All Images/via karenwalker.com

For weeks I’ve had two tabs open in my browser at all times (that is, alongside the other 7 that are permanently open at all times – Gmail, Google reader etc – those are a given). One of those is Karen Walker’s 2012-2013 ‘Sea Monsters’ Resort Mainline collection, the other is Karen Walker’s 2012-2013 ‘Sea Monsters’ Resort Runaway collection. I’m obsessed with both. I look at them every day and I can honestly say I’d wear at least half of the pieces in reality – that’s not even in dreams – in reality. That’s pretty rare for me.

First of all, there’s a tonne of blue throughout both Resort collections, and I love blue. There’s a nod to ‘The Village’ collection from 2010 (which I loved) – white stripes and trims on the hems of navy skirts and dresses. There’s polka dots. And there’s Kelvin Konoplyosova modelling. Bloody Kelvin, she makes everything look so damn good.

Here are some of my favourites (basically everything) from the collections:

Runaway:

Navy. Polka dot. Dresses. All Blue Everything. So good I can’t form proper sentences. The dress below left? Paired with that bucket hat? Adorable. Damn if I saw a girl walking down the street in that outfit looking like that, there’s no way I wouldn’t stop and take her photo.

Side note: I’ve heard those shoes are coming in half sizes, which is awesome, because I’m between sizes with this season’s blue/gold and cigar/gold heels and it kills me.

Mainline:

Okay so the above is a bit eight-year-old-girl-party-dress but that’s what I like about it. I had a white party dress much like the one on the right, when I was eight. It had the sheer layers and cap sleeve and everything. It also had rainbow motifs on around the skirt. This is like the more grown up version of it and my nostalgia, I’m loving it.

Print on print on print. Blue on blue on blue. My jam, my jam, my jam. Pretty sure I’m going to get the boat pants in this print, and maybe even the tee. I’ve gotten over the fact that print on print top/bottom sets look like pyjamas and I’m embracing it.

So good, right?!! I know this post hasn’t been very articulate and is coming across very fan-girly and ranty, but I don’t know any other way of writing that gets my level of enthusiasm for these collections across. Who’s with me?!

How did you get into modelling?
I went to Catwalk Studios’ workshop when I was 13 [Editor's Note: Catwalk Studios modelling workshops are run by Monarch model agency owner, Amanda Bransgrove]- I was forced to go by my mother. Amanda said as soon as she saw me coming down the road she loved me!

What was your first job?
Walking in a Newmarket Young Designer show.

Favourite modelling job so far?
Doing New Zealand Fashion Week last year.

Dream modelling job?
A big fragrance campaign.

Dream modelling destination?
New York.

What do you love about modelling, and what do you hate about it?
I was always teased for my height and weight when I was younger. Modelling is kind of a way to embrace how I am. Also, it’s a good feeling, being able to portray a designers collection. What I don’t like is the loneliness and how it’s not a very consistent job.

How do you find the pressure and the rejection at such a young age?
I’m still kind of new so it’s not so extreme yet. I’ve got a pretty thick skin. Rejection still hurts though, I did a bridal show and I had my hair and makeup done and everything – my friend had even come to watch and then at the last minute I got dropped by the designer. That hurt. But there’s always rejection, you’ve got to get used to it.

What about staying in shape? Dieting and exercise and all of that? How do you find it?
Staying in shape is pretty easy right now – I’m young. Also, my dad is 6’8″. I’ve got his genes. I eat 20 times what my friends do. I love sports and used to play a lot but I have light asthma which stops me.

If you weren’t modelling, what would you be doing?
Well I’m in school right now. It’s kind of my main focus at the moment – I do well in school. I work hard at it. I want to be the ‘smart’ model. In the future I think I’d like to own my own early childhood centre. I love kids. That or a cardiothoracic nurse. I want to give back.

What’s the last thing you bought?
Pyjamas from Peter Alexander.

Favourite food?
Pizza

Favourite model?
I love Gemma Ward.

Favourite colour?
Pink. I know, typical girl answer.

What’s something people wouldn’t necessarily know about you?
That I’m lefthanded and that I have irrational fears of two things: Bellybuttons, and geese. Bellybuttons because they’re disgusting, and geese because I had a traumatic experience with them when I was young.

Draw me a picture of your favourite animal:

Dolores t-shirt dress. All photos of me/Louise Hatton.

While I was in Wellington a couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to see the girls behind Twenty-Seven Names – Anjali Stewart and Rachel Easting – for a catch-up, a bit of breakfast, and whilst I was doing that I was lucky enough to have a little in-person sneak peek at their forthcoming Spring/Summer 2012-2013 collection, ‘Nine Lives’.

I popped into their new workroom to see the samples – a bigger, airier and lighter space than their old place, and because Because I’m a little kid and I have a problem with ‘look and don’t touch’, of course I had a try on. And because Wellingt0n-based photographer extraordinaire Louise Hatton had also stopped by, I capitalised on my situation and got her to take a few shots of me, in the new workroom, in some of my favourite pieces from the new collection. For some reason, photos of one of my favourite outfits disappeared and got lost in The Matrix, so I’ve supplemented with some looks from the not-seen-before lookbook (shot by Guy Coombes, modelled by Georgia Fowler). Check it out:

Spottie Ottie angora sweater and Lola Spot pant. All lookbook images/Guy Coombes.

The outfit photo that was missing, included the above spotted pants. I love pants and I love polka dots so obviously these are my jam. They’re the perfect summer weight, too. The Spottie Ottie angora sweater is also pretty amazing – cropped (so good for high waisted pants), soft as soft as can be, with a subtle giant polka dot.

The following Beauchamp lace dress isn’t something I’d usually wear but after seeing it and trying it on, I realise that this needs to be something that I should usually wear. It’s light and comfortable and feminine and for some reason, even though I don’t think I’ve ever been before (aside from for weddings and one school trip to see the organs), it kind of reminds me of church. I mean this in the best possible way:

Beauchamp lace dress.

I am not writing about the Katherine dress because it has the same name as me or because I am pretending that it was named after me, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s schoolgirl-esque and in one of my favourite colours (navy) so I’m basically sold on those two things:

Katherine Pullover dress.

Blue Ivy floral shirt and Maize culottes.

The below Savannah Spot dress also comes in Maroon and I’m pretty sure that I’m going to get it. It’s very sweet, it has a collar which will look great with a sweater, and it’s polka dot. I am well aware I could be getting a little old to be wearing this style of dress, but as of yesterday I have started using Kiehl’s wrinkle cream so don’t worry, I’m working on it:

Savannah Spot dress.

Every season Twenty-Seven Names brings back this Breton tee and every season I think ‘I really need one of those’:

&co Breton tee and Cameo culottes.

&co cardigan and Violet Floral skirt.

Cameo cats. This print is going to kill it. I know it:

Love Cats sweater and Cat Cameo socks.

This collection will be available from late August so start saving already!

Zoe Fleury. All Images/Hone Hernandez.

A wee while back I got an email in my inbox asking if I would like to meet Zoe Fleury. Zoe, in case you don’t know, is of Zowie fame. Zowie, Bionic Pixie and prior to that, the Bengal Lights. Not one to dismiss an opportunity to meet a bonafied pop star (not going to lie, I listened to ‘Broken Machine‘ about a billion times when it came out), I gratefully accepted the offer. A couple of weeks later I found myself waiting at Dizengoff for the girl. She showed up, tiny, head to toe in black, a bow in her hair, bobble eyes on her middle fingernail (see below), metallic pink handbag in one hand, (awesome) and Batman printed backpack in the other. Something about her reminded me of Japan. Don’t ask me why, it just did. She sat down and I, through bites of my chicken bagel, asked her everything I wanted to know:

Zowie! Tell me. How do you even pronounce Zowie? I’ve heard it said like ‘Bowie’ as in David Bowie, and I’ve also heard it like Zoe, as in your name. Which one is it?! It’s Zoe, as in my name.

So, how does one fix their broken machine? I wrote the song a long time ago, the lyrics have changed since then. You’ll have to listen to the song to find out!

Describe Zowie in three words: Rhythmically-tastic, manic, pop.

How did Zowie evolve/come about? I’ve been drumming since I was 10 years old, always doing music, music school and everything. Then I joined Bengal Lights – a two piece screechy punk band. From there I had Bionic Pixie which was a bit like Ziggy Stardust. Everything evolves. My look changed – more cutesy. I decided it was time to morph into something new – Zowie.

What do you love about being a musician? Being able to express myself on stage. When I’m on stage I say whatever I want.

What do you hate about being a musician? I think it’s humorous that people think they can say whatever they want about your work.

What’s your favourite store in Auckland? I only shop at those crazy Japanese stores in the city!

Favourite fashion designers? Gareth Pugh. Jeremy Scott, Discount (it’s a Melbourne label), Serena Fagence.

Favourite NZ band? The Mint Chicks.

Favourite food? Japanese.

Favourite restaurant? Ken Yakitori.

Favourite bar? Ken again!

Favourite drink? Whiskey.

Favourite colour? Purple.

Favourite animal? Cats. And pandas.

Favourite place? Hong Kong. Or Atlanta.

What’s the last thing you bought? This amazing lavender leather jacket and bustier. I got it online. Also, some fluffy orange kitten earings. They’re clip-on.

Zowie’s new album, ‘Love Demolition’, was released yesterday. Check it out!

Maddy, Zoe and I.

Little Brother spotted chambray shirt. Images/James K Lowe.

This week:

• When I originally shot some pieces from the Little Brother Winter 2012 collection a few months back, I really wanted to include the above (and below, and here) Cruiser polka dot chambray shirt. Unfortunately, at the time, the sample wasn’t available to me so I had to forgo it, but ever since seeing the sketch and fabric swatch I’ve kept my eye out for the shirt to arrive in stores. A couple of weeks ago, I saw the thing had finally dropped and I got my hands on one. It is so good. It’s a deep baby blue, has a washed, lived-in softness about it, and best of all, the XS fits my shoulder like a dream. I don’t know how any man would fit that XS, but to be honest I don’t really care because mine is el perfecto. The other day I wore it with a crew neck sweater and full skirt – damn it was cute. You can grab your very own for NZ$149.00 at Barkers stores nationwide, or online here. And what’s more, (but wait! There’s more!) right now you can actually grab the shirt and a knit for the bargain price of NZ$180.00 – great for those who were into that navy striped sweater too. (PS. Yes that cap is the Arcade x Pass-Port collab one – they’re selling out fast so if you want one, be quick.)

MAC Superslick liquid eyeliner. Image/via Google.

• If you follow my blog you may already know I’m not exactly a huge make up expert. In fact, I’m kind of the opposite. I own a decent amount of it, but don’t wear it that much or really know what to do with a lot of it. One of the few things that I can get on board with, though, is eyeliner. My friend Maddy wears eyeliner a lot and it looks damn good. I do it sometimes but man, there’s always something really tricky about liquid eyeliner. Aesthetically I like it a lot because it’s sharper and bolder and cleaner than pencil, but in terms of actual physical application – it’s a damn nightmare. How does anyone get perfectly even liquid eyeliner? Why is it that one eye is always perfect and the other is always crooked?! Granted, I have limited eyeliner knowledge, but what I do know is that you need to try a few. One of the best, in my humble opinion, is MAC’s Superslick liquid eyeliner. The thing comes in a sort of pen/brush combo which I find one of the more simpler ways to apply it, and in terms of ‘stayability – it hangs on for dear life. For adventurous types, Superslick comes in a range of metallic colours, but I like classic black. It’s available from MAC for NZ$42.00. Eyeliner experts – try it and let me know what you think. Also, if you’ve got some easy ‘how to apply the perfect eyeliner line’ tips, send those through too!

Image/www.ray-ban.com

• I know it’s Autumn/Winter already, and sunglasses are probably not high on the priority list, but today I came across this pair by Ray-Ban (again, I know) which, despite the fact they’re a bit hipster looking, seem like they could be a goer for me. The pair I actually tried on were the above, but in pink. Pink frames, pink lenses. I was never one of those girls who loved pink but the pink pair struck a chord with me. They’re a bit John Lennon or something. For those who aren’t into pink, the ‘Arista’ comes in a variety of lens and frame colour combinations, including classic ‘black’ and gold (see here). If they’re good enough for Sienna Miller, they’re good enough for me. If they’re good enough for you too, you can pick them up from the Sunglass Hut
• Finally, just quickly, today I had my first meal at the new(ish) Kokako café in Grey Lynn. I’m not exactly a vegetarian – quite the opposite, in fact – but I thought my non-meat meal was delicious. It was gnocchi with mushrooms and broccoli. I don’t have a photo of it but trust me, it was creamy and cheesy and good. The gnocchi was really light and fluffy and the broccoli made me feel like I was being healthy. I teamed it with a lemon, honey, ginger (very good) and a coffee (also very good). My eating partner (who didn’t actually eat) had a smoothie and pronounced it ‘delicious’. I suggest you visit if you haven’t already, if only to see the decor – it’s one of the best looking cafés in Auckland.

My grandad. Image/James K Lowe's instagram (@jamesklowe).

Highs:

1. Happy Mother’s Day Mom!
2. I went off the (internet) grid this week (sort of). It was pretty good, but I’ll be back on this week so don’t get too excited.
3. I got back from Sydney to find that my mom’s boyfriend had cleaned (no mean feat with all the crap in there) and fixed up all the dings in my car (I’m a really good driver, for reals) – Thanks David!
4. Next Saturday is May 19. (Which is coincidentally one of my best friends’ birthdays (HI KATE!)). May 19 this year also marks the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation’s White Shirt Day. White shirts are a staple in every good person’s wardrobe, everyone knows that. This time, though, if you purchase one from Witchery in the lead up to Saturday, 100% of proceeds from the sales of the Witchery white shirts will go to help fight Ovarian cancer. There’s no reason not to do it!
5. Wocolate sent me some Happy Socks in the mail. You can’t get too much better than unsolicited gifts in the post. They’re red with white polka dots too – even better.
6. I’ve become more and more obsessed with Instagram this week. You can follow me, if you want. My username is thedownlowe. I don’t post that much but when I do, I tell you it’s bloody good. Mostly. Sort of. Well, my pictures are nowhere near as good as Nicole Warne‘s (@garypeppergirl – check it) but no one’s are so we’re all screwed. Mine are still okay though. For example, today I put up a picture of myself as a child, pretend driving a car, with the caption ‘Asian driver from way back’. I know, right??! I’m FUNNY too!

1. I am sick. I hardly ever get sick, except for three weeks ago and now. This is what I get for rejecting the flu shot.
2. How is it that I get a big invoice paid, and I still have a four figure debt on my credit card? Oh wait, that’s right. Because I have a spending problem.
3. I spent a good three hours giving a relationship pep talk to a girl last night. This is bad, because I am the worst with relationships, ever, so if I am giving relationship advice, what has the world come to? I also depressed the hell out of me. Basically I was trying to convince a nice, cute, generous and lovely girl that she shouldn’t get back together with the guy she’s recently broken up with (but still talks to most days and ‘sees’ every week – “it’s complicated”). A guy who doesn’t treat her particularly well, a guy who borrowed a large sum of money and hasn’t paid back the last of it (which is still a four figure amount). With this and all the relationshiptalk on Isaac’s blog, this post here, and the tv show, ‘Girls‘ (which is amazing, by the way – and way too real), I feel overwhelmed. What is wrong with us girls?! Why are we such idiots?! Why are we conditioned to think our self worth is based on how skinny we are, what clothes we wear and what boys we can get to like us?! Whhhhhyyyyy???
4. My (second) laptop charger has apparently just died. F*ck. How am I supposed to blog now?!

This post is dedicated to my grandfather. He passed away on Friday morning after suffering a stroke on Tuesday night. He was a really great man. I’ll miss him a lot. Thank you to those for their love and support over the last few days. 

How did you get into modelling and how long have you been doing it for?
I started when I was 15, so five years I’ve been doing this. I intially entered a competition in St Lukes Mall with a friend. The woman who ran it suggested I send some photos to Amanda at Red 11 – it snowballed from there.

What has been your favourite job so far?
My most recent highlight was going to Bali to shoot for a Japanese mag. That was pretty cool.

Favourite place to model so far?
London and Tokyo.

Dream modelling job?
A Balenciaga campaign shot by Steven Meisel.

What do you love about modelling, and what do you hate about it?
I love it all. The travel is a bonus, especially coming from New Zealand. It’s stressful and you never know what’s happening with your life but I love it all.

And the money?
Realistically, aside from commercial work and unless you hit the top, there’s not too much money to be made at all.

What about Fashion Weeks?
They’re exciting and fun, but hard work. There’s something about Fashion Weeks that separate the physically strong from the mentally weak.

What about staying in shape? Dieting and exercise and all of that? How do you find it?
My dad’s side of the family is super petite and I’ve always been like this. I love savoury food, I’m not so much a treats person. I go to the gym a couple of times a week. I’m pretty lucky with my genetics, you see some horrible things in model apartments…

If you weren’t modelling, what would you be doing?Right now I’m modelling full time and studying via correspondance. If I weren’t modelling I’d probably move to Sydney and study. At the moment I am studying Marketing and Statistics but I think I’d quite like to do something in Journalism…

What’s the last thing you bought?
A blue Kate Sylvester shirt. I actually treated myself to a couple!

Favourite food?
Roasted sweet potatoes and Okonomayaki – it’s a kind of savoury Japanese pancake.

Favourite models?
Karlie Kloss and Daria Werbowy.

Favourite place?
Home with family and friends.

What’s something people wouldn’t necessarily know about you?
I really want to do Hip Hop lessons in New York and go sky diving at the end of the year. Also, I’m tone-deaf.

Draw me your favourite animal:

Elin Kling and other fashionable people outside the shows.

Highs:

1. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia: Sydney. Hotel. Reunions with people I don’t see enough. Lots of work. Interesting outfits. New people. Sunshine.
2. The Burberry party on Friday night. I go to a few events around the place but this one takes the cake for this year so far. I have never been in a room with such attentive waiters, ever. I swear those people are like drink pouring magicians – you barely see them, just think to yourself maybe you’ll need a top up soon and they’re right there. And on top of that? Canapés. Little paper cups of fish and chips, zucchini tarts with goats cheese foam, baby burgers, mini chicken pies with pea purée. All sorts of food. All sorts of people. All sorts of fun.
3. Girls dress up in Sydney. Aside from the models, I don’t recall seeing any girl at fashion week that wasn’t dressed up – high heels, Prada, the works. Everyone looks amazing, I just can’t understand how they muster up the energy to dress like that 5 days in a row. Keeping this in mind, you’ll imagine my surprise when Oyster asked to take my photo - me, in my normal clothes (read: scruffy, untucked shirt, flat shoes, unbrushed hair, etc). I’m happy but also pretty shocked at the same time. Does this mean us non-shiny girls are cool too?!
4. My week consisted of mostly sporadic meals – McDonald’s at 1:00am, a sushi roll at 3:00pm, an $18 toasted sandwich at the venue (I know, right?!) – but I did have two pretty good dinners in-between. First being pizza with a whole host of ‘fashion’ people who weren’t attending the shows (followed by a pretty entertaining 3 hours of karaoke) and the second, a delicious three course meal with all New Zealanders, courtesy of the team at MAC. Hoorah!
5. My #OverheardAtMBFWA went down pretty well. And everything said was true, too.

Low(e)s:

1. I was right. I overpacked like a mofo. 23.1kg on the way back, with an 8kg piece of hand luggage. Ridiculous.
2. Hanging around models for a week really doesn’t do much for one’s self esteem. It’s one thing to hang out with tall, skinny, good looking groups of girls, but it’s another to actually talk to them and find out they’re really, really awesome as well. Jeeeeeez.
3. Wow so after Wellington and Sydney, I sort of have no idea what the hell I am doing. Am I supposed to get a real job now? Am I going back to regular blogging? What am I doing with my life? Is blogging what I really want to be doing? How behind am I on my taxes? How bad is the state of my bank balance? What is going on?!?! Life crisis!

Three words: Ladies In Lycra.

Swimwear maestros We Are Handsome, presented their collection on Thursday afternoon. They went animalistic with their prints – a zebra lined catwalk matched a zebra-print one piece, and lion and tiger faces adorned the torsos of the girls.

With a banging soundtrack and a pretty vocal audience (the place was packed), you could see they were a bit of a crowd favourite. A fun show to end my week on.

Who: Katrina Hoernig
Agency: Viviens