FASHION + STYLE SERGEANT PRETTY Linda Davidson has been in the fashion industry for a long time. “It seems like forever!” she says. Many years working for Marilyn Sainty must have been a great learning curve. She even ran a small market in the garden behind Scotties where she sold her own designs along with an eclectic range of vintage pieces sourced by her sister who lives in New York. Eventually realising she might remain ensconced in a comfortable situation too long, Linda struck out on her own doing markets full-time. Sometime later she was approached by Liz Mitchell and became her assistant designer. This was a worthwhile move because she was given the opportunity to style big fashion shows, which she loved. The business changed, Liz took on a manager and Linda faced a huge challenge she rose to, designing several winter and summer ranges for the fashion house. As the recession started to bite, more changes were afoot and Linda started doing weekend design markets in Sale Street. One day Kim Smith contacted her and a collaboration was formed. Kim had assisted with some of Linda’s big shows and liked her work so she asked her to do the costumes for the David Blyth film “Wound” that Kim was backing. The collaboration was becoming more and more agreeable and Kim offered to back Linda in an enterprise of her own. The result is Sergeant Pretty, a very stylish boutique in Grey Lynn strategically positioned between the Urban Jungle café and an alteration shop. The word boutique is probably not the correct classification for Sergeant Pretty, because it’s more of a salon. Linda’s flair for design is just as evident in the décor as in her garments. The window display is a real attention grabber and the clothes in general are one offs at very un-salon prices. She introduces about three new designs a week and as much as she can, keeps them affordable as possible. Linda has a great eye for fabrics and imagines people layering her garments to good effect. When asked who is her favourite designer the unequivocal reply is Belgian trained Haider Ackermann. “Im crazy about Haider Ackermann”. His 2011 show has been lauded by fashion pundits as ‘the show of the season’ and Executive Director of Style, Nicole Phelps, writes ‘there’s romance in his clothes’. The same could be said of Linda’s with their lovely fluid lines that can be worn with ease by women of all ages. Linda is also planning to run Women’s Fashion Workshops at Sergeant Pretty. Experts will be there to give advice on hair styling, makeup, skincare, how to wear clothes, and so on. The motivation behind this is the enjoyment she found in doing big fashion shows; the behind scenes excitement in dressing models and observing all the other procedures that prepare models for strutting their stuff on the runway. Should any readers want to be notified about these workshops just email Linda on lindakdesign@gmail.com. They promise to be a lot of fun. Or even better, visit SERGEANT PRETTY at 571 Great North Road and get your name on a client list. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN
PLUSH BOUTIQUE, PONSONBY Thursday 2 June
Parties on Ponsonby News delivery dates don’t usually work for us, but when Plush Boutique, recently relocated to the ‘hood from earthquake stricken Christchurch invited us, we found the energy to support their launch. A nice crowd of ladies of sll ages mingled browsing the racks, enjoying bubbles and canapes. The new store is directly opposite The Mini Garage and Carolyn’s pick for beating the winter blues is her Dandy jacket. We hope the locals will support this new Ponsonby business. 1. Plush designer Carolyn Barker and her daughter Lincoln Hulbert); 2. BettyAnne Rutter and Jan Shearer; 3. Melissa Paynter and daughter Jude; 4. Wendy Gunman and Brenda Weaver; 5. Vivienne Rosenberg (Ponsonby Business Association) and Felicity O’Driscoll (Co-owner, Cook the Books); 6. Charoltte Granville with her mum Jane Granville; 7. Harry McAlister and his mum Nicki McAlister; 8. Rebekah Andrae and Maria Salmon. PN
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The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied
OUT + ABOUT DEADLINE – 20TH OF THE MONTH July 2011 PONSONBY NEWS+
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