EDITOR'S CHOICE

There are fashion shows, and then there is Ballantynes Fashion Week. Arguably the most anticipated fashion event on the Canterbury calendar, this is the runway that understands its audience. Fashion that inspires, designers worth knowing and, most importantly, beautiful garments that can actually be purchased and worn. With Cup Week, weddings, garden parties and summer celebrations approaching, Cantabrian Magazine has selected some standout runway photographs by Dave Richards featuring the looks that deserve a place in the seasonal wardrobe conversation.

Having experienced the runway from both sides, both as a model and now as a writer and editor, I have a particular appreciation for what makes a garment truly exceptional. Photography captures the silhouette, but seeing the workmanship, fabric movement, fit and finish firsthand offers another perspective entirely. A beautiful garment must deliver beyond the photograph. These selections caught my attention for precisely that reason.

What makes Ballantynes different is its understanding that fashion should be both aspirational and attainable. The runway isn't an exclusive club reserved for a fashionable few. It is an invitation to discover personal style, regardless of age, shape or occasion. For a refreshing perspective, read Dy Stokes' column on her first Ballantynes fashion show experience. Her first-hand account is a reminder that the atmosphere, anticipation and enjoyment belong to everyone. That is Canterbury at its best.

The Artisan collection offered some of the show's most beautiful expressions of relaxed luxury. ALÉMAIS delivered an exquisite botanical two-piece, its intricate blue and gold detailing lending an artistic sensibility to effortless summer dressing. Marle and Mon Renn (top image) demonstrated the enduring appeal of fluid silhouettes and soft, understated elegance. AllSaints offered a contemporary cardigan look that could move seamlessly between occasions. These were pieces designed to be worn, styled and enjoyed well beyond a single season.

Chocolate brought another dimension to ALÉMAIS, with rich tonal prints and a distinctive design language that feels particularly sophisticated. Meanwhile, G-Star's Colour Reimagined presentation demonstrated the power of denim and confident, modern dressing. Not every memorable runway moment needs to be a gown. Sometimes the most compelling looks are the ones that become the backbone of an individual wardrobe.

For the events season, there was plenty to admire. COOP delivered playful statement dressing, while Camilla and Marc explored elegant occasionwear with a beautifully restrained approach. LEO LIN offered an expressive pale yellow silhouette with sculptural volume, and MINKPINK brought romance to the runway through its floral print dress. From race-day celebrations to summer soirées, these were looks with personality, presence and genuine wardrobe potential.

Yet the success of Ballantynes Fashion Week extends far beyond the clothing. It is the people who bring the entire experience together. From the models and designers to the team behind the scenes, the sales staff and the audience lining the runway, there is a genuine sense of shared enjoyment. The customer service remains one of the store's greatest strengths. Knowledge, attention to detail and an ability to make customers feel valued are qualities that cannot be replicated through an online shopping cart.

Established in 1854, Ballantynes is New Zealand's oldest surviving department store and, in my view, the reigning king of fashion retail in this country. Its longevity is no accident. Heritage alone does not guarantee relevance. Understanding customers, evolving with the times and continuing to deliver a carefully curated selection of international and New Zealand labels does. Ballantynes has mastered the balance between tradition and the changing expectations of modern shoppers.

Fashion is becoming increasingly inclusive, expressive and personal, and Ballantynes understands that style has never belonged to one generation or one type of customer. Its runway reflects a community rather than an unattainable ideal. This is what makes the event so special and why Cantabrians continue to embrace it.

You cannot manufacture class, but you can curate a wardrobe that expresses individuality, confidence and a sense of occasion. The finest style has never been about wearing the most expensive piece in the room. It is about knowing yourself, choosing well and wearing those choices beautifully.

These are the Cantabrian Magazine Editor's Choices from the Ballantynes runway. Consider them inspiration for the season ahead, and a reminder that the most memorable fashion is the fashion that becomes your own.

Words: Kia
Photography: Dave Richards

Explore the collections at ballantynes.co.nz

Created in Canterbury, read nationwide.

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After using the duo, the word that keeps coming back is simple: nourishing.

Hair feels clean, soft and genuinely refreshed, but never stripped. The finish has that elusive balance CM looks for in beauty. Cared for without feeling coated, smooth without becoming flat, and healthy looking without needing an arsenal of styling products afterwards. For anyone who colours, heat styles or simply asks a lot of their hair, this is the kind of pair that can make an at home wash feel like a genuine reset.

Antipodes has taken its long established natural skincare philosophy and applied it to hair with purpose. The Repair & Nourish formulas are silicone free and made without SLS, SLES, parabens or artificial fragrance. Instead, the focus is on natural origin ingredients chosen to perform.

At the centre is PROTECSYL, a bioactive derived from Peruvian black maca, alongside New Zealand avocado oil, harakeke, rosemary and mānuka honey. The conditioner adds shea butter to the mix, while plant derived conditioning ingredients are included to support softness, slip and manageability.
That ingredient story matters because natural beauty can no longer rely on simply being virtuous. It has to work.
Here, it does.
Antipodes reports that in a two week consumer trial of 155 people using the Repair & Nourish duo, 90 percent agreed their hair was visibly less frizzy, 85 percent said it looked healthier and 82 percent felt it was more nourished.

Those numbers are impressive, but the real appeal for this editor is how uncomplicated the experience feels. I can do my hair at home and emerge feeling completely refreshed. There is softness, movement and that polished feeling usually associated with having someone else take care of it for you. 

The fragrance deserves its own mention too. Purple fig, feijoa leaf, pear and white cedarwood create something fresh, green and sophisticated rather than overly sweet.

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For this editor, that combination of efficacy, sensorial pleasure and considered design is what moves a product from good to Editor’s Choice. I can go from home to work to the runway without a worry or a frizz. I love that. 

Antipodes Fig + Feijoa Repair & Nourish has made doing my hair at home feel less like maintenance and more like a ritual. Natural ingredients that actually perform. Beautiful design. Soft, refreshed, nourished hair without the salon appointment.

That is a game changer worth keeping in the shower.