Stephen Jones dazzles iD DFW with 33 hat line

iD Dunedin Fashion Week delivered a standout iD Fashion Show – dubbed the best yet by the 80-strong media contingent – heading into next year’s 15th anniversary. Guest New Zealand designer Yvonne Bennetti amazed crowds with her stunning luxury eveningwear and bridal wear, while popular local favourites NOM*d, Carlson, Mild-Red, Tamsin Cooper, Charmaine Reveley, Company of Strangers and DADA Vintage showed inspired winter collections to sell-out crowds on the Southern Hemisphere’s longest catwalk.

“It was fantastic because it was a really big production,” says Stephen Jones.

“Often hats are part of more intimate productions, but at iD there were lots of lights, lots of models, thousands of people, ballerinas – and with everything together, it was really magical.”

Hosted by TV3’s Charlotte Shipman and Tova O’Brien, the annual iD Dunedin Fashion Shows were the culmination of a week-long celebration of fashion events in the city. The shows followed Thursday night’s iD International Emerging Designer Awards – where top new talent from around the world vied for top prizes, judged by Jones and leading Australian fashion authorities Associate Professor Karen Webster and Glynis Traill-Nash, alongside our own Tanya Carlson and Margi Robertson (NOM*d).

Show highlights also included capsule collections from MisteR, DEVáL, Jane Sutherland, UNDONE and newcomers Storm and Moodie Tuesday. Dancers from the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Katherine Grange and Hayley Donnison, and violinist Miranda Adams, from the Auckland Philharmonia, delivered incredible performances for Tamsin Cooper’s collection. Stephen Jones’ finale headpiece – originally created for pop icon Kylie Minogue and featured in the 2012 London Olympic Games closing ceremony – enthralled the audience.

“We’re looking really strong for our 15th anniversary,” says iD Committee Chair Susie Staley.

“Part of this is looking at future international collaborations, including developing our relationship with Shanghai, which makes iD even more global in its outlook. It’s getting better every year and we’re excited about growing the event even further.”

This year, 10 international models from the University of Shanghai Engineering Science, were part of the 60 models selected for iD Dunedin Fashion Shows and the iD International Emerging Designer Awards. Models were also selected from Ali Mcd Aart Agency, Ican Models and Talent, and Auckland’s Clyne Model Management.