Stories

Bold and busy prints are the look of the AW19 season. This daring trend is not for the faint hearted! Don’t get us wrong, we love a LBD and a simple bias slip dress, however we’re all for making a statement on the pavement and we’ve found love in dresses that ooze eccentric prints, in particular the newest AW19 collections from Helen Cherry, RUBY and Kate Sylvester. Keep the rest of your outfit understated with simple kicks and accessories and let your dress do the talking. Go bold or go home! Left to right: Zimmermann, Helen Cherry, twenty-seven names, Trelise Cooper, RUBY/Liam, Kate Sylvester, RUBY

Don’t let the cooler weather dampen your style – up the ampage with bold colours, eccentric prints and a serious amount of sass. Autumn is all about embracing your inner wild child. From cosy coats to daring dresses, experiment and have fun mixing and pairing different prints – fashion is free! Take your cue from powerhouse fashion brand Zimmermann, whose AW19 collection rocks a structured look where militaristic vibes are very much the undertone of their collection. Burgundy and checks are the recurring colour and pattern of this season as seen in their Resistance Leather Dress (1) and Sabotage Checked Cropped Cotton-Blend Jacket (10). While we’ll subconsciously lust over the balmy breeze of summer days, there’s no denying that cooler days are on the horizon and so our wardrobes are going to become home to winter woollies. Now, before you go on and steam full speed ahead into purchasing a coat...

Writers and readers rejoice – WORD Christchurch has announced a stunning autumn season of sensational speakers bringing their brilliance to the city from May 8 - 25.Nine events, featuring eight writers seconded from the Auckland and Dunedin Writers Festivals will have the city humming. We’ve got a fearless feminist, a Hip-Hop artist and writer, a flamboyant poet, three popular novelists, a world-renowned podcaster and a legendary New Zealand musician.Tickets are on sale now and they won’t hang about, so get thee to a keyboard ASAP and grab your seat today.wordchristchurch.co.nz May 8 Clementine Ford: Boys Will be Boys - Fearless feminist Clementine Ford returns to Christchurch with Boys Will Be Boys, the follow-up to her incendiary debut Fight Like A Girl. May 12 Akala: Hip-Hop & Shakespeare - BAFTA award-winning Hip-Hop artist Akala, co-founder of The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company, explores the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between the works of William Shakespeare and contemporary Hip-Hop....

Fierce prints will be a wardrobe staple this AW19 season. Seen all over the catwalk, this wild trend is here to stay. Take a walk on the wild side and take your fashion game to new heights with a splash of animal print. Whether via a coat, a pair of kick ass shoes, a dress, pants or some arm candy – of the handbag variety – sass and sizzle is most definitely on the cards when you opt for this trend. 1. Zimmermann 2. Rochas 3. Helen Cherry 4. Zoe Kratzmanm From Issimo 5. Kathryn Wilson

Support the community Friday March 22 will be a day to visibly support our community. An official Call to Prayer event will take place this afternoon as Hagley Park, across from Al Noor Masjid on Deans Avenue in Christchurch. The official proceedings will begin at 1.25pm, with the call to prayer starting at 1.30pm, followed by two minutes of silence at 1.32pm. From 1.34pm until approximately 2pm the Muslim community will pray and the crowd will remain silent. The service will conclude with a brief closing remark from the Prime Minister at approximately 2.02pm. Those wishing to attend are advised to arrive early, preferably before 1.00pm. Everyone attending this event is asked to wear clothing that covers the ankles and long sleeves that go down to the wrist. Women should wear headscarves that cover their hair.The Christchurch Foundation has introduced #colouryourdaynz and is encouraging people to wear something colourful. Donations can be made to the...

This effortlessly chic look is an easy way to spruce up your wardrobe this AW19 season. Pick a colour and stick with it, for a head to toe look. Let’s be real, the struggle can be oh-so-real when rifling through your wardrobe in the morning trying to mix and match clothes to ensure there ain’t no clash of the colour titans. This season, opt for one colour and rock it from head to toe. There’s no need to go overboard and kit every inch of yourself out in that particular colour and if you feel like it’s too bold, break the outfit up with a different colour depending on your initial hue choice. Or, embrace the colour and take some inspo from a handful of New Zealand's leading fashion designers; Trelise Cooper, Gregory, twenty-seven names and RUBY/Liam. Voile!  

Millie Pux-Askew, winner of the Ballantyne’s Emerging Designer competition from last year’s Fashion Week, has produced a collection that is ‘natural, creative’ and very now. Cityscape caught up with Millie ahead of launching her Millie Askew collection exclusively at Ballantyne’s Contemporary Lounge and online. Congratulations on taking home the Emerging Designer crown – how has that experience been for you? It was pretty unexpected, to be honest. I entered on a whim, really, and got the project together two weeks before it was due. It’s been a pretty crazy couple of months since, with lots of late nights sewing and learning – so much learning, stuff they can’t teach you at university about how to get a business together and designing for a business. The biggest challenge has probably been managing all the other people. When you do things on a bigger scale there are a lot more people involved and there’s...

After wowing audiences with their 2017 performance Animals, The Pink Floyd Experience – quite possibly one of the coolest tribute bands in existence – are taking to the road again, this time in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s album The Wall release. Immerse yourself in the experimental and psychedelic tunes when they land in the city (May 31 – Jun 1) for two spectacular performances. isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

A sensational night of music awaits when leading musicians Fiona Pears, Graham Wardrop and the New Zealand Army Band take over the Transitional Cathedral on March 30 to raise funds for the city’s less fortunate with The Gift of Music charity concert. Accompanying the stellar lineup is a handful of the country’s top musos: Tom Rainey, Greg Donaldson, Pete Fleming and Ian Tilley. With 100% of the proceeds going to registered charity Street Wise, get behind this great event with an even greater cause. fionapears.com

Make a beeline for The Tannery Autumn Market on March 23, where from 10am to 5pm a smorgasbord of accessories, fashion, jewellery, homewares and tasty food offerings will be up for grabs. Peruse the vast collection of boutiques and stalls in the Atrium and Blue Smoke, including modern art from Gemini Project and slick threads for your wee ones from Ruby and Bear. Take advantage of the epic sales and promos on offer from the boutique retailers in The Tannery and satiate your hunger with delicious treats from the array of food vendors. thetannery.co.nz

The wildly talented Rob Brydon – charming Welshman and cult comedy TV star from the likes of Gavin & Stacey and the ever-hilarious Would I Lie To You – is bringing his brand-spanking-new live show I Am Standing Up to the Town Hall on April 4. Brydon’s cynicism, ad-libs, audience repartees and cleverly crafted improvisations are sure to have you in fits, as well as his uncanny impressions of notable celebs – think Tom Jones, Michael Caine and Steve Coogan. Get in quick to see Brydon in the flesh when he performs in the city for the first time. eventfinda.co.nz

Award-winning singer/songwriter Norah Jones will bless Christchurch audiences with her signature sultry sounds this April 29 in a beautiful performance that showcases her latest album Day Breaks. From jazz to country, folk, rock and soul, this intriguing solo artist’s work has crossed all the boundaries of American music, but this jazz-soaked album returns to a piano-driven sound as heard on releases early in her ground-breaking career. The ‘Come Away With Me’ singer is set to grace Christchurch for the first time in 14 years, so don’t miss your chance to sway to the smoky voice of this quintessential American artist when she calls in to the city’s Town Hall – expect some serious spine shivers! frontiertouring.com/norahjones

Space, spies, sharks and aliens – the iconic family flicks of Jaws, James Bond, Star Trek and Star Wars (among other epic faves) will come to life when the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra works their magic (May 4) on famous movie tracks from the likes of Ennio Morricone, Hans Zimmer, John Williams and John Barry. Perfectly timed for ‘May the Fourth be with you’, A Night at the Movies celebrates some of the finest music ever composed for the big screen – film fanatics will be in their element! Catch the CSO when they roll onto the stage at the Christchurch Town Hall’s Douglas Lilburn Auditorium. cso.co.nz

Cityscapers, it’s time to embrace your inner foodie – The Christchurch Food Show will once again transform Horncastle Arena into a gourmand haven (April 5 – 7). The annual food extravaganza plays host to over 120 exhibitors as well as giving you the opportunity to rub shoulders with a handful of New Zealand’s culinary elite – we see you, Annabel Langbein – and learn a thing or two in their special demonstrations. Peruse the various zones (if street-food is your thing head to the New New New Street Food Alley and delight your ‘buds), sample an array of incredible fare or kit out your kitchen with top of the line equipment. Be sure to bring your reusable bags, you’ll be hard-pressed to walk out without a few goodies. foodshow.co.nz

Cityscape catches up with Ballantynes’ fashion guru Josie Pasane about layering up for autumn and getting in touch with your outer animal. From the perfect print to the coats you’ll be clamouring for when the temperature drops, here’s a few tips to get you through AW19. Fashion is going wild this season; think animal print. It seems our wardrobes will be getting a whole lot fiercer with zebra, tiger, snake and crocodile prints joining the classic leopard that we know and love. It’s a jungle out there! Whether it is a bag, a coat or a statement belt, animal print is like wearing a red lip. It instantly elevates any outfit and always looks great. Stylist Tip: For a more day-to-night piece, invest in a leopard print midi skirt and you will not regret it. The key to dressing fashionably in the cooler months without compromising comfort? Transform yourself into a...

We’re going to be honest, we were slightly miffed when we found out homegrown opera trio Sol3 Mio had only locked in North Island performances for their Back to Basics Tour, but due to serious demand from fans down south, the lads did us a favour and extended their tour with South Island dates – yussss. Tapped to take to the James Hay Theatre stage May 28, you can expect a grand night with the trio performing songs from the operatic canon and popular music songbooks – all in the inimitable Sol3 Mio style of course. sol3mio.com

Much loved Melbourne musos The Paper Kites are flying our way after releasing their fourth album On the Corner Where You Live in September last year. Cityscape managed to drop them a line during their European tour before they land at Blue Smoke. You’ve worked with a few producers, at home in Melbourne and in the States. How did those experiences differ and/or shape your sound? The sounds are often shaped by the experience and the surroundings. We’ve found recording at home difficult, as the creator process is interrupted by home life, work and family. It’s been nice to fully immerse ourselves in the last few albums and return home with a finished project. You seem pretty prolific in creating material, much of which never makes it to albums. What happens to all that great material? It stays around, there have been songs that we’ve reworked and brought back. Maybe one day...

Listen up ladies, if you’re long-overdue for a cheeky goss sesh with the gals, or are looking for a place to unwind after a day, hit up the Dux Central and Terrace Tavern for their weekly Ladies and Girls Night Out. Hosted every Thursday from 5pm in the elegant Emerald Room (tucked inside the Dux Central), the Girls Night Out special offers up a steal of a deal on selected beverages and share plates. Or if Wednesday evenings are more your vibe, head on down to Terrace Tavern, where from 5:30pm you can also make the most of the stellar deals. duxcentral.co.nz and terracetavern.co.nz