Scoop Press Release

Top New Zealand stylist poised to take on global fashion and beauty world

Leading style guru and self-made Christchurch business woman, Angela Stone is about make her mark in the fashion and beauty world, with plans to expand her styling school Styleyou here and abroad.

With over 25 years fashion and styling experience, the former international model is fast becoming the go to fashion expert for media comment, with regular appearances in print, online, and broadcast media. Stone will also be featuring during NZ Fashion Festival coming up this month and is in talks with a major publisher about a new book publishing deal, as well as being wooed by television networks.

To top it off, Stone is in the process of expanding her successful Christchurch and Auckland styling schools Styleyou, with a major focus on growth in Auckland initially. Styleyou offers stylist training for budding stylists, or men and women who want to gain personal styling and presentation skills.

Christchurch born Stone has long been a fashion icon in the South Island through her styling business Angela Stone Consulting Ltd and Canterbury Runway. Through these ventures Stone has been the driving force behind the Christchurch fashion industry for the last decade, with events such as Lindauer Best Dressed at Addington Races, Fashion in the Fields at Riccarton Races and NZ Cup and Show Week, along with annual showcases of seasonal fashion collections.

With the recent tragic events in Christchurch, Angela says the time is right to make her move beyond her beloved home region. "I love Christchurch and like so many other Cantabrians, my heart is breaking for this city that I have called home for most of my life, but I am a fighter and I'm not going to give up my passion for styling - Auckland has been beckoning me for some time, and with the uncertainty in Christchurch, it seems like the opportunity time to take a leap with my business", Ms Stone says.

Next month at Fashion Festival, Stone will team up with Mods Hair Paris in Ponsonby offering free presentations on how to become a fashion stylist, and she will hold workshops with Mods on the hottest looks for winter 2011, and how to wear them.

Stone says her secret seems to be in understanding how to reflect a person's inner beauty in their outer self.

"I don't believe in taking a look and forcing it to fit a person even if it doesn't suit them, just because it's en vogue," Stone says. "It's about getting to know a person, and helping them to see their own beauty, and then finding an individual look that truly enhances that beauty," she says. "We are blessed with a wonderful selection of fashion to choose from in this country - there are just so many options for creating a look that is unique to each person and really brings out their personality and that's what I strive to do."

Once the New Zealand market has been conquered, Stone and her business advisors, including agent Andy Hayden, have their sights set on taking her brand global, growing it to encompass all aspects of lifestyles, styling and personal development - "look out Oprah and move over Martha Stewart!", says Stone.

NZ Herald Article

Here is an article I did with Nicholas Jones at nzherald.co.nz

5:30 AM Friday Feb 11, 2011

Hemlines rising as dress standards fall

Poor dress habits such as short skirts and untucked shirts are now common in even the most professional of offices, with new graduates most at fault.

Employees at some of the country's biggest law and accountancy firms say this year's intake wear particularly inappropriate clothes and need schooling in what not to wear.

A lawyer at a top-tier Auckland city firm said young female lawyers wore outfits that seniors "would never have dreamed of wearing".

"On a Monday morning at the office you see the same things you were seeing at a club on Saturday night," said the lawyer in her mid-30s who asked not to be named.

Angela Stone, who is hired by companies as a fashion consultant, said graduates failed to realise how important image was to their employer.

"There are a lot of issues ... they come fresh out of university, and they just don't get it," she said.

Older employees complained to her about the way their younger colleagues were dressed, and short skirts caused particular offence.

"I hear it all the time. And I think young New Zealanders need to realise that just because we're at the bottom of the world, it doesn't mean we have to dress like we don't care ... they've kind of lost this idea of grooming and style and grace."

Not that the older generations set a great example - shoes worn until they fell apart, cheap suits and poor personal grooming were the most common flaws seen by Ms Stone.

"Often I find they really don't realise that hair does grow in some bizarre places ... this is pretty much from the neck up. And as we do get older it's just one of these things - hair grows in places that it never did before."

Kristen Cooper, the national president of Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, said complaints about slipping standards were nothing new.

"Workplace dress codes are a reflection of society's dress codes, so there's a perception over time that they're different now than they were 20 years ago. Just as they would have been for the 20 years prior to that."

Employers had to be careful about how they broached the "mine field" of dress standards, she said.

"It can be hard with their particular body shape to keep a shirt tucked in. Or if we put on a bit of weight we don't realise it's actually made it a bit more uncomfortable for people around us if the skirt's got a bit shorter as a result."

The issue of work dress was a global headline last year, when New Yorker Debrahlee Lorenzana threatened to sue after claiming she was forced out of Citibank after male co-workers found her figure and clothing choices "too distracting".

PricewaterhouseCoopers does have a "surprisingly short and vague" dress code, said partner Bruce Baillie, but when new staff walk in, "it becomes blindingly obvious that proper business attire is what is required".

The code has relaxed recently, however - men have been allowed to discard their ties in certain circumstances, while women are now allowed to wear shorter-sleeved tops. 

There had been only one incident in the past year, which was resolved with a "quiet word", he said.

Office tips

Men

• Invest in the best-quality footwear you can afford.
• Discard baggy suit pants - trends have changed.
• Tidy nostril and ear hair.

Women

• Invest in a good-quality handbag.
• Do not wear short skirts.
• Cleavage in the office does not work.

By Nicholas Jones

Lucre Article

Christchurch readies itself for its busiest week in fashion

Cup Week Article

Leading NZ stylist Angela Stone all set for Cup Week - the busiest fashion week of the year

www.infonews.co.nz have put a great article together about my involvement with NZ Cup Week.

Ball Gown Tips on Good Morning

To take centre stage at your high school dance in a dazzling dress you need to think about that style, elegance, and have the head-turning dress that says this is a fashion statement!!

When buying a ball gown allow plenty of time to perform any alterations needed. You must remember that even the most perfect of gown may require some alterations and you must budget for that time and cost should it become necessary.

Do not leave everything for the last moment.

A ball gown should be carefully selected for quality and fit, making sure you get exactly what you want.

The classic colours are black, white and silver; but there are more and more red, blue and purple themed gowns.

The first step in finding the ideal dress, and the most important, is finding a dress that flatters your body type. You need to identify what cut will best fit your body and which silhouette will most flatter your shape and size.

Flattering styles.

A halter neckline de-emphasizes a larger bust line while at the same time accentuates the bare shoulders.

For a more modest look, finding a dress with either a short or a longer sleeve can be tasteful and elegant. A traditional garment such as this will not only make you feel comfortable, but it is absolutely timeless.

• Get healthy. Time to start a fitness program that includes exercise & healthy eating.
• Hair & nails. Start maintaining them.
• Etiquette. Know how to behave in a formal environment? Consider taking a class on etiquette or talking to your parents about this subject. Or get a book and practice with that.
• Hair. You have selected your dress. Plan your hair around it. If you need hair ideas, check out the formal hair styles with your hair dresser
• Find your dress.
• Make appointments. Most girls have their hair done professionally for a ball. It's time to make the appointment! You can also consider having a manicure and a pedicure. Make appointments for these. Having your makeup done professionally? Then make an appointment for this, too.
• Start building your ensemble. Assume you bought your dress, and that you pretty much know your hairdo. It's time to get your accessories-- shoes, jewellery, purse (are the main ones). Start building your ensemble by seeing what works with your dress and planned hair style.
• Help select the tux. Help your date select his tuxedo, especially if you want him to wear a vest that matches your dress.
• Discuss plans. Discuss your pre- and post-prom plans with your parents. Believe me, they'll want to know!
• Review your budget. You bought the dress, at least some of the accessories, and have made your appointments. Are you still within budget?

Read the original article on TVNZ's Good Morning website