Winter 2008 Fashion
New Zealand Winter Trends 2008
New Zealand fashion is getting bigger every year, with international trends surfacing here as soon as they do in the fashion capitals around the world. Keep up with the play with NZS.com's winter trend guide.
As the sharp chill of winter picks up, clothing retailers in New Zealand flood their stores with the latest styles for the season, and there are often so many new colours and shapes that it is hard to keep up - and know what to open your wallet for and what to leave on the hanger.
Five key trends for winter fashion:
- Metallic - is started in summer with metallic shoes and head bands, and will continue over winter in clothing, but be careful as shiny fabrics reflect light and emphasise curves - so only wear it close to your best features.
- Studs - in shoes, on belts, adorned on lapels and even on pant legs. Armour-inspired metal will bring out your darker side for the colder months.
- Man-style - While most red-carpet outfits are impractical for any real person, there are a few women's tuxedos emerging which you can tone down and wear from the office to the dance floor. Masculine-styled tailoring does not mean you need to wear a fully fledged pantsuit, you can choose a form-fitting waistcoat and wide-legged pants with a white shirt to emit a masculine vibe, and accessorise with heels and jewellery to retain a feminine touch.
- Grey - Tipped as the new black, this colour has emerged as a run off from metallic silver. This hip colour for the winter season is far from the standard drab grey: think hues in smoke, charcoal, and marle tones. Texture is key with grey, and it is best worn in key pieces such as a merino jumper or trench coat.
- Orange - combine your base colours with a hint of blood orange, this season's hottest accent colour. Just don't wear too much, save the winter pumpkin look for the Sunday roast.
Don't forget all of the winter trends can be applied to your ball dress this season, whether it be a hint of soldier-style with silver studs, or a gold sheen to sparkle the night away.
Shaping Underwear
One of the most important fashion developments in New Zealand fashion recently is shaping underwear. Kiwi women finally have affordable options which are, at last, comfortable. Gone are all thoughts of corsets and hi-cut briefs your grandmother might have sworn by.
Shapewear sales are exploding all over the country, big players like Jockey Woman experienced more than 100 percent growth last year in New Zealand.
Using discreet seamfree construction (rather than boning), there are different shapes available to help to flatten the tummy, lift the bottom, smooth the thighs and enhance the bust.
Sculpting is the key to great shaping underwear this winter, even though you might be layered in wool and other heavy fabrics, it is important to smooth your figure (even under black). Don't forget that even a size eight can look frumpy with bad underwear.
Recycling your own Clothes
You can't walk into any store this year without being hit with something ‘green', and while organic clothing is great for the environment, starchy recycled materials are not exactly winter warm - nor are they particularly affordable clothing.
Don't worry, your next eco-shopping option does not involve thrift stores. A big trend this season is getting your own clothes altered by a tailor to fit modern styling.
Look through fashion magazines and find items that you might have worn five years ago that have resurfaced on the runway, and take them to a clothing alteration studio to get restructured to fit your current body shape and the 2008 style. Stuck for ideas? Read on...
- Bootleg pants - Get your tailor to taper them below the knee for a straight, modern ‘stovepipe' look.
- A-line skirts - trim is definitely the cut of the season for formal skirts, so turn your old a-line into a pencil thin, straight-cut winter staple.
- Blazers - schoolboy style is great for anyone who doesn't still look like they could be at high school: add crests or classic logos to a corduroy blazer and top off with some gold buttons.
Hoisery
You cannot survive winter without good hosiery (no, they are not called pantyhose anymore). Several hosiery labels have fashion ranges, you are no longer restricted to sheer nude or sheer black. Bright colours have been prominent over summer, and snowy tones of white and silver are set to create a storm in the coming months. If you're daring enough, try a pair of buckled tights to tie in with winter's ‘studs' trend.
Men's Fashion
Men's fashion in New Zealand has come a long way in recent years, and Kiwi guys can now purchase more seasonal styles that are fresh off the runway but still look great on the street. If you only buy three items this winter, make sure it's these:
- A woollen pea coat - double breasted for that English style, cutting off just below the belt-line.
- A chunky-knit scarf - one of the only accessories a man can wear, a great juxtaposing item to a fine woollen jersey.
- A cardigan - they aren't just for granddads anymore, and can look stylish and formal over a shirt and tie (just make sure they are fitted, not baggy).
Looking for more information? Find New Zealand fashion in the NZS.com directory.
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Lifestyle images from Flickr: New York Fashion Week, Yoga and Wine.
