Where do fashion designers find inspiration and who do they credit with their creativity?
Kate Sylvester shares the artwork that influenced her past and present collections and her ongoing love affair with lingerie.
You’ve surely seen Kate’s newest collection, A Muse, inspired by Picasso’s genius, his paintings and his muses who created the evolution of his work. Kate feels indebted to the huge treasure trove that is art, continually celebrating her heroes. “We all have to wear clothes and isn’t it ice to know you’re wearing a small piece of Picasso?” says Kate.
According to Kate, her very first lingerie collection, Vanessa Beecroft’s nude works was “a complete and utter failure,” but taught her tough commercial lessons that she still calls upon today. “First and foremost, we need to be commercial and on-trend,” she urges, a prevailing lesson throughout fashion week.
While many designers create youthful garments that don’t suit women of all ages, shapes and sizes, Kate makes clothes for living in. “I create clothes for myself, for my friends.” This wearability factor is present in every collection, no matter how quirky or elegant the final product. Kate manages to seamlessly draw from history’s great artists and photographers to create pieces that transcend time and appeal to consumers of all ages.
Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of Kate’s F/W Collection. How stunning is the lace Pola dress?
Photo: Gabrielle DevereuxPhoto: Luke Foley-MartinPhoto: Luke Foley-Martin
Living overseas has been one of the most rewarding (and challenging) experiences of my life so far. It’s helped me understand different cultures, people, and places and has shifted my perspective about home and relationships. Had I not moved to New Zealand seven years ago, I’m not sure I would have had the courage to change my career path or seriously pursue writing and journalism. Though painful at times, these life changing experiences have imparted many lessons.
Image via Pinterest
There are many factors to consider when deciding whether moving overseas is right for you. You’ll likely need to factor in your family, your health, your finances, your friends, maybe even a partner or a pet. While motivations for moving can range from personal to professional, the experience will teach you more than you could ever imagine. It’s been awhile since 19-year-old me decided to apply for a study abroad program in New Zealand, so I wanted to share some tips I’ve learnt along the way:
Save money. Whether you’re moving for a job or to study, make sure you save as much as you can. It could take you several months to find work, (or in my case, to sort out my visa!) so cutting back on everyday indulgences prior to departure is one of the most important steps you can take. Plus, when you arrive, you’ll want to explore and experience everything, so it helps to have a little extra cash in your savings.
Decide where you want to go. This can be one of the trickiest decisions, and it helps to consider your contacts, the economy, the climate, your background, etc. Did you study Japanese at school? If so, maybe consider a move to Kyoto. What’s the medical system like? How affordable is health coverage? Some countries are easier to navigate than others and some systems are easier on foreigners.
Sort out your visa. Like I mentioned above, obtaining a work or study visa can be a tedious process. Despite having dealt with immigration both in the United States and New Zealand for the past nine years, I still haven’t figured it out entirely. That being said, sorting it out in advance is a lot less stressful than arriving on a three-month visitor visa and crossing your fingers that something works out.
Research. Once you’ve decided on a country and secured your visa, it’s time to learn as much as you can about your new home. What are the local customs and laws? What languages are spoken in your new country? After deciding on a city, look at neighbourhoods to determine where specifically you’d like to live.
Apply for jobs. This is easier said than done (and I’m speaking from experience). Unless you’re highly sought after in your field, securing a job before arrival is very difficult. I mean, 11pm Skype interviews are only fun for so long. In the very least, do your research and figure out where you’d like to work and keep an eye out for job postings.
Network. Before setting foot on New Zealand soil, I didn’t know a soul in the entire country. While my first few days were rather lonely, I felt like I could be whoever I wanted to be, reinventing myself. I was in a university setting, so making friends was inevitable. However, if you’re moving for work, networking is even more important. Ask a colleague out for coffee or join an expat group to commiserate with whenever you feel a twinge of homesickness.
I hope these tips proved helpful! If you’re considering a move overseas, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
It’s no secret that I love New Zealand, a country I’ve decided to call home. I’ve talked (and blogged) about it on countless occasions, but have yet to disclose my favourite holiday destination.
Despite living in Auckland for three years, I’ve always been captivated by the South Island. Its geography changes so rapidly and dramatically; one minute you’re driving through the Southern Alps and the next you’re surrounded by lush greenery. After aimlessly counting sheep, you’re suddenly driving along the pristine coastline. It’s remarkable how the landscape shifts from arid to sub-tropical right before your eyes.
After one particularly magical week in Kaiteriteri, I even declared, “THIS is my favourite part of New Zealand!” I’m generally a pretty enthusiastic person, but something about Tasman resonated with me.
When faced with the task of showing our Toronto friend the best parts of New Zealand, we deliberated where he should spend the majority of his time. Granted, we’re living in Christchurch, which provided a great starting point for exploring the South Island.
We began our weekend in Nelson, which has an undeniably relaxed vibe about it. As New Zealand’s sunniest city, many Kiwis regularly consider packing up their lives and moving to Nelson. The city is packed with breweries, wineries and cideries, so those who enjoy a beverage or two will be satisfied. Be sure to visit Stoke, an established brewery that brews their beer in Nelson and is actually New Zealand-owned.
You won’t want to miss out on hiking Abel Tasman. Start the day off at Kaiteriteri Beach and catch a ferry to Anchorage Bay. On the ferry, you’ll see baby seals and Split Apple Rock. From there, hike 12km to Bark Bay (stopping at Cleopatra’s Pools and Sandfly Bay along the way!) Be sure to pack a lunch and some water. And like I said before, Kaiteriteri is one of the most beautiful spots in New Zealand.
Prior to leaving Nelson, we walked along the main street, stopping for coffee and fresh pastries at DeVille. With expansive outdoor seating, we soaked up some more of that Nelson sun. I was also planning to visit local gem, Palm Boutique, but was unfortunately short on time.
As we began our journey back to Christchurch, we were treated to gorgeous views of the Marlborough Sounds. We made sure to stop at The Mussel Pot in Havelock for legendary mussels in a glorious outdoor setting. With a huge variety of toppings, you won’t be disappointed!
After stopping for ice cream on the Picton harbour, we visited a seal colony near Kaikoura. It’s hard to believe how much we fit into one weekend.
Auckland is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the world. Despite being a relatively large city with 1.5 million residents, it feels more relaxed and slower paced than international cities like London, Hong Kong or New York. It seems like Aucklanders genuinely enjoy themselves and have established the perfect work-life balance.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve spent a good portion of my summer in the City of Sails, so why not compile a short list of why you should visit Auckland right now?
#1. The LightPath – a bit late to the party perhaps, the light path is Auckland’s answer to conquering urban sprawl and auto-dependence. While many say, “it’s only the start,” it still feels pretty wonderful to cycle and run above the traffic. Plus, it’s hot pink, so I can’t complain about that!
#2. There are countless publications devoted to discovering the latest cafes and eateries in every city, yet in Auckland I still manage to be consistently delighted by the food on offer. Prior to walking up to the top of Mount Eden at sunset, my friend and I decided to have dinner and discovered an authentic Italian restaurant (all the employees spoke Italian to one another) that I had yet to read about anywhere.
#3. When I first moved to New Zealand, I was (and still am) in awe of the beaches. You can’t go past Muriwai and Piha, two rugged West Coast surf beaches. We spent four amazing days up in Mangawhai Heads, which is just over an hour drive from Auckland.
#4. Everyone talks about the amazing coffee culture in New Zealand, but specifically Wellington. Auckland has really upped its game in recent months. My favourite café is Ceremony in Grafton.
#5. Only a 40-minute ferry ride from central Auckland, Waiheke is an enjoyable day trip. Hang out at Oneroa Beach and stop at The Oyster Inn for lunch or visit Mudbrick and Cable Bay Vineyards.
While graffiti and street art have a bad reputation, they also have the power to transform cities and neighbourhoods, expose social woes, start important discussions, and bring art to the masses. The likes of Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Shepard Fairey have challenged our idea of what constitutes street art. Why should art be reserved for galleries and why can’t it exist in our daily lives as we’re walking to work?
Christchurch is filled with bewildering street art. Within the city, there’s a dichotomy between graffiti vandalism, which the city aims to remove, and commissioned street art, which has been an integral artistic element of the rebuild. In fact, the city has commissioned many pieces to either beautify the rubble.
A few Saturdays ago, Nick and I were out on our usual post-market bicycle trip when we remembered that the street art festival, SPECTRUM was on at the YCMA until April. We were both seriously impressed with the exhibition and extensive information about graffiti in New Zealand. I know a little bit about street art in North America and the UK, so it was cool to see how New Zealand
The coolest thing about the festival is that you don’t even have to visit the gallery on Hereford Street (but you should!) because all the artists have been working across the city streets transforming blank walls into works of art.
Over the past two years, 25 huge murals have been produced as a part of Oi YOU! shows.
I was over the moon when my flatmate, Mel asked if I’d like to join her on a roadtrip to Wanaka. Apart from a pitstop a few years back, I had yet to explore this year-round resort town. The drive alone was worth the trip as we were rewarded with stunning, constantly changing scenery. Mel kindly drove the entire way as I gazed out the window and snapped photo after photo. After living in Auckland for three years, I had forgotten just how dramatic and diverse the South Island scenery is.
The following list should sufficiently equip the adventurous traveller ready to take on Wanaka.
Treble Cone: Granted we visited during the summer months, but Wanaka is a hit with skiers and snowboarders. Treble Cone is the closest ski area to Wanaka and the largest in the South Island. I’m already looking forward to a visit next winter.
Mount Iron: You can’t visit Wanaka without a hike up Mount Iron, an impressive, glacier-carved, 240-metre rocky knoll. Run or walk at your leisure!
Federal Diner: One of our favourite spots in town, we both loved the retro vibes and open kitchen concept of this diner.
47 Frocks: I fell head over heels for this must-visit boutique, which stocks many of New Zealand’s most covetable labels.
We daytripped to Queenstown, which is a short 45-minute drive from Wanaka. For a first-timer, I highly recommend partaking in all the adventure tourism on offer: skydiving, bungy jumping, white water rafting, oh my! Oh, and you can’t forget Fergburger. Other great spots for lunch include Vudu Cafe & Larder (food pictured below) and Bespoke Kitchen (as lauded by Denizen).
A few stops along the way:
Lake Tekapo: Characterized by its vibrant turquoise colour, Lake Tekapo is a popular destination in the summer months. Despite how beautiful it appears in photographs, it’s about 100 times more gorgeous in person.
Lake Pukaki: The largest of three alpine lakes along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin, Lake Pukaki is a glacial lake that has become famous for its milky-blue colour and as the foreground to Mount Cook.
What is New Zealand most commonly known for? Its rugged beauty and The Lord of the Rings, of course. But after that? Probably rugby. The All Blacks have been dominating the international rugby scene for longer than I can remember.
Living in Auckland, the colour black also dominated the wardrobes of many students and young professionals (as it does in many major cities). Ironically, I wore a lot of prints and colours when I attended uni in Auckland. It wasn’t until I moved to Toronto and started working at Club Monaco, that I realized the power of an all black ensemble. When you’re working retail six or seven days a week, rotating the same pieces is a reality, and working with a neutral palette makes that so much easier.
While I’ve re-introduced colour into my life, I still have a penchant for an all-black outfit. Elegant and flattering on any figure, it’s impossible to look bad in black. It’s also a bit mindless, which I appreciate on days when I don’t feel like spending too much time deliberating what to wear.
I wanted to highlight one of my favourite all-black outfits with all pieces by New Zealand and Australian designers. Also, this outfit has some serious Bukovyna vibes going on. I’m sure all my Ukrainian friends will agree.
Yes, I rode my bike in this. Yes, I had shorts on underneath.
When Nick surprised me with a weekend away in Akaroa, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew very little about the only New Zealand town colonized by the French. Located on Banks Peninsula, Akaroa is approximately an hour and a half from Christchurch depending on traffic and how accustomed you are to New Zealand roads.
My limited knowledge of Akaroa worked in my favour as we spent a sunny Friday afternoon navigating the winding South Island roads. Immediately upon arrival, I spotted a tangled up French flag and knew I was in for a treat.
I was enrolled in French Immersion from kindergarten to grade twelve, which means the majority of my classes were conducted in French. Needless to say, I was delighted to hear French spoken by both the locals and tourists. While I knew Akaroa maintained some of its French character, I didn’t expect much more than French road names and freshly baked croissants.
Upon arrival, we headed straight to our bed and breakfast, Villa Vangioni (also a surprise!) where we were warmly greeted by innkeeper, Kirsty. My experience with B&Bs is basically non-existent and Villa Vangioni, an immaculate, gorgeously decorated boutique property with sweeping views of the sea, provided the perfect introduction. Every detail was seamlessly executed and Kirsty even armed us with dinner recommendations.
Care for a bath? The traditional freestanding bath is absolutely dreamy and I loved perusing the wide range of potions and candles on display.
There’s even a dining room where you’ll be graciously served by the lovely hostess, Kirsty. I wore stripes in hopes that I would look Parisian.
A night spent at Villa Vangioni delights from start to finish. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw these stockings hung at the foot of our bed. We had the entire upstairs to ourselves, and at the top of the staircase was a bench adorned with figure skates and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Every detail of the property is so carefully considered that I’m already dreaming about a return visit!
I couldn’t help but take a photo of these tiled floors in the bathroom!
Other highlights of Akaroa included dinner at The Little Bistro, this small restaurant has a lengthy wine list and resplendent views of the harbour. The cuisine is French, of course and service is attentive. I also recommend the Akaroa museum to gain some understanding of the town’s history.
A lovely spot for coffee is The Brasserie. The garden restaurant is an cozy spot to settle in with a flat white for some quality people watching.
From virtually any vantage point, within this small seaside town, there are plentiful views of the quiet harbour. Fortunately, we ventured to Akaroa just before prime tourist season, and it seemed as though we had the entire town to ourselves.
For more information or to book your stay at Villa Vangioni, visit the website.
As you may know, I recently relocated to Christchurch, New Zealand and have been exploring the various neighbourhoods that comprise the garden city. In many ways, Christchurch is almost unrecognizable from its prior self. With whole blocks completely wiped out by the earthquakes, the city is disorientating even for those who’ve spent their whole lives here. While there’s lots to miss about the old Christchurch, the ongoing revitalization continues to challenge the city’s former ecosystem. The contrasts between old and new, pre and post-earthquake are what compelled Nick and I to move back. And we feel unusually privileged to be here; to witness and influence this city in transition.
New jobs are constantly being created as projects unfold, bringing diverse talent into what was previously one of New Zealand’s more homogenous populations.
One of my first priorities upon arriving in Christchurch was to purchase a bicycle. With new cycleways being added on the regular, I thought what better way to get around and experience the city! Fortunately, I discovered Velo-Ideale, a small workshop selling beautifully simple bicycles. I like the owner’s emphasis on a relaxed and comfortable style of riding.
Nick has taken me on several tours of downtown Christchurch. I found the 185 empty white chairs piece, which is a memorial dedicated to the 185 people who lost their lives on February 22nd, 2011, incredibly powerful. Moments like these act as reminders of what was lost, but you’ll also notice just how alive Christchurch is at present and why it’s such a valuable place to visit.
The beautiful Anglican cathedral was severely damaged by the February 22nd, 2011 earthquake and now the congregation worships at the cardboard cathedral, a transitional space. The cardboard cathedral is host to many local events, just last week we attended a Korean festival.
I’ve been seeing these trams everywhere and they remind me of Toronto’s streetcars. I initially referred to them as streetcars and instantly gave myself away as a non-local. I obviously want to have a ride, but apparently they’re quite expensive. I’m assuming they’re used for tourism purposes only rather than a viable way of getting around (like in Toronto).
New Regent Street is my favourite street in Christchurch, those pastel facades are just too pretty.
Of course, I’ve also been indulging in the delicious café scene. Christchurch has so much fresh produce and the coffee culture is unbeatable. Foodie culture has multiplied in recent months, with more restaurants, cafés and bars than imaginable. My favourites so far are Hello Sunday, The Caffeine Laboratory and Supreme Supreme. I’m also a huge fan of Made Espresso Bar‘s interior and the coffee at C1 Espresso, which has done amazing things for the central city.
I was craving a Montreal-style bagel and The Stolen Bagel didn’t disappoint!
Lyttelton is a vibrant port town on the north shore of the Lyttelton Harbour. It is all too easy to spend an afternoon exploring the old storefronts and watching the ships.
New Brighton is a beautiful coastal suburb, east of central Chirstchurch.
The Christchurch Farmer’s Market is a sight to behold. Held every Saturday morning, vendors sell fresh produce, delicious baked goods, and locals and visitors gather by the river to relax and enjoy their breakfast.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but Christchurch is Nick’s hometown. Last week we visited his family home, which was significantly damaged by the series of earthquakes. To say that I admire his resilience and foresight is an understatement. He loved growing up in Christchurch and has always spoken of it fondly. Thankfully his knowledge and expertise working as an transportation planner in Toronto will be a huge asset to the Christchurch City Council.
I attended Cup and Show Week thanks to some lovely friends, Andrew, Beth and Mariah! I’ll take any excuse to dress up and wear a fascinator!
From the moment I stepped off the subway at Osgoode Station, leisurely rolling my suitcase across the streetcar tracks, I knew I’d love living in Toronto. It was a place I had visited as a child, and then again in my late adolescent years. When I graduated university, I applied to every editorial internship I could find in Toronto because “if I could make it in Toronto, I could make it anywhere,” or so was my mantra. Over the past two and a half years, Toronto has continued to surprise and enchant me. City life is less overwhelming than when I first arrived, but no less impressive. And it is with both excitement and apprehension that I say goodbye to this wonderful city.
Nick has accepted a job as a policy planner in his hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand. Yes, that Christchurch. The one that was ravaged by two earthquakes, devastating the downtown core, claiming the lives of 185 people, and displacing thousands more from their homes and jobs. Even thinking about the move overseas has been emotional, and we haven’t started packing up our apartment. Not only is Christchurch so far from home, it will differ from what I’ve known in countless ways. Having lived and studied in Auckland, all of my friends are there. So yes, I’ll be closer to them, but still so far.
I recall my first visit to the Garden City in 2009, pre-earthquake. Almost immediately, I remarked how I could see myself living here, even settling down in this stunning city surrounded by ocean and mountains. Nick has often spoken about how he’d like to return, to help rebuild his parents’ home; a beautiful Victorian that will soon be torn down. His new job will allow him to influence Christchurch’s rebirth through public transport and accessibility. Having the foresight to envision a lively, vibrant community, Christchurch is projected to be a cycling city where people gather in the town centre. The New York Times even published an article about the many reasons to visit Christchurch, post-quake. I have no doubt that Christchurch will rise above the rubble like many great cities struck before it. Just look at San Francisco and New Orleans, both experienced revitalization and surges in tourism following devastating natural disasters.
There have been many incredible initiatives taking place in Christchurch, demonstrating the compassion and strength of its residents. In a world of war and turmoil, it’s important to acknowledge the small victories of a city’s rebirth and the humanity of its people. It invigorates my spirit to know that in times of need, communities step up in order to help one another heal and get back on their feet.
prairie girl musings 
