chanel

i'm a little behind in reading my mags. just been busy. finally got around to Elle's January issue. These shoes are outrageous. I need them.

A NZ Fashion bible?

Blacklog readers, both local and international, will be interested to hear of a forthcoming book by Te Papa Press and Random House. Simply titled New Zealand Design the book is a panoptic overview of New Zealand fashion design by Angela Lassig (Senior Curator, History, at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa) with an introduction by Peter Shand (Head of Department at M.I.T and Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland.) Both have had a long-term interest in, and involvement with, New Zealand fashion; Lassig as a curator of numerous fashion exhibitions at Te Papa, and Shand as curator of fashion shows/exhibitions at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

It looks to be a serious resource as well as an historical document with a group of twenty five designers interviewed and profiled, and over 500 pictures, some of which are sure to be well worth seeing again.

The book goes on sale April 2010 and will retail for NZ $150 rrp.

contradictory

someone somewhere brought up a very good point about the breakthrough spread in V Magazine last month. WHAT, THEY CAN'T JUST HAVE A "BIGGER" GIRL WITHOUT SHOWING THE SAME OUTFIT ON A THINNER ONE?

whoever it was that said that is DAMN STRAIGHT! IT AIN'T RIGHT. And, the chick on the right looks way better in the clothes anyhow. It makes for a better photo when the model doesn't look like she's being done up the bum and hating it, while simultaneously dreaming about the last bit of food she's allowed herself to eat 5 years ago. and seriously, why the big deal about it? what is so amazing about THIS?

















I love Terry Richardson and I love V Magazine, but something doesn't sit right about this. Something that Anna Wintour said in The September Issue when she saw a photo of a man with a little bit of belly struck me as applicable here. She outright told the man to go to the gym and lose weight when he was featured as a real person, a camerman, in an artistic spread. Just because it's fashion, doesn't mean everyone is perfect who wears clothes, nor do they have to be. To me, fashion is about attitude. Fashion is what makes you feel you. It gives you confidence and makes you feel beautiful, powerful, whatever. It's not about being like a supermodel. No is like a supermodel but a supermodel.

On the flip side, BUST Magazine featured a whole spread of lingerie using "real" women of all shapes and sizes, didn't make a +F**ING huge stink about it being so revolutionary in fashion, and it honestly just looks better. KUDOS to BUST.

the september issue

to my astonishment, i had not seen this movie yet. i finally just decided to pre-order the dvd on amazon because it is likely i would watch it 8 times in a row. for the record, it's 2 times so far. i love thakoon and i had no idea that he was the main featured designer of the film. i also had not known that he was relatively unknown until around when this movie was being made. thank you, anna wintour for taking him under your wing. he is a gift. and now on to anna. wow, she's british? huh. what's funny is that that was the only thing that i didn't expect of her. i have seen "the devil wears prada" about 112 times, and she (the character based on her) seemed quite calm in the movie, so that didn't take me by surprise. but i was a tiddy bit bit surprised by her sense of humor. she iiiis funny. who would have thought that cold block of ice face is funny? dare i say, i f*&king like her. but GRACE! oh lord, Grace is a goddess. i want to be her assistant and would donate a baby in order to do so. i kid you not.

amay may

yesterday morning i saw this beautiful car in jet black with a hot blonde chick driving it, and i thought to myself "f*** yeah!"

2010 dodge challenger. who'da thunk.

M.A.C's audience with Gaga, Lauper and Osbourne

M.A.C have announced today that they will be launching their new Viva Glam spokespeople; Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper, with an online streaming discussion live in London this Monday, March 1. Sharon Osbourne will be hosting an 'audience with' the two superstars and the combination of the three women alone will make for interesting viewing. The event will be broadcast on a stand-alone FaceBook tab on the M.A.C Cosmetics FaceBook page and, if you become a fan of the page, you will be able to post questions for consideration by the flamboyant pair. The discussion aims to get people across the globe to think and act differently about AIDS, and in particular the effect on women and girls around the world. Fans can post potential questions on the page's wall with the preface: "Question for Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper" and a select number will make the cut.

Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper engage in discussion about HIV and AIDS for M.A.C Viva Glam, hosted by Sharon Osbourne.

Event streaming from 4pm GMT (4am NZ), Monday, March 1 online here.

FTV Designer Call

Fashion TV Oceania is announcing the arrival of the FTV designer Awards, an online award for emerging Australian and New Zealand designers scheduled for March 2010 - July 2010. Run entirely online, it's an opportunity for emerging designers to enter an award that comes with all of the attendant FTV coverage on Foxtel in Australia and Sky in NZ. The preliminary judging round will include a panel of selected sponsors and the public vote whilst the winner will be judged by a panel of industry experts. It isn't clear yet whether there is a fee to enter but you can register interest in the awards here.

We're Addicted

We're shooting fashion today for Black 12 with Vanessa @ Nova (above). Craig Owen is the lensman, Rachael Churchward is styling and Stefan Knight is in charge of hair and make-up. It's a good time to mention our latest addiction Habitual Fix, which is quickly becoming our catering of choice for Black shoots and for breakfast and lunch in general. In 2006 founder James Tucker enlisted the culinary help of Tim Benest and they set about creating something they felt was missing from Auckland; real fresh food, and fast. The pair spent two years prior to opening finding the best fresh food growers and producers in the region and opened the first Habitual Fix in Beaumont Street, St Mary's Bay in 2008. The concept has already proved so successful they have opened another outlet on Customs Street, near the Queen Street corner.

Everything - bread, pita, sushi, juices, salads, pitas, wraps, 97% fat-free smoothies, sandwiches, gluten-free options and more - is all made on site, on a daily basis, and it shows. The servings are large - if you wish - and cost-effective. In no time at all - we're addicts.

Habitual Fix:

120 Beaumont Street, Sy Mary's Bay Ph: 09 368 1273
Cnr Queen & Customs Streets, Auckland CBD Ph: 09 916 1178

Vanessa wears top by Helen Cherry and sups a Strawberry Pash smoothie

Sneaky Squizz - Black 12 - 1

Robert Erdmann is no stranger to shooting stars. Nor is Australian hair master Kerry Warn who was name-checked in the last issue of Black by Sam McKnight as a hair-dressing legend that had helped to create a path for sessions stylists world-wide. So when the pair got together with stylist Kimi O'Neill (Paloma Faith, Issue 11) and make-up artist Georgina Graham to shoot rising British pop star Ellie Goulding (above), the sparks flew on a shoot that looks so perfectly then, as now...

Carrie's Shoe Coup

Aussie-based Kiwi shoe designer Carrie Cooper is getting a roll on (or should that be sole on) in her new incarnation as head designer for House Of Last. Black readers will be familiar with her semi-eponymous label Beau Coops which have already been lusted after on both sides of the Tasman. Cooper's role at House of Last involves more than Beau Coops though and keen observers of Aussie label Sass & Bide's AW 2010/2011 collection at London Fashion Week over the weekend may have noticed one of Carrie's co-creations with Sass & Bide looking rather splendiferous on the runway. The shoe (pictured above) is Cooper's first co-op with the label and will soon be available from selected, hand-picked outlets globally. We love...

for me, special days always mean FUR

my husband hates when i wear fur but on our special 4th year wedding anniversary, he's just gonna have to tolerate it. it's wicked special.

Black 12:Retro Zambesi with Vinnie out back

Yesterday for Black 12, we shot a ten page Rachael Churchward homage to Zambesi's 30 years at Mangawhai with photographer Marissa Findlay. Rachael styled up a Zambesi story based upon her vision of a label she has long admired, and it was amazing to see how completely cohesive this great New Zealand brand has remained over so many years. Shirley Simpson saw to hair and make-up and Zambesi Man's Dayne Johnston assisted Rachael in the styling department. It was a hot mid-summer's New Zealand day which felt beautifully incongruous and perfect all at the same time. Also beautiful were Ukranian/Polish model Olga S (62 Models/Chadwick), a Zambesi natural and our favourite boy in town, or out of town as the case may be, Vinnie Woolston (62 Models/Premier). We have been working with Vinnie for nine years and he just keeps evolving beautifully each year. Rachael cast Vinnie in his first shoot, for Workshop Denim's 2001 campaign, and fell in love with his personality, manners, and respect. His capacity to model naturally is unsurpassed in our experience. We think he is one of the hottest male models. Yesterday we were driving to a location in the truck and Vinnie wanted to ride in the back of the cab to "feel the wind on his body" - and that, in a nutshell, is what we love about Vinnie...you can't take Raglan out of the boy...

Black 12: Annabella Barber

Image: Capital City Pretty

Just getting high res images through of the amazing Annabella Barber - shot for Black 12 by Rupert Tapper and Paul Bui with truly amazing hair by Gavin Anesbury. Annabella is of course an ex-pat New Zealander who has been making waves in Australia through Priscilla's Model Management. Eyes, nose, mouth, hair (blonde in our shoot); pretty much everything about this girl suggests superstar...

so rihanna if me

purple leather gloves, scissors, and the alice and wonderland OPI collection make a fun project

Down The Stone's Way

"The songs have been written all over the place...in stormy corners of backstage rooms and rusty windows of old hotels in sleepy towns" say the Sydney based brother and sister duo Angus & Julia Stone. Affectionately known as "The Stones" the duo have been one of our favourite Australian acts since 2007's A Book Like This; a sublime collection of melody, harmony and acoustic loveliness. So when a package turned up this week with the new album Down The Way inside, it went straight into the drive and it has stayed there. They say the second album is always difficult (the band produced two EPs earlier; Chocolate and Cigarettes and Heart Full Of Wine) but Down The Way is simply difficult to ignore.

Mature, emotional song-writing, superb production and an undeniable sibling chemistry creates a solid platform, but it's the pair's singing which lifts the album to another level. Although the writing and recording of the album was literally a voyage (from an old sawmill in Golant, Cornwall to New York to Coolangatta, Australia) it is a seamless affair from start to finish with Hold On, Black Crow and Julia Stone's husky vocal on And The Boys and Walk It Off emerging as early favourites. Angus's palpable vocal on Draw Your Swords will strike a chord with fans of Lee Hazelwood and Grant Lee Buffalo among others.

Down The Way is due to be released in March.

should be writing, but ...

Chanel Temp Tattoos now for sale

http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Accessories-LES-TROMPE-L%27%C5%92IL-DE-CHANEL-89753

BUY ME ONE!

who doesn't love swatches?!

Keep On Running

Having something of a proclivity for 7" vinyl we were pleasantly surprised to receive the new Parallel Dance Ensemble single in the mail this week, and it's more than just the charm of wax that appeals. Run is a lovely thing; a lilting groove punctured by stabby disco keys, produced, played and arranged by Danish musician/producer Robin Hannibal. The rap by the artful Coco Solid is everything her local fans expect and enjoy, and the pretty, floating vocal by the mysterious Bobbi Soxx caresses the tune in a way that would capture Sia or Zero 7's attention. Recorded and mixed at Red Bull Studios in College Hill the single with instrumental b side is released as a Red Bull Music Academy project, speaking of which...

Red Bull Music Academy 2010 is mid way through week two in London and as we've written before both here and in Black Magazine, we love RBMA and the relationships and on-going camaraderie it creates. Run is a perfect example. Here's RMBA radio.

Tiger Tiger

Boh Runga, in association with NZ Mint, has released her latest line of jewellery. 'Tiger' is a range based upon both her Chinese heritage and 2010, the Chinese Year of the Tiger. It's a sign of bravery, the Tiger that is, and was admired by ancient Chinese as the sign that kept away the three main tragedies of a household - fire, thieves and ghosts. The collection looks to be even more desirable, and wearable, than Runga's last and represents the first time the talented designer has made rings. The Tiger 'Lovecat' cocktail ring (above) bears steely sapphire eyes and heart-shaped ears and the collection also features the earrings, bracelets and pendants she has created so convincingly in previous ranges.

Recommended retail prices start at $315 for the ring, $149 for pendants, $169 for bracelets and $135 for earrings inclusive of gst (currently 12.5%) - all in NZ dollars.

Available from selected NZ Mint jewellery retailers and online here at NZ Mint.

smoking looks cool

i don't know where this came from or why i perceive smoking this way, but it just looks cool. what the f*** is wrong with me for thinking that? i can't stand them because they make my allergies flare up intensely, but darn it, they look nice.























(photo from the sartorialist)

Not so Neff

Over the past month or so Matias Aguayo has provided something of a soundtrack to the way we are thinking about Black 12. Me Vuelco Loca, Rollerskate and Walter Neff spell both house and pop genius but also sound independent of both genres. Ay Ay Ay!

Aussie beauty mate!

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Spring

We shot beauty for Black 12 at Kingsize today with photographer Craig Owen, Black fashion director Rachael Churchward and the make-up artistry of M.A.C's Amber D, her assistant Kiekie Stanners - and model Alexandra Spencer (62 Models NZ/Chic Aust). We loved her. Alex, both a quality fashion model and beauty face, is pretty active both sides of the camera. 4th and Bleeker, her blog, is registering an average 100 comments per post which puts her in the serious league of fashion bloggers, and it's a beautiful blog; she knows her fashion. A visit to the 'store' on the site reveals the Jeepers Creepers Jumpsuit, designed by Alex who also models the same garment over four seasons, a great idea in itself. The JCJ has had a fantastic response already and there are more designs and a possible production partner in the pipeline. She says she never wanted to force anything down people's throats but rather to have her ideas evolve organically. The evolution is well under way...

Strangers in Hong Kong

It seems a long way from Dunedin to Hong Kong but not for local designer Sara Aspinall's Company Of Strangers who have just confirmed a partnership with Hong Kong stores Ballet and Voulez Vous - with a third store about to sign. Aspinall, who was assistant designer to Margi Robertson at Nom D for some years, made the connection when she attended the Rendezvous trade show in Paris recently and the relationships mirror a growing interest in New Zealand designers from the region. This campaign, shot by Olivia Hemus also features the styling talents of another Nom D assistant designer, Charlotte Rust. More proof of the depth of talent stemming from NZ's biggest little fashion city, Dunedin...

Photographer: Olivia Hemus
Styling: Charlotte Rust
Model: Chloe @ 62models
Hair and Make-up: Margo Regan
Graphic Design: Craig Fraser

i will always love you, alexander mcqueen

the skirt suit, the bird hat, all of it has left a permanent mark on me. this design in particular has been an inspiration for years and will remain a piece of me forever.