This week’s Instagram round-up first consists of some local posts. Lucire’s incredible fashion editor, Sopheak Seng, has outdone himself again this week with a shoot produced by Arcana Imperii for Industry New Zealand’s Men’s Hairdresser of the Year 2014 finalist Michael Beel’s collection. Be sure to check out the shoot. On our Lucire Instagram we have featured the newly crowned and truly stunning Miss France, Flora Coquerel.
   Over in LA, blogging mogul Geri Hirsch from Because I’m Addicted posts an image of her eco-friendly and also very chic wrapping technique. Her presents look effortlessly festive in brown paper with ribbon, twine and a sprig of lavender. I myself chose brown paper this year and perhaps I was more trendy than I thought.
   The fashion event of the week was surely Chanel’s Dallas rodeo club show. I have included two posts from this prestigious event. First, renowned fashion writer Derek Blasberg posts a hot pic with total-babe actress Lily Collins who wore a V-neckline dress embroidered with pink- and grey-painted sequins, a grey suede skirt and grey suede boots, from the Chanel autumn–winter 2013–14 haute couture collection.
   My favourite style icon, Russian writer Miroslava Duma is spotted in Dallas looking chic-as-hell here in a navy jacket, a pink poofy skirt and a silk scarf thrown over her head in a vintage style.
   Another event worth noting was attended by my favourite Italian, Margherita Missoni. Missoni snaps Zac Posen, Uma Thurman and Dita von Teese attending host Posen’s dinner at Mr Chow. My weekly Victoria’s Secret shot consists of stunning angels, Candice Swanepoel, Karlie Kloss, Lily Aldridge and Behati Prinsloo at a Victoria’s Secret party. Posted by my favourite angel Candice, they all look incredible as per usual.
   Last but not least I have included a festive and super-cute shot of Mila Kunis with pretty-boy boyfriend Ashton Kutcher. Don’t they look radiant? I will certainly be cranking out the Christmas sweater too this week and so should you, and that’s a wrap!—Anna Deans

Luke Calder

Sylver & Shackel celebrated its first anniversary at Willis York in Wellington. Its jewellery collection featured in a beautiful installation at the Wellington salon, and Lucire loved its boudoir feel.
   Founders Sylvie Poupard-Gould and Joanna Shackel find their materials from vintage finds: they visit auction houses to source, rescuing antique pieces, then repurpose the jewellery, blending precious and non-precious materials into the designs. The designs are timeless, reflected in the promotional photography from Luke Calder (of LCP in Wellington), with models from Kirsty Bunny Management.
   Both Poupard-Gould and Shackel have travelled extensively, giving them both an international insight into design and style.
   The new offerings are divided into five sub-collections: In-temporal (with vintage components), Les Classiques (timeless design), Collective ID (stamped and branded), Rocco (channelling an inner rock chick), and Ltd. Edition (made-to-order custom pieces).
   The event was supported by Broken Shed vodka and San Pellegrino, and fans of the label ensured that Sylver & Shackel did rapid business with its latest collection that evening.
   Poupard-Gould has an additional connection to this magazine: she named it in 1997.—Sopheak Seng, Fashion Editor, and Lucire staff

Luke Calder

Spice up your summer festivities with the Body Shop’s new Christmas range. This special-edition collection includes the yummy aromas of ginger, cranberry and vanilla. These decadent delicacies burst with natural ingredients, delightful textures and gourmet scents.
   The range includes three sumptuous flavours, the first being Ginger Sparkle. Here at Lucire HQ, we are overwhelmed by the ginger scent in the gourmet body butter especially. Although strong, it evokes notes of warmth and spice being infused with real ginger. Other Ginger Sparkle products include ginger root shower gel, body polish and shimmer lotion as well as hand lotion and wash. For all lovers of invigorating crystallized ginger, this range will be the perfect addition to your Christmas stocking.
   Cranberry Joy is definitely my favourite of these festive summer scents. It is delectably sweet and fruity, incorporating ingredients both beneficial to the skin and with a Community Fair Trade certificate to boot. Products available in the cranberry scent include once again, body polish, body butter, shimmer lotion and shower gel with the addition of a lip balm for the ultimate soft and sweet lips. Cranberry Joy not only smells delicious enough to eat, it also infuses your skin with this blissful scent.
   This Body Shop Christmas range can’t be complete without the sickly-sweet Vanilla Bliss products. Those who die for vanilla-bean baking will love the heart-shaped, luxurious Vanilla Bliss soap. The classic vanilla body butter is also available in this range as well as a variety of hand-softening solutions. The Vanilla Bliss scents subtlety fills the air and brings sweet deliciousness to everything it touches.
   I will be getting my hand on some of these gloriously festive and yummy Body Shop treats. So what are you waiting for? Treat yourself and your loved ones this Christmas with the Body Shop’s special-edition collection. This Christmas range retails from as low as NZ$10, so you can create an ideal gift for anyone in your life. Available from your local Body Shop branch.—Anna Deans

Being the first week of December, I feel it necessary to include something at least a little festive in this week’s Instagram round-up. Kiwi-singing-sensation Lorde posted a photo playing a game of giant Jenga in Portland. Spotted in the background is a rather large Christmas tree with what looks like a whole pile of pressies, lucky Lorde! In other New Zealand-related Christmas news, Karen Walker has posted a shot of her current filigree embossed marigold leather purses which can be found in her weekly gift edits at karenwalker.com. The last local snapshot this week is from Zambesi’s Wellington manager, Nicola Provost. Nicola celebrates Zambesi’s new shoot done by Marissa Findlay for Black magazine online.
   This week I also feel it necessary to pay tribute to actor Paul Walker who passed away suddenly at only 40-years-old. RIP Paul and best wishes to his family from the Lucire team.
   The 2013 British Fashion Awards took place this week with Brit it-model Edie Campbell coming out on top as model of the year. Here she is shown in an Instagram re-post where she looks stunning of the cover of Deutsch Vogue. On a side note, thanking her pony in her acceptance speech is a first, perhaps she’s just that posh. Another major winner on the night being famed boy-band, One Direction’s Harry Styles. Harry took out the Vodafone British Style award. Here he is shown in a playful shot wearing a blonde wig and a backwards-cap alongside actress Sienna Miller.
   Once again, I couldn’t resist including a Victoria’s Secret shot. This week, it features many of the stunning angels awaiting instructions backstage. This image was found off Victoria’s Secret newbie and model fresh-face of spring 2014 Devon Windsor’s Instagram. Be sure to check her out! Last and certainly not least, Lana Del Rey’s short film Tropico was released this week on Vevo. This reposted shot of Lana is exquisite, as is Tropico, so don’t hesitate to give it a watch. Tropico is conveniently linked on our Lucire news page. And that’s a wrap for this week!—Anna Deans

This week’s Instagram pics include two of Lucire’s own, publisher Jack Yan and fashion editor Sopheak Seng. Sopheak shows his excitement for seeing his fabulous styling on a banner for the local Wellington Cup Carnival, while Jack is with the designer of Mardle, Shiana Weir, at an event hosted by her label and TwoWorlds, Design Cartel, Desiree, and Nevada Brown.
   In other Kiwi news, X-Factor runner-up Benny Tipene promotes his new single coming out on December 6: in a very attractive manner I might add. Meanwhile Lorde and David Little attend the New Zealand Music Awards both wearing New Zealand’s own, Zambesi.
   British pop-sensation, Rita Ora, celebrates her 23rd birthday in style with a truly scrumptious-looking cake. Over in LA, fashion-blogging superstar Rumi Neely is seen in not one, but two Australian labels. She wears the Vampire Skirt by Friend of Mine and Light Ceramic top by Bec & Bridge—doesn’t she look fabulous?
   Current it-girl Jennifer Lawrence, fondly known here at the office as J-Law, promotes her massive new blockbuster and the second in the terrific Hunger Games series, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Now showing at cinemas, it’s a definite must-see. Last but not least, Doutzen Kroes posts a drool-worthy shot of herself in sexy Christmas themed lingerie: included purely due to its extreme hotness.—Anna Deans

Above Dita von Teese’s Von Follies lingerie range’s Sophisticat collection arrives at Farmers this week.

New Zealand department store group Farmers will retail Sophisticat, the latest lingerie collection, in opulent satin and lace, from Dita von Teese’s Von Follies range, this week.
   The balconette bra retails for NZ$59·99, the bikini brief for NZ$34·99, the G-string for NZ$29·99, and the suspender for $59·99.
   Von Teese launched her lingerie collection in Australia in February 2012, selling via Target.
   Living Nature, meanwhile, is extending its product line more aggressively in November. It has released its manuka honey gel, using certified natural preservatives, fragrances and ingredients. It’s ideal for everything from cuts and graces and insect bites to fungal infections and minor sunburn, and retails for NZ$19·50 for 10 ml or NZ$32 for 50 ml.
   There are soothing properties in Living Nature’s Nourishing Body Wash, free from sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES), which can irritate the skin and eyes. Instead, it uses plant nutrients, including botanicals, and works on sensitive skin, suitable even for babies and toddlers and those with eczema or dermatitis, says the company. It retails for NZ$30 for 200 ml.
   Its third entry is the Slate mineral eyeshadow (RRP NZ$20), ideal for creating this season’s smoky eye look. It uses natural mineral colour, and is free of synthetic chemicals and ingredients. The ingredients, including the minerals, are all sustainably sourced. The minerals help protect the eye from UV rays.
   The packaging is recyclable, and users can opt for individual shades for Living Nature’s eye-shadow compacts (RRP NZ$10)—each houses two shades or, if the applicator is removed, four.
   Living Nature skin care and cosmetics’ products are certified natural by BDIH Germany and listed as a Safe Cosmetics Champion on the Skin Deep Cosmetics’ Database.
   Our friends at Tory & KO. have opened a second store on the ground floor of the Old Bank Arcade, Wellington, New Zealand along with a luscious website. ‘We are delighted to showcase our jewellery in a stylish, new retail environment while still retaining our bespoke jewellery boutique store upstairs,’ says co-director Kirstin O’Brien. ‘Our Wellington-based jewellery workshop creates our signature jewellery for the Pretty, Charm and Stella collections and we have recently brought in a beautiful collection from Paris called Les Nereides, which is presented in our new store.’
   Meanwhile, we’re looking forward to the British Fashion Awards on December 2. David Walliams will host this year, with nominees including Cara Delevingne, Edie Campbell, Sarah Burton, Christopher Kane, and Tom Ford. Lucire will have post-event coverage.

Above Dita von Teese’s Sophisticat collection begins at NZ$29·99 at Farmers.

Above Living Nature pushes new product for November 2013.

Above Tory & KO. débuts a stunning new website along with a new retail store within the Old Bank Arcade.

Through a sea of black-and-white and sheer chiffon came three stand-outs at the 2013 Massey graduate show, Launch. Sean Kelly’s desert-island-themed collection really stood out, as did the closing designers, Lucilla Gray and her crisp neoprene collection, and Soontariya Utto, with her refined, elegant gowns.

Matthew Beveridge/Matthew Beveridge Photography

   Kelly’s collection, inspired by an island, consisted of layered, tailored menswear in linen-looking khaki-greens and whites. This collection combines exceptional new ideas and design lines with impeccable tailoring. Quirky accessories also featured, such as a fishing-net backpack. Thick, brown leather hats, sandals and other leather items were specifically made for the collection to immaculate standards. Emphasizing impact and wearability through clever styling, Kelly has really hit the nail on the head here.

Matthew Beveridge/Matthew Beveridge Photography

   Gray’s collection created similar impact but for completely different reasons. The colour palette of fresh electric blue mixed with fluro-pink and the whitest white stood out from the dull colours of some other collections. Structured elements were innovatively moulded from neoprene to create out-of-this-world curved shapes where printed chiffon overlays bikini-like undergarments. This fresh collection really caught my eye for all the right reasons. We especially loved the curved, structural sleeve shapes and the tactile print in the white neoprene jacket. Lucille’s collection reminds me of a different take on Nicolas Ghesquière’s use of neoprene at Balenciaga and the Australian designers’ obsession. Perhaps this is the New Zealand response to the comeback of neoprene, which is no longer restricted to the un-shapely wetsuit.

Matthew Beveridge/Matthew Beveridge Photography

   From the opening outfit of Utto’s collection, there was something special in the making. The precision cutting and the exceptional tailoring to the couture-like nature of her garments all spoke of a refined elegance, which can so often be lost in ready-to-wear clothes. For someone so young, her taste level far exceeds her years. The moulded hips of her ball gowns matched her jewellery, which was made by hand, bringing a tactile old-world feel. The collection was sewn by hand, bringing it to life. Although crafted all in black, it was still evident that a lot of attention to detail had gone into this collection, from the pin-tucking on the structure corsets and bodices, to the cut of detailing and ostrich feather plumage that appeared on collars and peplums. This was a collection made for the red carpet and was a true show-stopper.—Anna Deans and Sopheak Seng, Fashion Editor

The New Zealand Winemaker of the Year was announced earlier this week as being Hawke’s Bay winemaker, Chris Scott. Scott took out the esteemed prize given by Winestate magazine. He boasts a passion for chardonnay and red-blend winemaking, and with the support of a distinguished team behind him, he has been crafting award-winning Church Road wines for 13 years.
   Mr Scott gives credit to the whole team stating: ‘Our vineyard team have an outstanding knowledge of the region and the individual vineyards, and deliver outstanding fruit year after year. Our cellar team has a dedication to wine quality that far exceeds what anyone could hope for. I know everyone at Church Road is extremely proud of the wines we make and this win reflects the passion and commitment of the entire team.’
   Michael Cooper, the Winestate editor for New Zealand says, ‘Church Road Winery has for decades produced some of Hawke’s Bay’s, and New Zealand’s, greatest value wines. It also shines at the top end of the market, crafting some exceptional chardonnays, pinots gris, sauvignon blancs, syrahs and cabernet–merlot blends.’
   The Winestate New Zealand Winemaker of the Year award is awarded to the winemaker who receives the top score from their best 10 different wines, which are judged throughout the year.—Anna Deans