New Zealand Fashion - Nonchalant & Debonair

By Author: Rose Young
Total Articles: 1
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What to ware when you feel like not wearing anything?

I have been an avid clothes shopper since I was seventeen, as I learned a skill of working out what is the right material and cut, I came to appreciate what does a properly tailored clothes can do for you.

It is one of the oldest trades of our society, taking unshaped cloth and converting it into a quality item.

When I was younger there was a lot of people around that were sawing or had sawing machines, one of them was our next-door neighbor. It was 80's and yellow was in. I was thirteen when she promised me she'll make me pants and top just the way I wanted it.

I was happy while it was all happening but it was an average job. I recall my disappointment when I measured that one sleeve was almost half inch shorter. I was so confused that I did not say anything. I actually pretended I did not notice it and never wore the top. Forgiven, but not forgotten.

This is the state of the big commercial brands like Replay, G-star .... today.

It had happened too often to me that a pair of the top priced jeans needs to be either returned or ...
... left our as an unsuccessful and sad purchase.

Just today I accompanied a friend in his shopping session. I tried about 5 items from the upper priced brands myself. I think that no matter how much you stretch your wallet you still might end up with a pair of jeans that rotate around your leg or a shirt whose sleeves are impossibly narrow, a lots of good ideas - yes - but too many of them end up on sales at factory outlets - for a good reason.

What ever happened with the sculptural, nonchalant and debonair clothes?

It's still there but not easy to find.

Since I moved to Australia in 2003 I worked out that there in not all that much happening on the local fashion scene. Sure we have to give credits to some Australian brands like Zampatti, Lisa Ho, Scanlan & Theodore. But no too many credits to Wayne Cooper whose dress I send back yesterday - totally out of proportion - failed online purchase.

However, New Zealand seemed to have more going on. High standard tailoring with the modern and edgy twist proves that New Zealand fashiondesigners are thinking "out of the box".