After long discussions and the occasional heated debate, FishHead is delighted to reveal its first list of the capital’s most stylish residents.
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
(C)Mark Tantrum, All rights reserved
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
FishHead Magazine shoot: Wellington's Best Dressed People. Shot at Mighty Mighty Bar, Cuba Street. Tuesday July 30, 2013.
Photo by Mark Tantrum | www.marktantrum.com
We all have an opinion, but who are Wellington’s style icons? In a celebration of capital fashion, FishHead is shining a spotlight on 20 of Wellington’s best-dressed people – a group with a mix of styles and aesthetics, but with some common threads, including a collective love of local designers and stores.
Wellingtonians may be renowned for their love of black clothing, but this group includes lovers of bold colours and patterns, while others use texture and layering to keep their all-black outfits interesting. Our final 20 list includes a mix of high-fashion fans, op-shoppers and chain store chic, from both sides of local clothing store counters.
We’re anticipating a flood of letters to the editor with the names of well-turned-out Wellingtonians and fashionista friends missed from this year’s list. Don’t fret; we’ll keep those dapper dudes and ladies in mind in 2014, as Wellington’s Best Dressed will become an annual, perhaps even a little competitive, FishHead feature.
How we did it
Choosing our most fashionable people was much harder than you imagine. Huddled over a table in Fidel’s, with deliberations taking place in hushed tones, we brainstormed a cross section of well-dressed locals. Long emails, debate and phone calls followed, as the panel whittled 400,000 Wellingtonians down to just 20 – all the while keeping the list top secret. These select few were photographed in an enigmatic location: Mighty Mighty bar on Cuba Street.
The 20 people featured were chosen by a panel that included well-known Wellington style consultant Samantha Hannah, and FishHead fashion editor Sopheak Seng and beauty editor Laura McQuillan, who consulted with influential Wellingtonians from different sectors of society before whittling down their list to the following people…
The Top 20 (in alphabetical order)
Angus Hodgson | 22 | Brooklyn Architecture student, politics tutor and Rixon Groove store assistant | Wears: made-to-measure Rixon Groove shirt, G‑Star RAW jeans, boots from Mark Kendall’s. | Describe your style: Went to a semi-formal event, got stuck. | What makes someone well dressed? Clothes that fit and don’t make proportions look out of whack.Cara Hill | 35 | Mt Victoria Marketing manager at Circa Theatre | Wears: Pinup Girl Clothing leopard dress, City Chic shrug, boots from Overland, petticoats by Hell Bunny and Domino Dollhouse. | What item of clothing could you not live without? My petticoats – I have 11 of them and wear at least one nearly every day. | What makes someone well dressed? Being comfortable and confident in your clothes – whatever they may be. Own it.Chris Hales | 46 | Khandallah Fashion buyer and retailer at Goodness | Wears: Sabatini, Deborah Sweeney, Goodness and shoes from I Love Paris. | What inspires your style? Whatever I’m feeling in the morning, plus I’m inspired by things I see. | What makes someone well dressed? Always chic, casual and relaxed, but always polished.Chris Park | 24 | Central Wellington PricewaterhouseCoopers tax consultant and Wellington editor at NZ Style Collective | Wears: Workshop T‑shirt, cardigan by 6x4 (his brother’s label), Cheap Monday jeans, ToBe shoes, Michael John Jewellery necklace, Moochi bracelet. | What item of clothing could you not live without? A good T‑shirt – nice cotton, well cut (tailored like a shirt) – and sturdy black skinny jeans. | What inspires your style? I get inspiration from a lot of street-style blogs, and runway shows both in New Zealand and overseas.Chris Tse | 30 | Te Aro Writer and editor | Wears: World suit and shirt, Wood Thumb bow tie. | Where are your favourite places to shop? World, Crane Brothers, MisteR, T‑Bar, Topman | What inspires your style? Casual, but with an edge. I’m perfectly happy in a T‑shirt, jeans and sneakers, but I love an opportunity to dress up.Christina O | 60 | Brooklyn Owner of Hunters & Collectors | Wears: Vivienne Westwood dress, Lela Jacobs plaited hair cape, 1980s resin bracelets from the US, vintage rings. | Describe your style: I am into conceptual clothing – clothing that is art-based rather than fashion. Unusual, eclectic and rare items. | What makes someone well dressed? A taste for texture, form, lines and a good colour palette, plus attention to detail.Conrad Reyners | 25 | Central Wellington Public lawyer and video-game critic | Wears: Oswald Boateng suit from London, Rixon Groove made-to-measure shirt, bow tie from Kirks. | Describe your style: Quirky but refined, with a classic touch. | What makes someone well dressed? Trying new and interesting things with the confidence to pull them off. Having fun with your threads and not really worrying what others might think.Corinne Blumsky | Oriental Bay Patent attorney | Wears: Diane von Fürstenburg dress, Zara jacket, Christian Louboutin booties. | Favourite places to shop: Andrea Moore, World, Superette, Workshop, Kimberleys, all Paris designers. | Describe your style: Classic with an edge – I like colour so [I like to] incorporate something bold.Derek Elvy | 54 | Kelburn Associate director of Buoy Hairdressing and Mine Medi Spa | Wears: Mandatory Menswear suit and ic! berlin glasses. | Describe your style: Arty/punk and eccentric. | What makes someone well dressed? People who don’t overthink dressing, and seem to be effortlessly comfortable in their skin. The ability to make the ordinary cool and inspiring.James Gardner-Hopkins | Te Aro Environmental lawyer | Wears: Jeffery West shoes, off-the-rack suit, detailed shirt and an overcoat found at Kirks. | What item of clothing could you not live without? A decent overcoat, particularly in Wellington. I had a velvet one that I loved but I wore it out. | Where are your favourite places to shop? Out-of-the-way places. I get my many-buttoned shirts from a hidden-away store in Sydney. I visit once a year and I still don’t tell anyone where it is!Jamie-Lee Burns | 25 | Miramar Executive assistant, fashion blogger (mademois-elle.com) and student | Wears: Acne blouse, J Brand jeans, T by Alexander Wang cardigan, Diane von Fürstenburg heels. | What inspires your style? I’m inspired mostly by that effortless Parisian look, which is quite minimal, as well as the Scandinavian aesthetic. Not too many patterns, and mixed proportions. | What item of clothing could you not live without? My Karen Walker coat – I recently had to take it to the dry-cleaner and felt lost without it, especially during the Wellington winter.Jane Diplock | Roseneath Director of Australian Financial Services Group | Wears: pink floral suit. | Describe your style: Tailored, lady-like, fun. | Where are your favourite places to shop? I buy online, and in Wellington and Singapore. I have some things tailored by a wonderful local dressmaker.Lorenzo Bresolin | 31 | Lyall Bay Restaurateur | Wears: coat from Hunters & Collectors, World cardigan, blue suede shoes. | What item of clothing can’t you live without? My father’s box of ties, scarves and cravats. I love patterns, colours and textures. | What makes someone well dressed? You have to be comfortable in what you’re wearing.Martin Brown | 45 | Cuba Street Owner of Brown & Co. | Wears: Little Brother shirt, Tom Ford bow tie, Crane Brothers blazer, Lanvin trousers and lapel pin, Martin Margiela shoes, Comme des Garçons belt and socks. | What item of clothing could you not live without? I can’t live without good-quality socks. Invest in quality hosiery – nothing ruins an outfit more than cheap socks! | Describe your style: Every morning, dress like you have a premiere to attend – you never want to be underdressed for that cocktail party you completely forgot about.Melissa Pearson | Central Wellington PR and media relations, including for Wellington Fashion Week | Wears: L’Officiel dress from Style on Jackson Street, Nordstrom jacket, boots from Duo Boots. | What are your favourite places to shop? Ziggurat, Style on Jackson, Trelise Cooper, Karen Walker, Cue, op shops. | Describe your style: Classic, tailored and feminine.Nicola Provost | 25 | Evans Bay Manager of Zambesi Wellington | Wears: Zambesi bodice and patio pant, Martin Margiela belt and cylinder heels. | What inspires your style? I put on whatever I feel like wearing in the morning when I open my wardrobe. | What makes someone well dressed? It changes every day! Style is eternal, fashion changes.
Rex Massey-Molloy | 43 | Miramar Director of Working Style | Wears: Working Style everything, Breitling Superocean watch. | What inspires your style? My style is probably based in conservatism. I push the boat out occasionally, but then I have the luxury of not having to fit into a corporate environment and can generally wear what I please. | What makes someone well dressed? Style should be effortless. A person shouldn’t spend a lot of time or effort on it as the result is often overdone. Style is something we can work on our entire lives, taking inspiration from here and there.Ruby Higgins | 22 | Te Aro Model, presenter and food blogger | Wears: Vintage shoes from Search & Destroy, boyfriend’s jeans, In-N-Out Burger T‑shirt, vintage wool coat. | What item of clothing could you not live without? My Wu-Tang sweater. I wish I was wearing it tonight, it’s so badass! I also love coats and jackets, I have about 50! This white one is my current favourite. | What inspires your style? I don’t have a particular style icon, but I guess I’m influenced by what I see on the street and what my friends wear. I would describe my style as very casual.Susan Hornsby-Geluk | 42 | CBD/Pekapeka Managing partner of Dundas Street law firm | Wears: Orange brocade vest and necklace from Anton’s in Melbourne, John Cavill lizard-skin jacket, Zambesi tie. | What item of clothing could you not live without? A tie from Assins in Melbourne, made from crystal diamante beads. It is fabulous. It sparkles. You can’t have it. | What makes someone well dressed? It’s where you can own your look with confidence, not apology.Twyla Bell | 25, Aro Valley Manager of The Hangar (Flight Coffee) | Wears: Pleated skirt from Cosmic, Glassons velour crop top, vintage boots from Emporium, Kitty Gang beanie, necklace by Kris Gillan. | What makes someone well dressed? Being yourself, dressing to your shape, not worrying about what’s ‘in fashion’. | What inspires your style? My fantastic friends and Instagram. I love a mixture of pin-up and street style.
We all have an opinion, but who are Wellington’s style icons? In a celebration of capital fashion, FishHead is shining a spotlight on 20 of Wellington’s best-dressed people – a group with a mix of styles and aesthetics, but with some common threads, including a collective love of local designers and stores.
Choosing our most fashionable people was much harder than you imagine. Huddled over a table in Fidel’s, with deliberations taking place in hushed tones, we brainstormed a cross section of well-dressed locals. Long emails, debate and phone calls followed, as the panel whittled 400,000 Wellingtonians down to just 20 – all the while keeping the list top secret. These select few were photographed in an enigmatic location: Mighty Mighty bar on Cuba Street.
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