These are the things I would like to own right now…
This entire Maison Martin Margiela ensemble
Maison Martin Margiela jewellery
Miista sandals
Minimarket bag
Miss Crabb camisole
Sheer Minimarket pants
Helmut Lang trench coat
Colab sunglasses-Revolte by Elke Kramer
The early 2000’s marked the start of something awesome – a local artist whose specialty is raw mixed media on large format canvases sold one of his first paintings to a fashion/accessories designer who hails inspiration from Keith Haring while creating whimsical silk georgette dresses.
Put the two together and you have a collaboration based on making imperfections beautiful.
Sara Aspinall and Phillip James Frost’s first collaboration was back in Summer’10 where Frost’s attention to detail was projected onto cotton scarves created by Aspinall under her brand Company of Strangers.
Throughout his exhibitions, Frost has evolved from his earlier works by creating variations of motifs that embody psychedelic chaos that is society today.
In the mean time, Aspinall has developed her brand summoning influence from popular culture from throughout the art disciplines.
Aspinall originally customized classic Converse Chuck Taylor for her AW’12 iD Dunedin Fashion show by morphing each shoe into 70’s platforms. After popular demand it was decided that the next step under the Company branch was to further customise a selection of the iconic footwear’s styles by incorporation of Frost’s artist genius.
This season Frost produced a limited edition print, ‘POP’, for the Company brand that has since been printed onto a variation of fabrics where, in turn, Aspinall has created a variety of garments such as the Soho Shirt and Foundation Dress.
Winter’13 marks yet another Aspinall x Frost endeavor with the production of customized Converse Chuck Taylors – utilizing the classic low and high cut leather style.
On Friday RUBY launched their latest mini collection titled, Magic Hour. The 10-piece range, comprised of perfect little party dresses and super chic separates is ideal for mid-winter fun.
To mark the RUBY Magic Hour release, RUBY has created a short film, shot by the talented Isobel Dryburgh, that captures candid moments of side-tracked youths passing time in the wilderness on their way to the party.
I popped into RUBY’s Dunedin store to check out the new collection..
So much glitter!
RUBY gurlzz
Sasha’s favourite item from the collection
Magic Hour…in-store now!
Yummm and funnn!
In the window…
Rosamund’s favourite piece from the range
Pretty-polka dots and stripes
Party treats!
Manager Amy, wearing some of the Magic Hour collection.
Photography \\James Stringer
Model\\Emily @ Ali McD Aart
Styling\\ Amy Parsons-King(me)
Hair and make-up\\Katy Parsons
Company of Strangers jersey and bag (worn as necklace) vintage crochet dress from Modern Miss, boots stylists own
Equipment shirt from Company of Strangers, Nom*d lace sleeve tee, vintage leather dress from Modern Miss, socks and boots stylists own
Company of Strangers dress, Rick Owens vest from Plume, vintage gloves from Modern Miss
Emily-a brief photoshoot. Thanks to Plume for lending the clothes. Photography: James Stringer Hair and make-up: Katy Parsons Fashion: Amy Parsons-king
Terzann Elliot is a woman of many talents; stylist, model, a Black magazine fashion editor, volunteer firefighter, writer, and designer are just a few of the activities that occupy her time. At 17 Terzann left her hometown of Invercargill, relocating to Auckland to pursue a career in modelling. Soon after arriving she was working at Zambesi‘s New Market store, as well as being their house, runway and campaign model. It was during this time Terzann met photographer Marissa Findlay and began styling test shoots for her.
Since then Terzann’s styling career has flourished, seeing her work with Nom*d, BLACK magazine, Venom hair salon, NZ Fashion Week, Kleenex Cotonelle, Zaibatsu Hair Art, stylist Kylie Cooke as well as on film and advertising campaigns. Terzann attributes her skills as a stylist to the hands on experience she’s gained, however also believes ‘style’ is something inherently possessed.
“Styling, well it’s something that just happens to you, you either have it or you don’t. I think it’s a skill but it’s also personal taste. I get a buzz out of creating things that are new, you know you can use the same set of things and make them look so different. I like the way that styling tells the story, the clothes themselves are just clothes. Sometimes a piece speaks for itself, but the reality of fashion styling is you have to make things look amazing and give them a context”.
As far as her own style goes Terzann says she likes to “Ugly up the pretty, and rough up the structure… My own personal style? I don’t know if I can describe it…it’s random…most of my wardrobe is Zambesi, Nom*d, bit of McQueen, bit of Westwood, Margiela, Company of Strangers, Miyake, and vintage suits. I suppose I’m a bit of a bogan/goth with God knows what in the mix. I guess ideally my style is reflected in the clothes I make, which someone described as dystopian.”
Examples of Terzann’s styling featured in Black magazine. 
Late last year I styled the lookbook and campaign images for Dunedin-based label, Moodie Tuesday. I finally got my hands on the photo’s…here’s a few!
Photography-James Stringer
Model-Issac Silva Look @ N Model Management
Hair and make-up-Lauren Wells Make up
Styling-Me
Aliana McDaniel is the the founder and co-director of Ali McD Aart agency, owner of Ali McD Make-up School, and Revlon Representative. She is also one of the most well-dressed women I know. Ali’s style is astutely her own, on-trend, yet totally individual. It can be raw and edgy at times, yet feminine and ethereal at others. Years of collecting designer clothing from high-end boutiques and bargains found in op-shops has accumulated into an extensive wardrobe, an entire room infact! I asked Ali a few questions about her her personal style…
How would you describe your fashion style? It’s eclectic. I don’t necessarily follow fashion but do buy some seasonal clothing from designers. Fashion is so individual and if you feel good, that’s all that matters.
What influences what you wear the most? Music. The first thing I do in the morning is put on music and that usually sets the mood for what I’m going to wear that day. Sometimes it’s a bit rocker, sometimes soft and feminine.
What are your most beloved items in your wardrobe? My leather waistcoat I got from SaveMart for $14. A reversible Nom*d waistcoat, which I now share with my son Elvis and a vintage Mohair cardigan from the 80s.
What items of clothing would you consider wardrobe essentials? Here in Dunedin…a stylish and warm coat, a hat, a pair of well-fitted jeans.
What’s your most coveted item this winter? There’s a jacket in Plume but if I bought it, it would mean I wouldn’t eat for a week so will have to wait for my next big pay cheque.
Were you interested in what you wore as a child? We couldn’t afford expensive clothes so we got into op-shopping from an early age. I grew up as a bit of a tom boy and it wasn’t until my teens that I started to really care what I wore.
What era do you wish you’d been born into? The 1970s. Things were a lot freer then, people were experimental. Woman were more liberated, they burnt their bras and dressed a lot sexier.
Who are your favourite designers? Without a doubt Alistair Trung and Nom*d
Who would you consider as your style icon? I love Marilyn Monroe, her sexuality is something we don’t often see in women these days. Brigitte Bardot and Patti Smith are also favourites.
How good would it be to be able to borrow your boyfriend’s jewellery and vice versa?…Holly Howe Collections is a Dunedin-based jewellery label that harmoniously integrates the masculine with the feminine, to create beautifully structured unisex pieces. Last week I caught up with the designer behind the label, Holly Simpson Howe in her studio….
Where are you originally from? Dunedin
Did you study, if so where and when? Yes, I studied at Otago Polytech and graduated in 2009 with a Degree in Product Design.
Have you always wanted to create jewellery? To be honest no, I didn’t really have any idea what I wanted to do throughout my degree. It wasn’t until I graduated that I started to think about what I should do. After a small freak out I decided to go to art school and specialise in jewellery and metal-smithing, it seemed like a good hands on subject that would sit well with what I majored in. I then had a chance to work with a local fashion designer, creating a few pieces for her shop in town. From there I produced my 1st collection and haven’t looked back since.
What’s the inspiration behind your current collection and when will you be releasing your next one? The latest collection, Little By Little is a way for me to test the market and introduce new techniques and surface patterning and finishes. I looked at the works of Ernst Haeckel whilst designing this collection. The new range is getting closer to being finished. I aim to have it out in the next month! Fingers crossed!
Can you give us any clues as to what to expect from the next collection? The new range is pretty exciting! Expect a larger range of jewellery, more items to choose from and a great mix of unisex pieces.
Your collections are unisex…which is so cool! it’s not very often your boyfriend can borrow your jewellery…can you tell me about it? I never set out to create unisex pieces. When I bought out my first collection I didn’t expect it to be such a hit with males, since then I have designed with both sexes in mind. These days guys are into fashion just as much as girls are. It makes sense to make what the market wants. I love how anybody can wear Holly Howe Collections!
What are your plans for the next year?…anything exciting in the pipelines? Right now I am focusing on the release of the new range and starting to think about the NEW NEW collection. There are a few colabs in the pipelines with stockists and other brands which is rather exciting. All good things take time, so if not this year, then next. My main/major focus is building my brand, I have a good amount of stockists in New Zealand that I am super happy with. Aussie is the next stop, I have a few stockists over there, I find the Australian market is quite different to New Zealand so it is a slower process making a name for myself there.
