Benjamin Alexander

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This was Benjamin Alexander's first solo runway show since winning project runway. The Whitecliffe graduate showed off his new collection in a unique stripped-down space above Amano.

With nature light streaming in, the models were bathed in a warm glow (playing havoc with my camera settings but making for a beautiful atmosphere). The models were styled wearing mules, boots, loafers and slingbacks that are part of the limited-edition collaboration with Mi Piaci and Benjamin Alexander. Thick belts and tied knots were a theme, from the clothes through to the shoes.

Benjamin Alexander is also hosting a pop-up shop for buyers to shop his first collection at Quay Project, Level 1, 106-108 Quay Street. His collab footwear with Mi Piaci is also be available to shop. Some on it is already completely sold out. It’s an amazing opportunity to go get your hands on peices of this beautiful collection from an amazing designer.

Here are our favourite pieces from the collection…

Image and Word by Madeleine Brighouse-Mayo

Hailwood AW20

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Hailwood does glamour so well - and this show had it in spades.

Appearing in a cloud of smoke, Annabel Liddell from 'Miss June', played from her upcoming album 'Bad Luck Party' as the models walked the runway. She played 'Twitch', 'Orchid', 'Double Negative and 'Best Girl'.

Striding to the beat, the models included beautiful women whose faces I knew from my childhood. Karyn Hay (radio jounalist) Geeling Ng (she was in David Bowie's music video 'China Girl'), Theresa Healey from 'Shortland Street' and actress Sonia Gray among others. It made for an amazing catwalk filled with real, beautiful women.

The collection was accompanied by strong eye make-up, big, bold black wings and soft, wavy feminine hair. Everything came together for one fierce and glamorous show.

These were my favourite looks…

Images and Words by Madeleine Brighouse-Mayo

Jojo Ross AW20 Backstage

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The makeup look for JoJo Ross was created by Kristin Stewart from Kristin Stewart School Of Makeup. Both hair and makeup draw massive inspiration from the 80's with big hair and bright coloured looks. The lots of curls and big fluffy hair was thanks to the team at Colleen. The essential makeup products were M.A.C paint stick palette with loose pigments.

Images and Words by Madeleine Brighouse-Mayo

Jojo Ross AW20

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The punchy industrial techno music that kicked off Jojo Ross’s Autumn Winter 2020 show shocked the audience into focus. Models strutted out into the purple lit runway in sharp futuristic tailoring and bold surreal prints. 

Jojo’s collection drew inspiration from David Lynch’s masterpiece ‘Mulholland Drive’, and it showed. The music and lighting created an atmosphere that was eerie yet captivating, and the garments looked futuristic and bold. The surrealism was expressed through phantasmagorical prints of beaming colours, peculiar shapes printed on black velvet, and bold reflective silver fabrics. The outerwear looked like business attire from the future, with fierce silhouettes, heavy zippers and sleek pockets. The looks were powerful and brave, and the models bore razor edged sunglasses, glaring menacingly at the cameras at the end of the runway. 

While the AW20 collection is bold and captivating, it’s also simplistic and considered. The garments are beautiful but wearable, cut in refined shapes. The jackets and jumpers feature dropped shoulder sleeves with a balloon silhouette, and the pants and skirts hug the body with a subtle flare towards the bottom of the garment.

Jojo Ross’s collection displayed an adept ability to enthrall and shock an audience and express a theme with coherency, while showing clothing that anyone could, and would love to wear. The show wasn’t just an exciting experience, but an exhibit of Jojo’s expertise in creating well thought out, interesting, and downright beautiful garments.

Words Hugh Sandlant Images Madeleine Brighouse-Mayo