Winter wanderlust

When you're temperature regularly plummets below zero, it's not hard to find inspiring ways to keep warm. Ragtrader braves the cold along with photographers Wendell Teodoro and Fab Cortesi to identify the biggest trends to come out of Air New Zealand Fashion Week.

'80s flashback
Those of us unfortunates who lived through the '80s will no doubt groan at the prospect of a trek down memory lane. But luckily a new breed of designer has updated those acid wash looks with modern minis, toned down frills and leggings completing the look. Primary colours were pared back with sombre hues of black, grey and neutrals.

Titilating tartan
It seems New Zealanders have finally found a use for all the unemployed Scottish weavers. Tartan prints made the leap from jackets, coats and kilts and manifested themselves in leggings, shirts, shorts, dresses and arm warmers. The traditional green and red checks were also refreshed with Sakaguchi sending out monochromatic ensembles while Huffer gave the nod to purple, navy and white.

Shining stars
Silver has overtaken Gold as the most valuable commodity - at least when it comes to the runway. Gleaming across cotton jerseys, satins, velvets, leathers and silks, the colour featured heavily in the collections of Zambesi, Cooper by Trelise, Yvonne Bennetti and Alexandra Owen. Veering away from traditional black, Zambesi's interpretation included a knee-length trench, leggings, and a gathered pullover.

Oriental offerings
'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em' apppeared to be the mantra touted by Kiwi designers as they embraced Asia's hold on the international fashion market. High profile retailer Annah Stretton built on her love of embellishments with a floor-length gown crowned by a fanned bustline. Sakaguchi took the trend to extremes, by introducing his collection via an oversized parasol complete with an obi-clad model.

Boy meets girl
Tom boys have never looked so good. From dashing gentleman to apathetic skaties, designers sent out a smorgasbord of masculine looks. Deborah Sweeney mixed things up with an eclectic array of grandpa sweaters, trucker caps, satin ties, leather vests and suspenders. Hailwood, meanwhile, opted for a cleaner silhouette with skinny cotton pants and fitted roll neck sweaters.

Plastic fantastic
In the world of political correctness it's nice to know fashion continues to contradict itself. In the one corner there are labels absolutely committed to ecologically sustainable fabrics. In the other corner are those, such as Nom*D and Deborah Sweeney who flout all the rules by laminating their ensembles with PVC jackets and plastic coats.

Long and lean
Big is not always better - except when it comes to frocks for the autumn/winter season. From decadent satin evening gowns in the case of Cybele to the more playful offering from Sera Lily, maxi dresses proved they could transition from day to night. Popular hues included bold bronze and midnight blue while prints were largely floral or geometric.

Second skin
If there's one thing Kiwis are well accustomed to wearing - it's layers. And come mid-August, lots of 'em. Instead of getting lost in all that fabric, however, this season designers streamlined the look pairing pants with micro minis, hoodies and woollen scarves. Kate Sylvester personified the new movement, coupling geometric skinnies with a grey tunic and a gloved sweater.