Cooper & Trelise Cooper Winter 14 – New Zealand Fashion Week 2013
When you get a front row seat to Trelise Cooper, the best known designer in New Zealand fashion, and it takes you about half an hour to traverse across the amazing raised catwalk in the Westpac Shed you know you are in for a treat.
Trelise Cooper does not do things by half and the Winter 14 shows were no exception. We were treated to two shows in one. Cooper, the diffusion range tagged as “effortless luxe” and Trelise Cooper the “high end glamour”. In the designer description on the NZFW website Trelise Cooper brand was described as “The heritage of the Trelise Cooper brand is an Attitude, not a garment”. This collection showed a whole lot of attitude.
Cooper
“Escape to an English country manor for an adventure full of old world romance”. Winter 14 at Cooper took us back to school as the grungy kid. Backcombed hair, dark lips and facial piercings that wouldnt look out of place at a Vivienne Westwood show. This collection had a grungy attitude to the sports luxe concept.
Pinstripes and school house badges mixed with tartans, spots and stripes. There was a cacophony of styles here. It was like a mish mash of a weekend wardrobe for all weathers and events.
The wintery tale in the English country manor then took a twist to the glamourous with the most absorbing print. A drawing room, featuring a red writing table, picture on the wall and fire place. Mary Katrantzou would be proud. I just need to work out which print I want, the shift dress, the blouse of the pencil skirt?
Closing the Cooper show was true British heritage. The biker-chic leather jacket with the most amazing tartan dress with train. Heritage with a modern twist.
Trelise Cooper
As the lights went down a white tented area blossomed in the middle of the catwalk, the models would walk in and around it, a light in the captivating darkness that runs through the Trelise Cooper Winter 2014 collection.
Opulence reigned throughout with lavish textures and dramatic shapes. There was an element of offbeat glamour with the brave models in skyscraper heels and even more so skyscraper hair. The NZ Herald described the look at Park Avenue Princesses “Dramatically coiled conehead updos, suede-soft skin and an intensely matte burgundy lip gave towering models a glowering glamour.”
I was mesmerised by the first three looks in this collection. Bright, brilliant jacquard in a mottled leopard print, simply stunning. The collection brief in our goodie bag described a “hypnotic intensity” to the winter collection and I was deeply hypnotised. From lavish prints we moved on to more heritage tartan, sparkles on shift dresses, gorgeous oversized coats with dainty dresses.
The peacock featured in detailing (birds have been ever present in Winter collections this week), followed by checks, more print and a nod to the nautical outerwear we all love.
Trelise Coopers clothes are billed as “conversation pieces, ones that speak volumes” and I couldn’t agree more. The final piece in the collection was the most amazing gold sequined silk and chiffon dress. Truly stunning, amazingly set off against the white of the centre piece of the catwalk and a spectacular finale piece.
For more images from both shows check out the facebook albums for Cooper and Trelise Cooper.
Recommended
-
La Redoute Brand AmbassadorAugust 3rd, 2014
-
#weeklylust | Not Just A LabelAugust 3rd, 2014
-
Energise your work wearJuly 23rd, 2014
-
#weeklylust |Peter Pilotto Nova GeoPrint Ponte DressJuly 12th, 2014
-
#TedBakerLIVE! | Ted Baker Live Stream AW14July 8th, 2014