On Tuesday evening Wendy hosted a fashion show at her Central Plaza Boutique. Here ladies gathered, bubbles in hand, to see the new seasons’ trends as they were strutted up and down an intimate catwalk. It was actually a little emotional; Wendy admitted that after just celebrating 35 years in business, glancing around at the familiar faces of her clients, her family and her wonderful team, the support on the night seemed all the more poignant. Ever the professional, she may have been overwhelmed but she certainly wasn’t about to shed tears all over her stunning forest green chiffon top, so with a few laughs and a smile the show began.

 

The evening began with Street style. The first outfit to shimmy down the catwalk was an exquisite embroidered Trelise Cooper Jacket, paired with a cream silk shirt, jeans and funky Chaos & Harmony boots. This look totally tapped into the autumn trend for a feature jacket worn dressed down. The looks that followed each showcased the ‘Racing Stripe’, which is big this season. We saw jeans with the feature stripe paired with a soft pink Lamb jacket, we saw a navy Loobies Story blazer matched with Loobies Story Anouk satin navy pants with a grosgrain stripe (a really sophisticated play with texture and trend), and we saw New London fringed jeans together with a striped jacket. Last but not least, the classic street style look came from Elk with dark denim high waist boyfriend style jeans, a finely striped Jorn shirt and to finish off, a beautifully crafted leather biker style jacket.

 

 

Get your legs at the ready – skirts are in this season. And as the gorgeous models illustrated, you can be tall, petite or just in the middle, and there will be something you can wow in. Bias cut is big– seen in both the Staple + Cloth Aris and the nutmeg Alessandra midi. Fabric that has been cut on the cross can be both flattering, and because it gives a hint of stretch, comfortable to wear. I loved the lustrous copper Elk Form skirt, which I had previously admired in store, but my love grew immeasurably when I saw it brought to life on the catwalk perfectly matched with a Paula Ryan top. Curate was in full flounce with a red polka dot number, with Staple + Cloth bringing us bold black and white spots put with an edgy leather jacket. The evening wouldn’t have been complete without a pleat. A teal Curate Beat The Pleat skirt paired with Superga pumps and a wool top was just divine.

 

 

Knitwear has come a long, long way in the world of fashion, so it was no surprise to see it a very strong contender on the catwalk. The coat that’s not a coat, or the Long line Cardigan is huge news, and we saw a selection in their various forms. From the super fine Sills Westminster jacket that was stunning with a sheer Cooper Royal Crush blouse, to the chunkier Elk textured cardi with mohair, each was super versatile. These looks were paired with everything from satin pants to silky skirts. Jumpers with stand out features were also strong; from the Reversible Polo by Isaac + Lulu to the Star Of The Show jersey from Cooper. An oversized merino Zip Front Poncho from South Island label Sabatini was nothing short of splendid, and there were definite oohs at the Loobies Story Poncho; pretty in pastel with a touch of metallic– this was a nod to the trend for Lurex.

 

 

Coats and Jackets made their mark on the evening, with the wow factor coming from a red and pink oversized Trelise Cooper Coat. With its cherry blossom pattern and hint of glitter threaded through, it was magnificent. Sophistication nudged in when we saw a beautiful Sabatini wool blazer paired with a pale pink Cooper Tee. An array of blazers and jackets reinforced that these are very much in vogue, and nothing beats inspiration on how to style them. An extra long shawl Seta Scarf from Elk was triple wrapped, and showed how this, together with a simple jacket could carry you through the colder months ahead.

 

When it came to the dress section, it was hard to look away, as a bevvy of beauties sashayed before us. For me a standout was the pale green floral Sky Beauty Trelise Cooper ruffled dress, which has such a delicate print it’s a work of art. Equally gorgeous was another Trelise – this time in blush tissue silk, but matched with a Loobies Story fur gilet, the look was sublime. A total showstopper to finish up with was the Moss & Spy Lucinda navy and white embroidered occasion dress. A one off piece, this was modeled to perfection, and the gasps of love and lust were actually audible.