No New Zealand Fashion Week? No Problem! Stolen Girlfriends Club Takes Matters into Their Own Hands
Fashion and music fans came together for yet another outstanding and unforgettable Stolen Girlfriends Club fashion festival titled ‘Avondale Fashion Week’, showcasing their latest collection ‘American Dream’. This year with the absence of New Zealand Fashion Week the brand decided to make their home in Avondale world famous.
Hidden in an underground concrete bunker in Avondale, the location was filled with an audience of over 1200 brand fans. A giant LED screen, festival style speakers and lights brought this striking and illuminating show to life in the suburbs. 51 models strutted the 60m runway with grit and conviction. The garments and punky hardware glistened in the electric light. The music vibrated through the concrete pillars of the bunker as the audience watched in suspense at the unveiling of Stolen Girlfriends Club latest fashion collection for 2022.
Stolen Girlfriends Club is anything but conventional. So why would they conform to the traditional standards of only casting professional models? They have continued with their street casting call, hand selecting extraordinary people and personalities who exemplify the brand’s creative vision. The street-cast talent made up a third of this year’s show.
The unmistakable make-up by Kiekie Stanners and hair direction by Anthony Bayer of Lust Hair combined the attitude and palette of the ‘American Dream’ collection. The bold beauty looks help to amplify each models unique features while curating a vision which could only be described as ‘Palm Springs Punk’.
The ambiance of light that struck each garment was the perfect setting to showcase this luminous collection. Clever use of unique material and detail combinations kept the audience guessing with moments of surprise. Soft metallic glo-mesh came with black graffiti that felt almost defaced. The same graffiti motif was woven into a delicate white lace, taking the juxtaposition to new levels. Croc embossed leather and sharp metal spikes brought the rock ‘n roll edge.
“In general, this collection has been hugely inspired by vintage americana. We were given access to the Elvis Presley archives early last year, and after looking through it I was really inspired by some of the trends and silhouettes that were prevalent around America in the 50’s and 60’s. We’ve really focused on leather and denim a lot this season, and amped up the metal hardware and trims to give the collection a tougher and more gritty feel. With the colour palette and the overall aesthetic, I like to call it ‘Palm Springs Punk’! If you took two films like ‘Summer Of Sam’ and ‘Mystery Train’ and mashed them together, this collection would be the result” said Creative Director Marc Moore.
As the fashion show concluded the crowd poured out to the after party, located just metres away in a carpark that had been transformed into a music festival. Guests rushed to see the line-up featuring talented, local & international artists set under a giant mirror ball suspended under the stars. Australian DJ ‘Cassettes for Kids’ headlined the event, supported by rising local talent ‘Andy Heartthrob’, and the rock n roll live act ‘Daffodils’. You could feel the energy in the air as everyone danced and raved until the early hours of the morning. It had been too long between fashion events of this scale.
“This year really was about collaboration. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with so many different creatives to deliver an unforgettable show. I felt like the design, curation and production has really progressed, and the vision was amplified in a contemporary rock n roll fashion vibe”, said Creative Director Marc Moore.
Stolen Girlfriends Club’s new collection “AMERICAN DREAM” can be seen and bought now, at www.stolengirlfriendsclub.com
