New Zealanders in Paris (and they goin’ gorillas).

Published January 27, 2012 Awesome Things , Menswear , Models 6 Comments

Michael Whittaker (right) backstage at Damir Doma. Image/Sonny Vandevelde.

Incase you hadn’t noticed, there have been a couple of Kiwis repping our country at the shows in Paris this month – first up, freshly off his catwalk-modelling hiatus – Michael Whittaker. The guy managed to nab himself a total of 5 shows: Julius, Damir Doma, Thom Browne, Balenciaga and Comme des Garcons (the latter in which he closed). Not too bad, not too bad at all.

Next up, new face on the scene Anmari Botha has shown up at three Couture events so far – Christophe Jose, Giambattista Valli and the Givenchy presentation. Pretty good for a girl who popped up in New Zealand mere months ago.

Other notable – Caitlin Lomax (who is Australian but who lists local Red Eleven as her mother agency, so it semi counts…) – has had a pretty stellar run over this last year, and this time she booked Chanel again.

Well done to all the New Zealanders (and pseudo-New Zealanders) reppin’ us overseas. Bring on womenswear!

Continue reading ‘New Zealanders in Paris (and they goin’ gorillas).’

Thanks for reading, would you like a present?

Published January 26, 2012 Awesome Things , Me , OMG 13 Comments

L: Persol, R: Ralph Lauren

Ages ago I said if I ever won the fashion category of the Concrete Playground Bloggers Award, that I would be giving back to you readers to say thanks. Well, I did win (insert smiley face here) and as well as the glory, I also got to pick up some pairs of sunnies (thanks to Sunglass Hut) as my prize. Now we’re up to the fun part – where I get to say thanks.

I’ve teamed up with Tim and Joe of The Shutter Pirates (the winners of the overall award) and we’ve decided to conjointly give away two pairs of sunnies and two Shutter Pirates photographs.

How do you win? It’s pretty easy – all you have to do is like The Shutter Pirates and Katherine Is Awesome on Facebook then leave a comment either on this post here, or let me know which pair of sunnies you’d like (more pics below) in the comments on this photo here (not on this post), and you’re in the draw.

We’ll pull two names out of a hat in a fortnight’s time and if it’s yours then we’ll send you an A3 print of your choice as well as a pair of the sunnies that were gifted to me.

Happy Thursday night folks.

Continue reading ‘Thanks for reading, would you like a present?’

Models I met and liked: Ella Verberne.

Published January 25, 2012 Awesome Things , Models 6 Comments

Ella Verberne @ Clyne.

For a while now I’ve been wanting to do mini-profiles on a few of the model girls (and boys) around town. Firstly, I’m pretty fascinated by the industry as a whole, and secondly, I figured it would be a nice new segment for the blog, being a new year and all. I intend for this to be a weekly (fingers crossed) installment on New Zealand models I love, models I have my eye on, up and comers and just plain favourites, so who better to start off with than one of New Zealand’s most successful new faces and one of the nicest girls around – Ella Verberne:

Continue reading ‘Models I met and liked: Ella Verberne.’

This is my favourite shot from the Stolen Girlfriends Club Autumn/Winter 2012 campaign.

Published January 23, 2012 Advertisements , Awesome Things , Models 8 Comments

All Images/Derek Henderson for Stolen Girlfriends Club.

About 20 minutes ago the new Stolen Girlfriends Club Autumn/Winter 2012 campaign imagery was presented to me, I came across this shot and had to share it with you. It’s my favourite of the lot. There are several reasons for this:

  • Firstly, I really like cornflakes. Well, I don’t really eat cereal that often (read: at all) but if I were to choose any cereal in the world as my favourite, it would probably be cornflakes. They might be boring, but with a bit of sugar sprinkled on top they can really be quite delightful. But I digress. I like that they’ve used cornflakes.
  • Secondly, the cornflakes are Homebrand. Extra points for this.
  • Thirdly, we all know I think Georgia Fowler is a fecking good model, and  it was shot by Derek Henderson and we all know Derek Henderson is my favourite New Zealand photographer.
  • Fourthly, there’s just so much going on in this photo. It’s just so damn interesting, there’s a tonne of things to look at and it’s just kind of refreshing to see a campaign image that isn’t super clean and minimalist.
  • Fifthly, there’s something nice about how Stolen Girlfriends Club has their brand guidelines down. They have amazing marketing skills and there’s no doubt these photos fit in perfectly with their target audience. They know the kind of image to present and they stick with it and that’s what makes them incredibly successful. High fives for that.

See some of my other favourites from the campaign and credits, below.

Continue reading ‘This is my favourite shot from the Stolen Girlfriends Club Autumn/Winter 2012 campaign.’

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published January 22, 2012 Awesome Things , Me , Rant 12 Comments

Image/onofield.com

Highs:

  1. The Australian Open, duh.
  2. I tried The Ice Bar Co.’s ‘Old Fashioned Lemonade’ Ice-block (twice) this week. I can honestly say it’s one of the best frozen treats I have ever had in my life.
  3. Two projects got underway this week and, fingers crossed that everything goes according to plan, there’ll be some exciting things to come towards the end of next month. I know it’s pretty dumb to say this and not explain further, but I’m of the opinion that nothing’s set in stone until it’s set in stone, you know? I don’t want to jinx everything by sharing.
  4. This week I acquired my very own Ari Gold! From now on – don’t talk to me, talk to my agent/consultant/internet-advice-giver, Nivin.
  5. This is a little off-brand, but if you’re not already reading Slutever, you really need to. It’s kind of really NSFW though – for those who are in the office right now – do not click that link! Aside from being bloody entertaining and well written, the blog is actually kind of liberating.
  6. This awesome piece of fan-mail that L.A.S of How To Talk To Girls At Parties received from an 81 year old in New Mexico, in defence of bow ties.

Continue reading ‘Highs and Low(e)s.’

Remember when I used to be a good blogger?

Published January 21, 2012 Awesome Things , Me , Menswear , Rant 2 Comments

Two looks from Valentino. Images/showstudio.com

Yeah, neither.

I must sound like a broken record, always telling you that I’m going to blog more and then not following through. If I’m being completely honest, I’m sort of avoiding the internet a bit. Well, as much as one can. Sometimes there’s just too much information. But, in saying that, I do realise that in order for one to actually be a ‘blogger’, one must actually ‘blog’, so in order to make up for the lack of KIA updates (I haven’t updated HERE, but I have updated the Tumblr and put up some things on my Facebook page) the past couple of days, I have compiled a list of things to entertain you until I get my highs and low(e)s on tomorrow:

  • Firstly, if you aren’t keeping up with Texts from Bennett you need to now. If only to make you feel comforted by the fact that someone like that exists in the world.
  • Secondly, this is supposed to be a fashion blog, right? Keep up with the collections, people! And if you can’t be bothered? At least check out the Valentino collection from Pitti Uomo. If that doesn’t blow your menswear minds, it’s time to get your head checked.
  • Tavi may not be your cup of tea, but there’s no denying she’s a full on teenage genius. The girl is incredibly well rounded and smart and basically everything a parent wants in a daughter. You don’t have to read her blog but you do have to watch this. “They were talking about how inappropriate it was for someone of my age to go to Fashion Week, she remembers, but this was coming from an industry that fetishes youth” – Tavi Gevinson. INCREDIBLE.
  • Oh my cake this looks fricken good.
  • My brother did a big photoshoot a few days ago – one that involved 11 models, guns, fire and a long ass drive to Taupo. He’s now got something like a week to get negative processed, retouching done and the whole thing printed and ready to exhibit. He won’t be getting any sleep, you can follow his progress on his blog and see some cool behind the scenes photos from his trip, here.
  • Two words: Gossip Girl.
  • One word: Californication.

The debut range of Thom Browne Eyewear is fulfilling my clip-on fantasies.

Published January 18, 2012 Awesome Things Leave a Comment

All Images/via the Thom Browne Facebook Page

When I was 9 years old I had clip-ons that attached to my glasses. They were wire frames with tortoise-shell inserts and had a koala bear motif on each of the arms. I remember feeling pretty cool about my clip-ons. That was then. Times changed – clip-ons were no longer cool (neither were frames with koala bear motifs) and basically that was the last time I ever thought about those funny wire contraptions that attached over your lenses, until today.

It’s over a decade later but I think it’s time those clip-ons made a comeback – and what better person to bring them back than Thom Browne? Images from the American designer’s debut range of eyewear surfaced on the brand’s Facebook page about a week ago, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since.

It’s a simple range – from circular John Lennon-ish wire frames and aviators to Browne’s take on the Ray Ban Clubmaster, the emphasis seems to be on ‘classic with a twist’ (cliché saying, I know), but the best part? At least half of the styles have clip-ons to go with them.

(No sign of koala bear motifs though.)

See my favourites below, and the rest here.

Continue reading ‘The debut range of Thom Browne Eyewear is fulfilling my clip-on fantasies.’

Shameless Self Promotion.

Published January 17, 2012 Me 8 Comments

Things I've worn.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but bear with me here – some of you may be new readers and some of you may not be aware, but I do a little thing where I document what I wear every day. Well, most days. I started doing it, partially out of curiosity (I want to know what the results will look like after a year) and partially because DOESN’T IT FEEL GREAT TO LOOK AT PHOTOS OF YOURSELF ALL THE TIME? *cough* Narcissist *cough*

I’ve been doing my ‘What I Wore Today’ posts for a couple of months now and, whilst the results aren’t too exciting, they do at least give people the opportunity to see my extensive range of model poses or  laugh at my lack of style or passively aggressively anonymously comment on how I wear the same things all the time. So, if you want to get in on the action (and of course you do, doesn’t that sound like fun?!) you can: Follow me on Instagram (thedownlowe), Twitter, or see the pictures on Facebook.

Happy Tuesday, folks.

New week, new thing: On and On’s Fisherman’s Beanie.

Published January 16, 2012 Awesome Things , Menswear 5 Comments

All Images/onandon.co.nz

There are a lot of things I could talk about from On and On‘s range of product – between the leather laptop cases Isaac blogged about all those months ago and the eighties style board shorts that remind me of the kind of thing american trust fund babies wear on their yachts (in a good way), the red and white striped cap and it’s leather strap and the unexpected stone-coloured melange shirt – there’s a myriad of covetable menswear within the collection. But I’m not here to rave about any of those things, I’m here to introduce to you one of the simplest products they have on offer: the fisherman’s beanie.

Continue reading ‘New week, new thing: On and On’s Fisherman’s Beanie.’

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published January 15, 2012 Awesome Things , Me , Rant 7 Comments

The Auckland sky at 8.56pm tonight.


Highs:

  1. Granted, the weather has been a bit up and down lately (mostly down) here in Auckland, but did you see the sky tonight??!
  2. The other week I won $20 on a $3 Instant Kiwi. I claimed my $20 and purchased another two tickets for $6 and won $5 off one of those tickets. If my 7th form statistics (not brainy enough for calculus) serves me correctly, that’s a total of $16 profit! I know, right? And people say gambling is bad!
  3. I know this will sound really lame and nerdy, but man have my tumblr follower numbers gone up this week! And inexplicably. It’s like a bomb went off on Monday and everyone just suddenly realised how great my photos and answers to questions are. Too bad I can’t say the same about Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, but I’ll take what I can get thank you very much.
  4. I went to this quite delicious Japanese restaurant the other night – quite delicious and pretty well priced. I’m talking $10 for a decent sized salmon sashimi and avocado salad and $9.90 for a prawn dish I will definitely go back for. I’m pretty sure nothing was over $15. Everything was presented much more nicely than you would expect from a tiny, off-the-road-in-a-block-of-not-so-attractive-eateries place and I am glad to have found it. You will be too – Banzai on Dominion Road. Look it up.
  5. Blogged more than once this week! (This is my 1100th post, by the way.) Went to several meetings! Sent several emails! YES! Does that mean the blogger’s block/apathy is gone?! Does that mean I’m back?! YES! (I hope.)

Low(e)s:

  1. I’m going to offend a few people here, I have to say it: What is with this ‘le’ phenomenon?! ‘Le Sigh’. ‘Le Angry’. ‘Le Oops’. ‘Le Poor.’ I don’t like it! I don’t get it and whenever I hear it or see it I die a little inside. LE LAME.
  2. This performance by Lana Del Rey. I quite like the song, it’s the performance that I really question. Thoughts?
  3. No one ever gets my tumblr caption jokes. No one. Either that or no one thinks they’re funny, in which case I’d rather just assume nobody understands them.
  4. This week was particularly emotionally draining. (As opposed to all those other weeks when it’s only a little bit emotionally draining.)
  5. I need a job. Or I need to win lotto. Or to marry someone who will keep me in the lifestyle in which I am accustomed. Obviously the second one is preferable but let’s be realistic here.

Things I have learnt this year thus far.

Published January 14, 2012 Awesome Things , Me , Oh. , Rant 7 Comments

Photo: Tristan Lewis.

  • There are few things more terrifying than driving around Auckland City with a flashing petrol light. Particularly scary streets to drive down in this situation? High Street, Queen Street and that super steep street that runs parallel to Queen Street behind the Langham hotel.
  • There are no guarantees in life (except that you’re going to die). Things can change in a second.
  • It doesn’t matter how many chicken bagels or half-scrambled-eggs-on-toast-with-extra-toast-and-a-side-of-avocado’s I order at Dizengoff, I will never get sick of eating either.
    Continue reading ‘Things I have learnt this year thus far.’

The New Zealand Fashion Festival 2012 kicks off in 6 weeks from today.

Published January 13, 2012 Awesome Things , Models , NZFF 2 Comments

New Zealand’s first fashion event of the year – the New Zealand Fashion Festival – will be kicking off in exactly 6 weeks from today. For those who aren’t aware, the NZFF is a 10 day long New Zealand fashion celebration in Auckland, that anyone and everyone can attend. There’ll be several events to go to, including shows (tickets go on sale on Monday) and things I’m probably not allowed to talk about yet. Basically it’s a great way for the public to get involved with fashion.

But more on all of that closer to the time. For now, just to get you a little bit excited and to pump up your Friday, I have this short behind-the-scenes video from the campaign shoot for you. Amongst others, it features the ever incredible Penny Pickard (N Model Management) and one of my top five new faces, Seon Hwang (Clyne).

Check it izzzouttt!

Continue reading ‘The New Zealand Fashion Festival 2012 kicks off in 6 weeks from today.’

I can get down with Patrik Ervell’s womenswear.

Published January 11, 2012 Awesome Things , Rant 1 Comment

Screenshot/patrikervell.com

It’s not every day that I can look through a designer’s collection and love every piece. It’s a very rare occurrence (if it even occurs at all). But very rare is not never, and last week when I stumbled upon this Patrik Ervell‘s womenswear collection (more images below) I had one of those moments where I thought I’d found the one.

Maybe I’m being slightly overdramatic, but I can honestly say that if I had the means (and by means I mean cash-monnayyyy) I would definitely be purchasing 70% of this collection – from the perfect tailored grey pants with a high rise and cropped at the ankle, to the the narrow white and blue button down shirts (those club collars!), the formal shirt (far left) with that amazing blue print and the tuxedo jacket (for all those formal occasions whereby I would need one…), from the patterned jeans, to the beanie (!!!), the ‘Norwegian Sweater‘ and every single other piece of knitwear to the navy bomber jacket, and last but not least – we can’t forget the black leather daypack.

Honestly, when does it ever get much better than this?!

Someone needs to bring Patrik Ervell to New Zealand immediately! (And not just the womenswear, because I quite like the menswear too.)

Continue reading ‘I can get down with Patrik Ervell’s womenswear.’

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published January 8, 2012 Awesome Things , Me , Rant 4 Comments

Photo: Isaac Hindin Miller.

Highs:

  1. Just finished the final episode of the final season of Friday Night Lights. I don’t know why this is a ‘high’ but it feels like an achievement of some sort. Five whole seasons and it’s all over.
  2. These Ray Ban opticals I was generously gifted (above). For those who are unaware, I am pretty blind. I wear contact lenses most days but I like to wear glasses at home or at night. I’ve a pair of Tom Ford opticals that I love but that I’ve been wearing for a good wee while now so it’s nice to have a secondary option.
  3. In case you didn’t see it on my tumblr already, this video of Ashley Smith. It’s a fricken good piece of marketing. It makes me want to buy the magazine and I’m not usually a sucker for this kind of stuff.
  4. In case you hadn’t realised, I was reunited with Isaac of Isaac Likes this week. He’s been visiting Auckland for a few days. On Thursday he was picking up some of his clothes he’s got in storage at his sister’s place and I happened to be there for the ride. Good for me, because he kindly gifted me a few things he no longer fits/wears. YAY. I basically doubled my wardrobe.
  5. The girl in short shorts in this video. You gotta watch the whole thing. Makes me wish I’d embraced my asian roots as a child and learnt martial arts.

Low(e)s:

  1. I think this week I did the least amount of blogging I’ve ever done since I started the damn thing (bar that one hiatus I took at the start of last year).
  2. New Year blues. Feeling really emo lately. I want to write all these emo things here about being lonely and how nobody understands me and how I’m going down to the garden to eat worms but I know I will regret it later so I’ll just leave it up to your imagination.
  3. New Year ‘what am I doing with my life’ crisis (which is becoming all too much a All-Year-Round crisis).
  4. El crappo weather in Auckland. One good beach day and I didn’t even go to the beach. It’s time we all move somewhere tropical.
  5. You know how they say mo’ money, mo’ problems? Well less/no money equals a lot of problems too.

Reasons why I haven’t blogged.

Published January 5, 2012 Me , Rant 10 Comments

I haven't been updating my blog, but I have still been doing What I Wore Today posts... Does that count?

Reasons why I haven’t really blogged this week:
  1. A certain someone said they would take my photo for a post and that certain someone hasn’t been available to do so. I mean this in the most passive aggressive way possible and I hope they are reading this and feeling guilty.
  2. Broken laptop charger :(
  3. What is it about this time of year? Nobody has any money because they blew it all on Christmas/New Year’s, nobody’s around and days are filled with a whole lot of nothing, and I don’t know for sure, but I can pretty safely say that you guys don’t want to read about how I woke up, watched a few eps of Friday Night Lights and then went to get lunch and then went to get coffee and then hung out and then came home and ate take out for dinner then watched more eps (repeat every day for the last week).

The end.

 

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There are only three things you need to know about me and this blog: My name is Katherine, I did not purchase this domain name, and for more info, you can ask me here. Unless specified, all photos are taken by me - if you'd like to use them, please credit. To see my photography, visit my photo blog.

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