EEEK! I thought I had actually written and posted this (it must have been a dream) – I can’t believe it isn’t posted! Ah well, just extending the pleasure that was Wellington Fashion Week.  I am still basking in the glow of a whole week of Fashion, lots of my Favourite Fashion Family, and no children. Nothing against my children but it is rather nice to have a whole week away from them!

This New Group Show 2013 is the only trade show at WFW2013 with talented new designers showing a compact capsule collection to show both the public, but mostly the fashion industry and buyers what they have to offer.

The show started off with Auckland label The Oblivious who showed both mens and women’s with a collection called ‘I don’t like this would so I made my own’. The women’s collection had great street wear pieces with a cute frilled grey marle sweatshirt dress.  The tiered frills were used to great effect on pretty floral dresses.  Loved the black washed silk jumpsuit. The faux deer-skin jerkin was a different use of fur (that we saw quite a lot of during the week) – very nicely done. The menswear had some nice detailing – like the double cuff on the long cardigan, and the sleeveless shirt.

Phillipa and Alice are a homegrown Wellington based label.  I loved their use of a brightly coloured oversized purple check – in both a dress and a gathered skirt. With cute fitted shorts and fifties inspired prints it is a feminine collection that isn’t too girly. With pops of fuchsia (we will definitely be seeing a lot of that next summer) and well as good classic blue and white stripes – there are some very wearable pieces in the collection. I really liked their dresses, particularly the beautiful blue and white striped dress with the yellow striped under skirt.

Silence Was is actually Auckland based designer Yujia Wang.  She is a young designer who is definitely going from strength to strength. I loved this entire collection and could have pretty much put every outfit up.  With a strong use of geometric patterns while still very wearable, Yujia’s look is very simple almost elegant. She doesn’t overdo things and just lets either the shape of the pattern do the talking. From a simple diamond covered dress with frilled sleeves, geometric tee-shirt with shorts to the squared orange shift – I liked it all. I particularly liked the geometric panelling and the gorgeous dirty yellows used. This is someone who knows how to use pattern and colour – and should continue to do so!

Mardle is Wellington based designer Shiana Weir.  This is her second year showing at WFW and her confidence shows. With a cute collection called Bisou Bisou, her models sauntered down the runway snapping polaroids of each other (and Shiana herself). Taking cues from her collection last year – she continues to do the things she does best – simple, easy to wear tees (the Rosie tee) and slim legged pants. Having created a print of her own, it was put to good use on her garments – especially the floor length gown with the Ibis print. I liked simple details like sequined capped sleeves, and a top and pant that when worn looked like a pantsuit – in a simple palette of black and white.

Frantisek is Auckland based designer Frantisek Riha. This label is available presently on-line at styleonline.co.nz.  He made the bold move of releasing a collection almost entirely made of one fabric in two different colour ways, adding only a small black and white check to the mix. With midriff baring short tops, pants and dresses in mustard yellow and black stripes used to startling effect. I particularly like the dresses in yellow with the stripe cut on the diagonal in four panels for the front of the dress.

My Boyfriend’s Back is by Masterton-based designer Danielle Burkhart. With a collection called The Lust & Found, there were some great splashes of floral as well a good use of maroon lace with a fabulous long dress. The collection included some great tees and tights in the deconstructed vein.

High Noon Tea I enjoyed so much that I had to do an individual post on it. Click through here to read it.

Love Hotel are Wellington sisters Ella & Harriet Garland-Levett. Their collection had a very polished french sensibility about it.  With lots of satins, and a simple palate of nudes, pinks,whites and black, they used the polka dot to great effect. With a little touch of screen printing to each garment, and slick styling, the models walked down the runway two by two. It was well done and a great way to finish the trade show. With a bit of style…