Vintage fabrics! Oh how I love them!

A mixture of the print, florals, colours, spots. Vintage is seen all over the world and we have great places in New Zealand to pick up timeless pieces as well. Op shops are the best place to source original fabrics and styles but, with vintage in trend at the moment we’re seeing lots of great garments everywhere from high end boutiques to chain stores. Accessorising these fabrics correctly is key to making them fit into the modern world.

The Old with the New

These three glam girls from Sex and the City are all sporting vintage styles in this shot. Look at how the retro black and white dress on the right is teamed with a metallic gold belt and designer bag which has made the outfit chic and contemporary.

Belts can work wonders when combined with drapery vintage fabrics which are all in one bold print. Not only do they amp up the outfit but they can also be used to enhance your body shape depending where they are placed. So show-off what you’ve got by adding a belt!

1 - Sincerity 2 Dress, 2 - Heartfelt Jacket

Spots, spots, spots

While not everyone loves spots, the key is in the style of the dress and making sure you get the right fit for your body shape.

A broad range of styles have come out in the ever-lasting classic duo of black and white spots.

I like the dark backgrounds with lighter coloured spots on them. For example white spots on black fabric rather then white fabric with black spots. In saying this, Emma Stone looks good in her white dress with a few block spots scattered around.

Solid coloured spots are also effective on a dark backing fabric showcasing a radical vintage style.

  1 -My Sweetie Blouse , 2 - Roxane Dress, 3 - Victoria 3 Dress – Red

Flower power

Symbolising cuteness and innocence, purity and healthiness, much like the Taylor Swift who has a huge collection of vintage style garments. In this picture she is looking petite and youthful in a pale floral frock. Pale florals are a popular type of modern fabric which heralds the classic vintage style. Light and crisp, these fabrics always remind me of spring time innocence.

Often these types of printed fabrics are soft and delicate which we love because they add radiance and youthfulness to the wearer.

1 - Manet Dress, 2 - Meaning Dress, 3 - Georgia Wrap Dress

Retro rainbow

Retro vintage, big flower prints, bright colours. Different textures in the fabric funk it up even more... it is loud enough on its own so keep accessories to a minimum and again you could modernise it by adding a belt. My advice is to wear your hair up, a set of stud earrings and a pair of one-coloured shoes. This way the focus is maintained on the dress.

1 - Watching Me Dress, 2 - Loretta Wrap Dress

Red, red wine

If they are loud and bright… they make a statement. If they are toned down and a few shades darker…they are timeless and classic. Whichever mood you’re in, you can embrace these romantic shades. Crimson coloured garments can be jazzed up with jewellery or be kept simple and eloquent without. Play around with different textures to for visual effect as well as a feeling of comfort to the skin.

1 - Hold Hands Dress, 2 - Ballet Budda, 3 - Arabella 2 Jacket

Vintage Weddings

Exquisite flowing gowns, beautifully textured fabric and soft pale colours for that day every girl dreams of. Vintage wedding dresses have become so popular there are now plenty of styles and options to suit every era-loving bride! Vintage wedding gowns showcase the best embroidery available. Be adorned by the feel and elegance of slipping into something this special.

1 - Didion Everafter Dress, 2 - Ballet Didion Dress

If only all the taxi drivers in the world were women

Taxis ... Love them or hate them, there's no denying their use and the huge challenges that women can have when catching a ride in a foreign city.

Let's look at China for instance; yes, it's the land of opportunity and opportunists. A ride from the airport can cost as much as 800 rmb for the unaware, or 25 rmb if you do what the locals do and join the snaking taxi queue.

But what's with these men that have to drive like Ari Vatenen, speeding through cities at ridiculous speeds, honking, cursing, swerving and braking? Sure, most of the time you do get to your destination in one piece, albeit slightly frazzled, but I have had so many near misses that there are times I simply avoid these testosterone overloaded males and look for other means of  transport. I did however decide to give the last guy his pedigree as he sped to the Hung Hom station in Hong Kong. 

“See this note? This is the tip you would have got if you had slowed down and driven sanely!!!!”

The black cabs in London are easily the best in the world, calm, considered and friendly. Yes they are expensive, but who cares as I certainly believe I will make my final destination in one piece.

As for Asia, it's all for one and one for all as you battle a road system that merges constantly, in cities overloaded with smog, vehicles and far too many people trying to survive in too small a space. 

Today however, there was a wonderful surprise awaiting as we left the fabric market in Guangzhou fully expecting to grapple with the millions of Chinese to secure a taxi after a monsoon pour down. That wasn't to be the case; ready and waiting, there she was – yep, a woman cabbie! A first for me in China and what a breath of fresh air; a calm drive back and even an attempt to speak to us with her limited broken English. No cursing, no honking, no near misses, just calm considered driving. Hmmmm if China is really going to rule the world, let’s hope the women take centre stage!!

She's one of the good guys…so why do we wait to acknowledge this with her death?

On Wednesday, I flew back in from China excited as to the possibilities and the relationships that keep growing from within this country.

On Thursday, I was in Whangamata at the funeral (celebration of life) of a good friend and capable team member’s Mother.
As I entered the Whangamata golf club where the service was being held, I had visions of being back at work at 3.30pm. The funeral was at 1pm and it takes a good hour to do the trip.
I was so wrong!
 

                                       

As a I sat clutching the tissue that was issued on entry, I reflected on the many funerals that seem to be part of our company’s landscape at the moment, and given the recent update of my Will, Trust and Memorandum of Wishes, I thought about how it would all play out on the day of my death.
This moment however, was about Anne Duigan. I was feeling very pleased about Kerry’s recent posting at the Whangamata store over the Christmas period where she and her daughter, Anijka, got to spend an extended period of time with their now deceased mother/grandmother. While not aware of it at the time, this time was to be their last time with her as a ‘well’ person.

As the service unfolded, I learnt so much about a woman that I had never known and I got to hear the other members of the family speak in celebration of her wonderful life.
A woman that wanted for little (certainly not the trappings of wealth that we all chase through the lotto balls), a woman that supported many, that worked hard to ensure that the daily tasks of being a mum and partner were completed (how many of us would get up to prepare food for our partners as they head out for a day of fishing or hunting?), that loved and supported her neighbours, enjoyed a weekly visit to the hairdresser and drove a little yellow car that she referred to her as her 'little pound of butter'. She truly was one of life's grafters; no hand-outs, no entitlements… just plain old hard work and a focus on supporting friends and neighbours with humour, good food, knitting and her time. They said that once she met you, you were considered to be her friend. Yep, she still loved a drink and a sneaky ciggy. 

So many wonderful people (family and friends) stood up to speak on that day to celebrate her life. One presentation was even in song. I left feeling replete in that I know Anne would have approved of her final hurrah. In fact many of her nieces and nephews read prose prepared during their school years that she had requested was to be kept for her funeral.

Life is short and its parameters keep changing, so embrace it every day. Find yourself and remain true to who you are and what is important to you; not what others say you should be. Just as Anne did.
On Thursday we farewelled a true ‘good sort’ and we need so many more of these great women!

My challenge to you all is to become one!

Up close & personal with Annah Stretton - April

Made in China… dispelling the myth

I’m back in China and extremely excited as to the possibilities in this market. It’s been exactly a year since my first visit. I know this given the Hong Kong sevens was on then as well.

So after a year of endeavouring to do business at many levels with the Chinese in China, the results have certainly been good but also mixed…

It has certainly been a highway of lessons, from bungled orders to counterfeit money, hair-raising taxi rides and scams at many turns.

A foray into the mandarin language though a 10 week course was certainly not the answer to what can be a massive and difficult communication barrier in this country.

Conversely though these hurdles have all yielded some wonderful outcomes as I have persevered in this market building relationships and establishing sources of supply. And with each visit I am incredibly excited as to what can be achieved.

It is important to note that we are only using China as a supply and manufacturing chain; not as a DESIGN base and that maintains the credibility of our brand in NZ.

My connections up here are not about cheaper, faster and bigger margins. They are all about the access to a significantly broader range of fabrics, trims and manufacturing capabilities from a country that has its heart in manufacturing.

From the fabrics and trims to the extensive array of accessories, nothing is impossible and each trip uncovers more and more opportunities.

So what do I like so much about this new market?

 

• The Chinese are smart
• They work in immediate time frames
• The results are fast
• They answer emails the same day (often within an hour)
• They seek new opportunities
• Nothing is too hard
• They need and want to work
• They are ‘can-do’ thinkers
• They can access anything (or at least will give it a go)
• They want to do business with you
• They will make it work
• And best of all, they don't bring emotion into their business dealings. They just get on and get the job done.

So how do you make a start in this expansive market?

The expos in Hong Kong are always a great place to start when endeavouring to enter China. The wide array of exhibitors will enable you to see the possibilities and make the first contacts.

So get up here and make a start and watch how it grows!

March - Up close and personal with Annah Stretton

How to get a NO to mean a YES

Relationships - form the right ones and the world is your oyster.

Why do we crash and burn so many opportunities when in many instances all it takes is a little effort and a dollop of tolerance to create great outcomes for ourselves and others?

I think about my life and I know truly that the successes we have are driven by the relationships I have formed and yes, I have had to put in lots effort. I have even had to overlook the small stuff that used to get right up my nose.   

-It’s about getting to know as many people as you can.

-Never taking ‘no’ for an answer.

-Being likable.

-Being memorable.

-Never abusing the connections you have.

-Never burning bridges no matter how angry you are; be smart, look forward…get over it!

-Ensuring that you start all new relationships in credit - what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.

Being interested in the most insignificant people (the ones that make the least noise) in the room…they hold the delightful surprises, as I found out when I gained a ride back to Wellington City one night from the homes of one of our diplomats, and happened to be in the car with a very unassuming but delightful High Court judge.

The girls that succeed in my company and truly get the outstanding results are the ones that have a strong relationship with me and are confidentially maximizing this daily.

The ones that don’t have this level of relationship are often the grass is greener types. They will always be looking for someone to provide something better, so rather than create their own outcomes and work hard to achieve them within the environment they are in, they simply keep moving on in search of someone to generate those things for them.

My success in forging relationships and establishing connections in the Australian market, where we are endeavouring to grow the brand, has been about the connections I have made over the years. Even small things like setting up for telephone or power in this country are not like NZ; you need faster pathways to the top to get things happening within reasonable time frames.

Encouraging Australian women's groups to have me as a speaker requires connection and persistence. The brand is unknown in this country so no one really cares. I get a lot more ‘no's’ than I get ‘yes's’ at the moment, but as long as I have a plan and a vision I will keep on persisting. I certainly know that Sir Edmund didn't conquer the mountain first time around. 

  

I, however, never take no for an answer. 

Sure it’s a temporary roadblock and I simply need another route, and I will always look for it. Yet most people I deal with walk away after the first no even though they cared enough to ask the initial question.

It has been interesting forging new relationships in China as they certainly don't take no for an answer!

Say yes to more opportunities. Yes, I've got myself into some underwhelming scenarios and I've also been in some excellent ones. Lets face it, they are all easy enough to remove yourself from!

The relationships that you form will determine the level of success that you achieve in your life…believe it and get out there and get yourself known.

Sit comfortably in your own skin and know that you can and will achieve anything you set your mind to.