Kirsha from Salasai speaks to us about Shazaam and Tropical Downbeat Orchestra, stone-oven pizzas and Renee Geyer......

Who is your beauty icon? Yoko, Kate Moss, MAD, Agyness - the list goes on. What is your favourite nail color at the moment? violet
What is your secret beauty indulgence? Hot bath with lights out -love it What do you wish you could change about your hair? the texture - I want flat asian black geisha hair !!!! Which hair era do you like the most? 1960's, slick, sharp and short Whose hairstyle do you envy most? Grace Jones flat-top - who can wear that????? Who is your favourite live band? Shazaam and Tropical Downbeat Orchestra - amazing locals live What song do you have to dance to when you hear it? Say I love you - Renee Geyer - love her When it comes to clothes which is best, trashy or chic? Both mixed up cant do one or the other-more trashy though ha! How did you get your start in fashion? studying, work experience and working in NZ and Australia!! been a great ride so far - we started Salasai the start of 2006 and has been crazy ever since. What was your favourite pair of jeans ever? Spagetti's, they were panelled and had a little metal knife and fork hanging from the beltloop - I cried when the fork broke When you were young who did you want to grow up to look like? Whitney Houston ha ha !! Whats your favourite shop? Aroha Lamour AKA MIA in Napier - the best store!! beautifully designed with amazing product, and very cool people Which is best pink or red? pink - im not feeling red at the moment unles its matt red lipstick What would you cook if you were trying to impress someone? home made wood fired pizza in the outside kiln everyone puts their own bits on!!! easy to impress and not alot of effort. When was the last time you rode a bike? ha ha haaa thats a great question hmmmm 1998? ha ha

Karen Walker has a knack for giving fashion an easy going edge. Her current collection has its roots in the Edwardian era, bringing The Secret Garden to life. There is a nostalgic element underpinning Karen Walker's latest fare that won't fail to capture the imagination of young ladies all around the world.

Cybele tells us which is better: pink or red, the best advice her mother ever gave, how she got into designing and much more.........

What is your favourite nail color at the moment? MAC's 'Vintage Vamp' - dark Plum nail polish. Whats your favourite thing in your make up bag? Mac Fix Spray Whose hairstyle do you envy most? I'm pretty happy with mine! Which hair era do you like the most? Lately I've been fascinated in early 20th Century hair styles What is playing on your ipod right now? A mixed disc of potential show soundtrack options How did you get your start in fashion? Having always done a lot of sewing growing up and at school, my start in the industry was the 2 years I spent in Melbourne after graduating from a Visual Communications (Painting) degree. I had amazing and inspiring workroom jobs and freelance work in diverse areas of the industry from small boutique brands to large multi label sports apparel companies who produce offshore. I moved back to Auckland in 2002 and started the Cybèle label from my spare room... and things have grown from there. What was your favourite pair of jeans ever? My Majesty Jeans with zips up the back leg from Winter 06 are still going strong Which is best pink or red? I'm loving deep plum/pink colours and the softer pinks in our Utopia collection for summer. What is the best advice your mum ever gave you? My mother is a very wise influence in my life. More than any specific advice (she will usually only give it if I ask) something she has instilled in me is a calm approach to life. What would you cook if you were trying to impress someone?
I'm not much of a cook so it wouldn't be the first thing I'd try in an effort to impress anyone! I'd keep it simple and let the natural flavors of fresh seasonal organic veges do the work. Which band do you wish you could be in?
I've never thought about it! I've never wished I could be in any band. What do you buy most online? Air line tickets is the only thing I buy online.

Adrian Hailwood is one of New Zealand's favourite star designers. His collections are fresh, eclectic and sweetly feminine. The themes of his collection's flow through into his signature prints and fabrics, giving the Hailwood brand it's cult status. His runway shows are not to be missed, high in drama and big on music, from giant sculptures to live electro-pop, the atmosphere is always hyperactive.

Juliette Hogan gives us the low down on ,(amongst other things), who has the worst hair in the world, what attribute is a must for all girls and her favourite place to eat cake.....

What was the first fragrance you bought? narcisco rodriguz. every time i get to wear it or i walk past someone who's wearing it, i get all nostalgic about the time i spent in new york. | Who is your beauty icon? audrey hepburn. | Have you ever cut your own hair? yep. when i was fourteen i cut myself a fringe - then cried all afternoon. it wasn't until my very latest haircut that i had one re-cut. yey! thanks lauren, i love my new fringe. | Who has the worst hair in the world? mine when i wake up. not very pretty. especially at the moment with pre-fashion week stress. im too scared to wash it and wake my flatmates up with the dryer at 6 in the morning. | What do you think is hottest, blondes, brunettes or redheads? redhead girls are just so pretty. but for boys it has to be lush, thick, dark, dark hair. | What is playing on your ipod right now?lady hawke. she has the most soothing voice but her music is upbeat. and she is so brilliant live. |
Who is your favourite country music singer? johnny cash. ooooladeda. | How did you get your start in fashion? i studied textile design down in wellington and was lucky enough to win a scholarship to study at parsons school of design in new york. i met some amazing people (tim gunn from project runway was a tutor and i did an internship with rebecca taylor) who i see as important people in helping my design sense develop. | Can you tie a tie? of course. i think its a must for all girls. how absolutely charming to be able to tie a tie around a neck of a man you adore. i had loads of practice with my little brother and all his mates for their school ball's. | What is your favourite board game? i would love to say chess because that is an intelectual and respected game.....but it would have to be connect four. we have the best battles up at our beach house on rainy days. | Where is the best place to eat cake? at my shop of saturday mornings. sometimes i wake up inspired and make the delicious cupcakes for my customers. and also agnes curran. their lamingtons smothered with cream and jam are to die for. | Who scares you most? anybody and everybody.......i jump so easily. everytime someone comes into my workroom i get a fright. im such a wimp

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The whole world sat up and took notice last year when Lonely Hearts showed their Winter 2008 collection at Air New Zealand Fashion Week. Embracing counter cultures with open arms their designs pack a punch that could either leave you reeling or gagging for more. Their smart and tough all-at-once aesthetic, makes Lonely Heart a very sought after labl to have hanging in your wardrobe.

Stephen Marr sat down with Alexandra to get a hold on what energise's and inspires her on a daily basis:

What is your favourite nail color at the moment? Naked nails | Whats your favourite thing in your make up bag? YSL Touch Eclat | Whose hairstyle do you envy most? Marylin Monroe | Have you ever wanted to ask your hairdresser out? She's a woman so it wouldn't really work out | When it comes to clothes which is best, trashy or chic? Chic of course | What song do you have to dance to when you hear it? Any 80's Madonna | When you were young who did you want to grow up to look like? Naomi Campbell- destined to fail | Whats your favourite shop? Wunderkammer | What is the best advice your mum ever gave you? Always use a serviette | What was your favourite pair of jeans ever? Never owned a pair of jeans | When is it okay to curse? Everyday | If you had to choose between a bob and a mullet, which would it be? Bob |

Designer Alex Kim gained reputation with his first collection showing last year at NZ fashion week. His collections are noted for their strong conceptual basis and styling quirks. Last year he sent girls down the runway in towering fetish boots with a handmade showpiece based on edward scissorhands. This year won’t be any less dramatic although he holds his cards close to his chest waiting for the big reveal on the runway.