted for the St-Matthew-in-the-City Church - which
he managed to fill, despite the show's 9.30am start.
Fortunately, coffee and champagne were served for the early starters.
Everyone was curious to see, could he deliver? Models in vertigo-inducing heels strode down the aisles showing an incredible 40 garments in a collection entitled Call Me Princess My Daddy Says So.
It was an ambitious move, no doubt to show he's capable of bigger - but not at times better - things.
With its slightly gothic, brooding mood, the collection's ethereal draping silk georgette dresses and tunics stood out, as did his fabulously feminine, flowing, sheer long dresses. The use of dip-dyed colours in dark purples and pinks added an interesting sense of grown-up grunge - a trend bound to be embraced by those Kiwis who prefer the dark side of dressing.
In his first menswear collection, Jaeha's foray into structured tailoring showed great ambition - everything from multiple sleeve details to layered pockets.
But it was paisley shirts, knit leggings with patch panels and acid-wash jeans that stood out. Not quite a religious experience, but one certainly left St Matthew's feeling a little more enlightened.
