Zambesi NZFW '13

I was lucky enough to go to the Zambesi show at this years New Zealand Fashion Week. I loved the simplicity of the collection, which definitely had key characteristics of Zambesi, it was on the avant garde side of street wear, but I don't think that would put me off buying it. From the opening of the show I knew it was going to be good. The moment those sliders opened you could here the buzz in the show. Being able to see the 'secretive' backstage workings added a whole new level to the show and at times I caught myself focusing on what was going on back there, rather than on the models in front of me. The makeup and hair was a perfect accessory to the outfits, the half slicked hair was a work of art and encompassed the sophistication and edginess of the clothes. The thick red lipstick was perfectly glossy, to the point where it looked wet, which I adored. I loved the heavy, structural woolen coats and the matte leather t-shirts and skirts. The gradual increase of colour from black and olive green to accents (and whole dresses) of bright poppy reds. Overall the collection was the perfect balance of simple and urban edginess. 

Street Art

I've made a new discovery this year, a new found love for street art. Aren't street art and graffiti the same thing? Well no, street art makes you think, it's a guerrilla art form, a new form of propaganda. I think this whole obsession started in Photography this year as we were flicking through artist books to gain inspiration. I came across Banksy: Wall and Piece, an amazing insight into Banksy's world and his creations. I'd heard of Banksy before, don't get me wrong, but seeing the effort and what he wanted to show through his art really got me, so that weekend I rented Exit Through The Gift Shop and I was converted. I'd always thought there was no difference between street art and graffiti, I thought it was created by miscreants and wrong-doers, people who were doing it because it was 'cool'. However, after watching Exit through the Gift Shop I realised it's about expressing yourself. It's a new way for political activists to anonymously share their, sometimes quite direct, views. On my travels I began documenting the ones that I enjoyed most. Some I like because they made me think, others just because they truly were art. 

Who could miss London's Southbank Skatepark? 

An art installation just around the corner from Trafalgar Square, the artist was making a statement about global warming and the 'suffocation' of trees.

All the above were within 100m from each other at the top end of Portobello Rd in Notting Hill, I was fairly stoked at finding a genuine Banksy, and if you look closely, you can see I'd already bought a wall decal replica.

 Space Invader on the Locket Bridge in Paris.