Style File: Front row seats for Campbell and Hirschfeld

John "Marvellous" Campbell was at the morning's first show, RJC, with Carol "I wear Winkelmann" Hirschfeld. His accessories of choice: the trademark beam of delight and a briefcase. Alison Mau turned up first thing for a chilly live cross from Breakfast with Trade and Enterprise's Paul Blomfield, who scrubbed up well after the official opening dinner. Mandy Smith, wife of Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, was happy enough sitting in enemy camp, the old Alinghi base in Halsey St, where the shows are being held. Zambesi had a strong cast of supporters, including telly couple Mikey Havoc and Claire Chitham.

The morning after

Talk after the opening night on Sunday was of Mayor Dick Hubbard, fulfilling his first official duty in welcoming Fashion Week delegates, needing a bit of a style makeover himself. Wearing a charcoal suit and a red tie, he chatted to designers including Roisin Dubh's Kate Martin.

A word from the stars

Keisha Castle-Hughes, who opened the event, urged the delegates to "write nice things and buy lots of clothes". Olympic gold medallists Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell won a warm reception when introduced as "bone ambassadors" for Osteoporosis New Zealand and a laugh when they advocated the health benefits of getting 20 minutes of sunshine a day.

Shoppers unite

Kate Hawkesby (emerald Trelise Cooper sequin shift dress) and Raybon Kan (off-white Zambesi suit) did a slow-to-fire spot as MCs and added fuel to the "Naomi Watts is coming" rumour. A good line from stick-thin Kate: "I graduated from university with a degree in political studies and a masters in shopping." Dodging fashion critics Hawkesby said she found "the public quite dodgy about fashion" and one of the disadvantages of working for a state-owned enterprise was the comments she got: "Have they never heard of deconstruction?" As some viewers might note, "Has she never heard of not distracting from the stories?"

Pamper me please

The L'Oreal Powder Room is no more, and this year the hot ticket is getting an invite to one of several corporate hospitality venues on site, including the Herald's Ink Room where C4's Jacquie Brown popped in for a quick make-up touch-up. Comedian Raybon Kan said that this year the Air New Zealand-sponsored event had a Mile High Club. But a rule of strictly no sex with anyone more than 20kg applied. Speaking of skinny, the Deutz Fashion Cafe caused dismay among the slim set when it ran out of milk for the trim lattes.

Blokes wear fashion too

While the shows were in full swing last night, burly hip-hop star King Kapisi was fitting out some of Auckland's sports stars for a turn in his Overstayer label as part of the Style Pasifika show on Thursday. Among those to wear his urban street wear will be Olympic kayaker Steve Ferguson and Auckland rugby back Ben Atiga.


Herald Feature: Fashion Week

Fashion Week photo gallery

NZ Fashion Week - official site