Next New Zealand – September 2019

MELISSA STOKES

1 NEWS presenter

Big red, as it was later named by a colleague,

was one of the  rst purchases I made where

Mum didn’t say, “I could make that”

(though she later did replicate it).

You see, I’m the product of fabric store

owners and an amazing seamstress

mother. My clothes, up until my early

20s, were all made by The House of G –

House of Gill.

This Alannah Hill top was one of my

very early purchases using my TVNZ

clothing allowance. Mum came to the

store to look at it and advise – I was so

thrilled when it passed her quality checks. It’s a top

I’ve worn on every occasion; I could dress it up or

down – for work or off-duty. For some reason I

didn’t even have my normal arm complex in it and

it was the perfect top for wearing in the day and

being able to throw on a jacket for a piece to camera

or live cross at 6. It was the backbone of my Europe

correspondent wardrobe and at one stage must

have been one of the hardest working and most

well-travelled tops in television. My friend reckons

it’s probably featured on the news 500 times.

MICHAEL GALVIN

Actor

This was from a photoshoot when I left

Shortland Street in 1996. I think my intention

was to conquer the world by trying to be dark

and mysterious. With hair like Hugh Grant.

Clearly it didn’t work. I remember being

extremely happy with the shoot, I

thought I looked cool and was

completely unaware of how silly

it would one day seem. I like the

coat, but I’m worried if someone

gave it to me today I wouldn’t

be able to do it up

any more.

Ria Vandervis

Actor

I remember this time in my fashion life very clearly. I was at university, had only

recently turned 18, and was experiencing nightclubs for the fi rst time. I was taking

fashion risks that I thought suited this new night-time lifestyle, including chokers,

cheesecutters and big hoop earrings. I don’t think I had a hair straightener yet, so

keeping my frizzy locks under wraps was a priority. This photo was taken at a club

in Wellington in 2002, and I remember feeling really cool and grown-up.

Photography

Supplied

Michael, 1996

Ria, 2 2

‘Keeping my frizzy locks

under wraps was a priority’

A ‘Mum-a  r­ ed’ choice

REFLECTING