Hayley's Fashion

[Jillian]

For Hayley's recent Hong Kong concerts, she wore a French Connection 'Spectacular Sparkle Dress' in blue.









www.asos.com/au/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3450473&xr=1&mk=VOID&r=3

[Libby]

That dress is spectacularly sparkly, and the designer name is very fitting: French Connection. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I love this dress!

[martindn]

Looks fabulous on her.

Martin D

[Jillian]

It's a nice dress, isn't it? They have a French Connection store in Brisbane, but they never stock any of the nice dresses that are sold in the UK (only just the slightly drab casual stuff). They have a pair of trousers in the same sequin colour, but it's really not the same as the dress.

[Libby]

Haha, I don't really get the point of sequins on pants. Dresses, tank tops, regular tops, sure. But pants? No thanks! LOL

[Jillian]

Jan 12, 2014 18:46:50 GMT jimg said:

An article from Stuff.co.nz

Westenra's gown 'magical'

GEORGINA STYLIANOU
Last updated 05:00 13/01/2014


DEAN KOZANIC/Fairfax NZ
LOVER OF LUXURY: Wedding gown designer Louise Anderson was
the creator behind Hayley Westenra's wedding dress (not pictured).


Bohemian, feminine and beautiful.

Those were the words used by Christchurch dressmaker Louise Anderson to describe Kiwi songbird Hayley Westenra's wedding dress.

Westenra, 26, married her French beau Arnaud Sabard in an intimate ceremony at Hawarden's Flaxmere Garden in North Canterbury on December 29.

Anderson, a Tai Tapu-based bridal gown designer, was approached by Christchurch-raised Westenra about a year ago. Creating her dress was "easily a highlight" of her career, Anderson said.

"There was a great connection between the two of us . . . and everything just worked."

Anderson said Westenra wanted something girly and pretty, yet elegant.

It was made of five soft layers including georgette in blush and cream tulle with lace over the top and fluted shoulders.

Anderson attended the wedding and said it was "magical to see the gown in movement".

"Hayley looked simply gorgeous and I couldn't take my eyes off her.

"I don't usually attend [clients'] weddings so this was a whole different experience for me."

It is not the first time Anderson has created a dress for the songstress, though.

A relative used to work with Westenra's father and about 10 years ago he encouraged Anderson to write to the family asking to create a gown for the teenage star.

The pink corset dress was worn by Westenra during a performance.

She said the wedding was "beautiful and intimate".

Anderson is a "lover of luxury" and has been smitten with vintage materials since she was a young girl. She buys fabric online and from antique dealers and has been making wedding gowns for more than 25 years.

Anderson lost her former studio in the February 2011 earthquake and when her home became full of wedding gowns the family found a house in Tai Tapu with a large studio.

Her clients "can afford what they want" and come from all over New Zealand as well as overseas.

She has recently been contacted by a boutique store in London which wants to stock a range of her garments.

Anderson said taking on about 50 clients a year was taking its toll and she hoped to change the focus of her career this year.

"I want to put together a range I can wholesale offshore and focus on the art of the design.

"I won't give up making gowns for clients but I've got three children and I need some lifestyle back," she said.

Jan 14, 2014 21:52:23 GMT cloudbusting.heights said:

Neat article! Thanks for posting!

Interesting though, I wonder which dress the article referred to-"pink corset dress." I can only recall one dress that matches that description but it was worn to the Fashion is Art VIP launch in 2011...

I hazard a guess that it may be either this one:



Or possibly:



Though that's not really pink is it?



Possible this one??

Source: archive.hayley-westenra-international.com/galleries/20040300_pure-tour-uk/20040329_PT_London-Palladium_PS.html

Although I think some of these dresses may be by designer Annah Stretton. I really have no idea.

[Jillian]

Actually, I think the last dress must be by Annah Stretton, as it sort of looks a fair bit like this one which I know was designed by her:

[Libby]

I'm not sure what a corset dress is, but the one in the video doesn't look like a corset to me. And it looks kind of purply. I can't see the 2nd one, because it took forever (less than 30 seconds! lol) to load and I gave up.

[Jillian]

Jan 16, 2014 7:11:54 GMT Libby said:

I'm not sure what a corset dress is, but the one in the video doesn't look like a corset to me. And it looks kind of purply. I can't see the 2nd one, because it took forever (less than 30 seconds! lol) to load and I gave up.

Hi Libby,

I know... but I can't really think of anything else...

I'm really stumped. I can't think of anything that would fit the description of 'pink corset dress' and I'm pretty familiar with the vast majority of Hayley's concert dresses. It must be something that has never been photographed and circulated on HWI or any of the Hayley fan sites.

But in this photo you can tell it is a top and a bottom. Although I do wonder whether is is in fact by Sonya Smith: hayleywestenrafans.com/reports/sonya_smith.htm



This is also not really a pink corset dress is it?



But I thought I would post it as it certainly represents a moment in fashion from 2002! I remember when that dress would have been the coolest thing in the world! ha ha

By the way, here is that second photo:



From the front:

[Libby]

Jan 16, 2014 8:37:07 GMT Richard said:

Thanks for posting the article, Jillian!

I couldn't resist adding all the missing apostrophes. I must have been an editor in a previous existence!

Richard

I don't blame you, Richard. I always notice annoying mistakes like that.

I'm afraid I find that last dress rather ugly. I don't like the design on the top (what on earth is it?), and the top and skirt together don't really work for me. The color kind of go, but the designs are so different that they don't look like they should go together. And the silver outfit. Um, wow! How can that be a dress? A top and skirt, maybe? LOL What event is that from?

[Jillian]

Hi Libby,

The silver outfit was from a 2002 Christmas Concert in Auckland: hayleywestenrafans.com/reports/christmas2002index.htm

You're right, it is a top and a skirt -- With a very cool back on it:



That outfit is really making me nostalgic for my early highschool days. I think Hayley looked amazing in it.

Hayley also wore this dress at the concert:



The translation of the concert report says that she sung 'O Holy Night' and got in and did some dancing with everyone at the end. Looks like a fun concert. I wonder if anyone has any footage of it still (It was on TV) It would be super interesting to hear a 2002 version of O Holy Night by Hayley.

Source: hayleywestenrafans.com/reports/christmas2002index.htm

Photos: hayleywestenrafans.com/reports/christmas2002photosframe.htm


I strongly recommend that people check out hayleywestenrafans.com -- It has the best 'early days' collection that exists anywhere.

Things like this for example: hayleywestenrafans.com/reports/concert20011124_3.htm

[Libby]

Now, I do like the blue one. The silver ensemble is kind of cute, actually. But it reminds me too much of the Brittney Spears-esque bare-your-mid-riff style that I never was crazy about. My high school would actually punish you for showing your mid-riff by making you wear an ugly brown T-shirt over it. LOL

[Jillian]

Jan 18, 2014 5:01:22 GMT Libby said:

Now, I do like the blue one. The silver ensemble is kind of cute, actually. But it reminds me too much of the Brittney Spears-esque bare-your-mid-riff style that I never was crazy about. My high school would actually punish you for showing your mid-riff by making you wear an ugly brown T-shirt over it. LOL

lol Fair enough! You have to have a perfect figure to pull off mid-riff, which Hayley does in those photos -- otherwise mid-riff is generally a crime against humanity!

[Libby]

I agree. It's always the ones who shouldn't that do, aren't they? As well as other unflattering styles out there. Always in the summertime, of course.

[Jillian]

Jan 19, 2014 6:17:20 GMT Libby said:

I agree. It's always the ones who shouldn't that do, aren't they? As well as other unflattering styles out there. Always in the summertime, of course.

Ha ha ha. Yes, you're exactly right there