With non-stop events over four days in Auckland, this fashion festival has something for everyone.
There are so many events on during 4 Days of Fashion in the City that it is hard to know where to begin. We’ve done the hard work for you, with our picks of what to check out:
For the culture vultures:
Walk the Walk: A History of Fashion in the City
Did you know Auckland is home to a little-known replica Dior flagship store, exactly the same as the original in Paris? This special exhibition, held in the historic Lippincott Room on the sixth floor of Smith & Caughey’s, pulls back the curtain on the city’s colourful fashion history, including El Jay’s Dior store.
But why stand in a gallery when you can physically see where this history was created around Auckland’s CBD? The Auckland Fashion Museum is taking a limited number of free guided walks to bring these stories to life.
Exhibition: Wednesday, 22 March – Friday, 31 March
Guided walk: Selected dates during the next week
Runway show: Saturday, 1 April
Smith & Caughey’s Lippincott Room
Hyperreal: Imagining the Future of Fashion
This exhibition of contemporary fashion photography shows the glossy images of fashion magazines up-close, while real-life photoshoots take place around the exhibition. The live shoots show not only how much work goes into creating picture perfect images for magazines but also highlights that images shared in the media are often amplified.
Exhibition: Thursday, 30 March – Tuesday, 4 April
Live photoshoots: Saturday, 1 – Sunday, 2 April
Silo 6, Jellicoe Street
For the contemporary fashionistas:
AUT Fashion – The Evolving Designer Exhibition
Where do you find the most daring fashion in a city? At presentations by final year and graduate fashion school students. AUT’s exhibition showcases work from the class of 2016 alongside designs from the postgraduate classes’ Creative Common Occupation (CCO). Made for a project named Visual Autobiography, this show makes a stunning first impression of the city’s future fashion pack.
Thursday, 30 March – Sunday, 2 April
Te Wero Containers, Auckland Waterfront
Kate Sylvester, Zambesi and WORLD’s Takeover
As part of the Britomart Fashion Sessions, these three top designers will turn the runway into a tri-factor fashion experience. All veterans of the runway, Kate Sylvester, Zambesi and WORLD will each bring their own signature quirk to one of the biggest events of the festival.
7.30-8.00 pm, Thursday, 30 March
Tyler Street
Seated tickets have already sold out, but passersby are welcome to stand and watch the show
For the glamazons:
Smith& Caughey’s ‘The Last Friday in March’ Fashion Show
Having attracted international model Andreja Pejic, who is coming all the way from New York just to walk the runway, it’s safe to say Smith & Caughey’s show is not be missed. Taking place at the Queen Street store, the presentation is also a chance to see the latest designs from an array of fashion labels stocked by the store. The first 100 arrivals will receive a free goodie bag, if you ever needed extra incentive.
12.15pm, Friday, 31 March
Smith & Caughey’s Queen Street
If you and a friend would rather be a VIP at this event as guests of Simply You editor Naomi Larkin and some of the team, meeting them at the Kights Lobby Bay at the Stanford Hotel for a glass of champagne before the show, head to @SimplyYouMag on Instagram to enter their exclusive competition.
Complimentary makeovers at Elizabeth Arden
If you’ve been meaning to stock up on Elizabeth Arden product, now’s the time. If you spend $99 in-store you will receive a complimentary makeover to the value of $90. With special occasion make-up and lashes on offer, you will be ready to swan into the next 4 Days of Fashion in the City event straight from the make-up chair.
Friday, 31 March and Saturday, 1 April
Queen Street store
For those in the know:
Meet Carmen Hamilton at Coach
Attending Coach’s spring collection launch is a treat of its own, but a meet and greet with Carmen Hamilton of Chronicles of Her style blog adds an extra bit of glamour to this evening. Drinks and nibbles will be offered alongside styling tips from Hamilton.
If you miss out on meeting Hamilton here, she will also be attending local fashion brand moochi’s Beauty Sessions the following day, where you can catch-up with the Instagram star while eyeing up moochi’s latest designs and enjoying a manicure by the talented Pop Nails team. Thank goodness we are all good at multi-tasking.
4-7pm, Friday, 31 March
Coach Queen Street
Trelise Cooper Fashion Show
Trelise Cooper embraces the enchanting, theatrical side of fashion, and her grand-scale, open-air runway show at the fashion festival is no different. It will be a fast-paced spectacle showing her latest collection on Auckland’s most in-demand models.
6.30-7pm, Friday, 31 March
Takutai Square, Britomart
Tickets are $35 and include a luxury goodie bag, but if you head to @SimplyYouMag on Instagram you can enter for a chance for you and a friend to be guests of Simply You at the show and meet editor Naomi Larkin.
For the mixers and minglers:
Ingrid Starnes Runway presentation
Giving street-stylers a run for their money, Ingrid Starnes’ autumn/winter runway show will head out onto the street, O’Connell Street in fact, for some well-timed fashion season inspiration. The event is free, but we say get there early to nab a seat.
7-8pm, Friday, 31 March
O’Connell Street
Ruby Jelly Bar
Inspired by Ruby’s latest collection, avant-garde dessert maker the Jellyologist is creating an edible Jelly Bar installation as a fun way to celebrate the launch of the brand’s autumn/winter collection. Try a wobbly treat and meet Ruby designer Deanna Didovich at the event.
From 6pm, Friday, 31 March
High Street store
Capacity is limited so don’t be fashionably late
MAALA Live at Topshop Topman
For the young at heart and music lovers alike, Tui Award-winning electronic pop artist MAALA will be performing at Topshop’s fashionable corner on Queen Street. The concert will take place on the ground floor and with hits such as ‘In My Head’, this is your chance to see a wonderful home-grown music talent before he takes off internationally. There will also be food, drink and 20% off storewide.
From 8pm, Friday, 31 March
Topshop Topman Queen Street store
One again, capacity is limited at this free event so arrive early
Words: Jessica-Belle Greer, Simply You
