We are really looking forward to New Zealand Fashion Week this year, which kicks off in just under two weeks. We are extremely proud to announce that alongside our standard coverage (read: extremely comprehensive written and photo coverage of every show!) critically acclaimed illustrator and photographer Kelly Thompson will be joining the team as a guest editor, blogging daily about what she sees with her unique fashion perspective as both a member of the industry, and a now-Australian resident. Kelly is excited too, and shared her thoughts on the event, below.
I have a big fat inbox of emails, three deadlines this week and a little bit too much on my plate, but the thought of heading home for NZ Fashion Week 2012 brings me so much excitement that I'm sure my eight day countdown ( I'm coming early!) will speed by in no time - hopefully not to the detriment of my deadlines.
From the 30th of August my clients are on hold, all pencils are down, and for New Zealand Fashion Week I belong (hear that ASA, belong) to Always Sometimes Anytime as a Guest Editor, which I like the sound of very much; I play the words over in my head - maybe should put it on a sweatshirt.
After two-and-a-half-years of living away from New Zealand and missing Fashion Week I am feeling childishly enthusiastic about my return to the Motherland. During my time as a faux Aussie I have come to appreciate the very distinct style of the Kiwi designers more than I ever did while living there; I am constantly writing down the website of the brand who made my cape for strangers who stop me in the street, and I miss my wallet-stripping visits to the Karen Walker store while procrastinating. Recently I spent a week being photographed for a campaign with five of Australia's well known 'it-girl' fashion bloggers and I felt pride - that should really belong to the designers themselves, not me - as they all commented positively about every single New Zealand-designed item I wore.
So why did ASA ask me to be their guest editor? I'm not a writer, and in New Zealand I'm a pretty quiet achiever and don't particularly seek to be anything other than that, so I guess I was chosen as an all round fashion enthusiast and for my experience in the industry. I have worked in various areas - as a photographer, a makeup artist for MAC and a fashion illustrator - and am super aware that fashion is not just about the clothing: so many things come together to make a shoot or a collection happen. A bit about what I've been doing lately, then. I was recently chosen alongside five top Australian bloggers as a "Stylemaker", the only non-blogger in the bunch to spend a week in Broome being photographed for a campaign that launches later this month (#jasu). I am currently illustrating for Covergirl Cosmetics, and for the last year I have been working on a campaign illustrating for an International fashion house - one of the big ones. In September I begin travelling around Australia, a fashion illustrator representing one of the top gaming brands - an unexpected combo! - and since being here I have spoken at three Semi Permanent conferences and a local fashion event called Fashion Palette.
Prior to moving to Australia I had so many amazing experiences working alongside some of New Zealand's best stylists and make-up artists, all of whom fuelled my love for the industry, and it's these people that make me so excited to come back.
Obviously re-uniting with friends in the industry who I missed is really exciting, but I am also curious to see how things have changed at NZFW: who's watching, who's new, and from the perspective of someone living abroad, how does it all look from the outside? Will all of the audience still be in black skinny jeans or has New Zealand moved on (ed: don't knock black skinny jeans!)? I'm not a"fashion blogger", so I don't feel the need to promote for perks: my intention is to see, document and offer my opinions, and I don't expect you all to agree, but I will try to offer them with reason and research.
Cant wait to see you all in New Zealand and at New Zealand Fashion Week!
Check out some of Kelly's recent photographic and illustrative work below, and head over here to view her back catalogue.
Comments
comments powered by Disqus