prairie girl musings

Tag: kate sylvester

  • What I’ll Be Wearing This Winter

    What I’ll Be Wearing This Winter

    Whether we want to admit it or not, winter is on its way here in Christchurch. And while I’m looking forward to hitting the slopes at Mt. Hutt, I’m even more excited to bundle up and actually wear 90% of my wardrobe. I love summer with all my heart, but appreciate the sartorial styles that emerge in colder climates. And so, I thought I’d share some of the AW ’16 trends I’m most fond of.

    Burgundy
    At Zambesi, we saw a lot of burgundy; burgundy with black, burgundy with grey and head-to-toe burgundy. This colour is so reminiscent of autumn and the changing of leaves. I love how it simultaneously looks macabre and sophisticated.

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    Calf-length cardigans and white denim
    Huffer epitomises street style, and I love how their collection seamlessly transitions from the city to the slopes. I can’t wait to layer calf-length cardigans over silk tops and white denim. Is it just me or is white denim even better in winter?

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    Leather
    I try to get away with leather year-round, but especially in the winter. I’ve invested in a quality leather jacket, but I’m also a fan of this leather dress by Kate Sylvester. I love the way Kate paired it with a turtleneck for a more office-appropriate ensemble.

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    Pastels
    As much as I love black, I am equally obsessed with light pink and lavender. You’ll notice it creeping into my wardrobe throughout the year, but especially in the winter when I live in my favourite pastel pink peacoat.

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    Neck ties
    Neck ties (pictured above and below) have been around for awhile, but what better time to don one than during the cooler months? I love the variations seen in Carlson’s runway show at iD Fashion Week.

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    Many thanks to my friend, Robyn Wilson of Anywhere I Roam Photography for these runway images. While my photographs suffice for Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, I’m very grateful for her professional skills!

  • Kate Sylvester On Finding Inspiration

    Kate Sylvester On Finding Inspiration

    Photo: Luke Foley-Martin
    Photo: Luke Foley-Martin

    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 Devereux
    Photo: Gabrielle Devereux
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    Photo: Luke Foley-Martin
    Photo: Luke Foley-Martin
    Photo: Luke Foley-Martin