#177 Trelise Cooper

After an inauspicious start - Jordan and I were seated behind a big fatty, he later moved - Trelise Cooper's show left me with a grin on my face. Why? Because she's got pizazz! Her younger line Cooper by Trelise Cooper opened the show, with cute models bouncing down the catwalk to current pop hits by Rihanna, Kanye and NZ's own Flight of the Conchords. I like my models with a bit of personality and Trelise's didn't disappoint - there were more than a few flirty winks flashed at the cameramen, an overwhelmingly refreshing change from the usual sea of morose deadpans that is the classic New Zealand model's look. Dark, edgy and intellectual don't really lend themselves to the smile.

Cooper by Trelise Cooper looked to have taken its cues from my (and everyone else on the planet's) current obsession, Gossip Girl. Tailored red blazers with white shirts were oh so very Blair, while a cheeky mussed up short skirt/blazer/shirt combo with tie hanging loosely was totally Serena. The models fit the bill too; their knowing smirks had the insouciance that only comes from being born with a lot of money.

This is becoming my favourite sentence of the week: then the music changed. Banging pop gave way to deafening classical; Concierto d'Aranjuez, Gymnopedies and Moonlight Sonata formed the backdrop for the far more grown up Trelise Cooper line. Jordan got particularly excited during this section, you can say what you like about the frills and frou, but Trelise Cooper sure knows how to make a good party frock.

Towards the end I had a small double take moment that forced me to whisper to my right and left seatmates. 62's African model Angelique came down the catwalk wearing a royal purple dress. Is Trelise in talks with Cadbury? Only time will tell.

Photo by Michael Ng