Fashion Quarterly June 2019

SHARON LAM Currently based in Hong Kong, following an extended stint in Wellington where she studied architecture, Sharon published her hilarious debut novel Lonely Asian Woman earlier this year. On page 86, she writes about identity and finding the ultimate souvenir. FIONA RALPH @fiona_ralph The features editor for Nadia magazine and vintage fan has a stylish wardrobe of second-hand pieces – including a collection from late Kiwi designer Colin Cole. She writes an op-shopping column for Your Home and Garden, turning her eye to style for FQ; she explores vintage for all ages on page 54, and shares her own sustainable wedding tips on page 183. LIV WAKEM @kensal_flowers Auckland florist Liv opened Kensal Flower Studio last year, named after her former neighbourhood in London, where she worked at hip flower shop Scarlet & Violet. Back home,…

“The world is starved for fun,” declared actor Jennifer Lewis when she appeared as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race last year. She’s not wrong. As fashion becomes increasingly corporate, mindful and well-behaved, now more than ever should we value its creative ability to provide a little joy. From the frothy tulle frocks of Viktor & Rolf, Rodarte and Molly Goddard to the flamboyant costumes of the upcoming Elton John biopic Rocketman, this is an industry that, largely, trades in good old-fashioned fun (okay, sure, you could also read the return of more-is-more, escapist fashion as a reaction to austerity, or a backlash against rising conservatism). Fashion’s #extra mood reaches its peak at the Costume Institute’s exhibition Camp: Notes on Fashion in New York, drawing on Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay. When the…

Murmurs of “wearable tech” have long been floating through the fashion crowd. Granted, we are yet to cross paths with a jacket that will simultaneously charge our phone and look chic, so we’ll stick to fun phone cases for the time being. Following on from the Louis Vuitton Eye-Trunk case that achieved Instagram cult status, the French fashion house is launching a new way to house your device in style. Combining brass, silicone and monogram canvas, this functional design means your phone is practically a necklace when not in use. Plus, it’ll never be far from reach when those candid moments strike. Visit louisvuitton.com…

A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY BUT MAKE IT FASHION…

“Accessibility is not just a physical thing – it’s about everyone having the same access to the same experience, and that includes online shopping,” says Grace Stratton, the founder of pioneering new accessibility project All is for All (AIFA). Believed to be a worldwide first, allisforall.com is a retail space and content platform designed to allow people who identify with an accessibility need or disability to experience fashion without the inevitable barriers they can face when shopping online. Grace – law student, fashion fan, 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year nominee and a lifelong wheelchair user – has curated a range of local brands to be part of the site. Those on board for the launch include Zambesi, Wynn Hamlyn, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Working Style, Ruby and Penny Sage. The site’s unique…

“Glamour is what you decide it is,” says Yara Shahidi, the dynamic actor and activist known for her roles in TV shows Black-ish and Grown-ish. “When I’m on a red carpet or all dressed up, I am really most excited to see my friends and mentors. Their minds are glamorous and they challenge me to push forward on my dreams.” Set to star in the upcoming film The Sun is Also a Star, the 19-year-old was recently named as an ambassador for Bobbi Brown, featuring in their Confident Beauty Campaign, which celebrates individual beauty and empowerment. It’s a fitting partnership for Yara, who has used her platform to develop women’s leadership and to encourage young people to vote.…