COUTURE

Aje Wilderness Cropped Top and Skirt from Ballantynes. Photo by Dave Richards.

Kia Dirkson, Fashion & Beauty Editor Clothes, by their nature, encourage creativity. By layering and pairing personal pieces, we have to choose the right outfit for ourselves daily, using our own artistic instincts to curate an ensemble worthy of public display.

Creative style is also represented by the forward thinkers who are going beyond the box stores and fast fashion to offer consumers more unique ways to get their hands on the goods. Pre-loved aficionados like Arc and Artemis, Booteek, and To Be Continued offer up secondhand pieces – everything from designer digs to more humble threads – at a fraction of the cost but with all of the individualism that one could hope for when updating their wardrobe.

If you are in need of some seasonal direction, here’s what’s hot and what’s not. Firstly, grab some patterns and bold prints that define who you are for the day. Cut-outs are in, and completely covering up is out. We’re humans who have the right to change our minds and our shoes. That is why we buy so many.

If you go by New York Fashion Week, mellow yellow is the colour to see and be seen this season, so add a little bit of a lemon twist to your life and libations. For this month’s Couture, we take this on board and show how creative a single colour palette can be. From phone cases and lingerie to Perriam and prints, the options are limitless when you set your fashionable mind on looking good.

I am calling all of you creatives. So go on, redefine yourself by spending some time reinvigorating your style. Cultivate your closet and create a wardrobe that is great. This can change on the daily, and it is up to you to wear what you want and not rely on society or socalled stylists to determine your daily duds.

Immerse Puffa Jacket, $429.99 Peony Swimsuit, $289 moochi.co.nz ballantynes.co.nz

Standard Issue Tee, $239 lynnwoods.co.nz Prima Donna Bra, $169.95 thefittingroom.co.nz

Brie Leon Chloe Bag, $229 ballantynes.co.nz

Arrow iPhone Case, $70 karenwalker.com

Self-Portrait Midi Dress, $769 ballantynes.co.nz Witchery Ruffle Tiered Skirt, $169.90 witchery.co.nz Eleanor Ruffle Dress, $329 perriam.co.nz

Camilla and Marc Pants, $730 nz.camillaandmarc.com

Django Juliette Sneakers, $199.95 andreabianishop.co.nz