Villa Maria Cult-Couture drinks

Check out who was at the after party for Saturday night's Villa Maria Cult-Couture fashion awards in Manukau and what the models, designers, judges and guests were wearing.

Left, models in their own clothes at the afterparty, held at Genesis Energy Theatre, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre on Saturday 7 November 2009. The awards are a showcase of designers across six categories as they compete for the Villa Maria Estate Premier Award.

Awards entrant and AUT graduate, now at Taylor boutique, Jade Smythe (right) and sister Faye Smythe, Shortland Street actress. Both sisters wear Jade Smythe's designs and Faye wears a black Miss Crabb dress. She says although her Shortland Street character wouldn't wear Jade's designs, she says she "often wears them at events and they attract a lot of compliments."

Three models wear winning outfits: L-R "The Toy Collector" by Maxine Wooldridge and Kristin Leitch, "Magic Mountain Mod" by Helen Anstis, and "Lava Princess" by Visesio Louis Thompson.

Awards judge Rachael Churchward of Black magazine and actress Michelle Langstone.

Awards judge Murray Bevan of Showroom 22 PR agency, with fashion journalists Natalie Smith and Zoe Walker.

Awards judge, fashion designer Adrian Hailwood, and stylist of his Air New Zealand Fashion Week show, Phoebe Loloma Trezevant-Miller.

Guests whom we thought looked stunning in their version of a contemporary Pacific Island look, featuring buckled men's suit fastenings.

Photographer Tux Hika and Amanda Haxton, writer for Designer Direction.

Tori Grant.



Grant and Sam Taylor.

Manukau Festival of the Arts banners fly the flag for the creative city above guests at the party.

Bartenders kept the sponsor's product flowing.



Sculptures of feathers fly above the crowd at the after party.

Words Megan Robinson
Photography Daniel Merrill, 7 November 2009