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1 June, 2021

Fashion on the Wharf: Fashion’s big night out

Flagstaff Team

They say it takes a village… and Fashion on the Wharf proved this, with volunteers from the community prepping models or taking a turn on the runway themselves. The return of the popular charity show drew a large and glammed-up audience to size up smart local designs.


  • Absolutely fabulous… Bubbles, designer heels and goodie bags – it’s fashion darling!
Runway ready… Models were made up by a team of helpers, including at Louise Simpson salon where Mina Ahmadi (middle) waved Felicity Gould-Thorpe’s hair and Jo Webb (right) also got the tressess treatment

Model behaviour… all ages took to the runway to make for an inclusive evening, rounded out with a lively dance display

Runway to reality for TGS students

Giving it a go… TGS senior students (from left, above) Hugo Doughty, Tsenate Akerbergne and
Joseph Duong took up a call from the head girl to support the event by modelling for the first time.

“You have to respond to the boss,” said Joseph, when we spoke to the trio in make-up at Harmony Hall, where local artists and students from Servilles Academy and Samala Robinson Academy wielded brushes.
Tara Cutts, a TGS Year 11 student was excited to try modelling and harbours ambitions to do more. She liked the enhanced natural look for hair and make-up chosen to suit the wide range of those on the runway.

Backstage pass: access all areas

Fashion at the Wharf is “just a nice thing to do for the community”, said show MC Pippa Wetzell, echoing the words of the many volunteers who turned the event into a fun evening to remember for a sell-out crowd.

The Devonport local and TVNZ presenter was only too happy to return to host the show, for a second time after it was cancelled last year due to Covid-19.

“Everyone is so ready to get out and socialise after all the lockdowns,” she told the Flagstaff, shortly before around 40 volunteer models, aged six to 70 plus, took their turns in the spotlight.

Behind the scenes another 30 helpers got them ready, with hair, make-up and styling to best set off the new season’s designs from 12 local retailers.

The crowd responded well to seeing real clothes on a range of real people. “Things like this make us more relevant,” said Toni Sills of Caroline Sills, one of the labels on show.

Clothing on parade ranged from comfortable casual wear to dressier designs. The Hospice Shop and Holy Trinity op shop showed pre-loved garments deserving of a second life.

The night raised more than $1600 for the Dress for Success charity. It also taught the audience a new fashion-forward expression, with Wetzell recounting that her 12-year-old daughter had sized up her Caroline Sills outfit of elevated track-style pants worn with heels and a drapey blouse as “that’s not bad, that ’fit.”

Business Improvement District Manager Shaulyn van Baaren said Devonport could be proud of the event. “And I’m excited to see what it will become in the years to come.”


  • Local-body politician Toni van Tonder socialised with Councillor Richard Hills.

  • Toni Awards… Toni Sills (above left) catches up out back with friend and show host Pippa Wetzell (wearing Caroline Sills).

  • Just this once… Former international cover girl turned architect Katie Braatvedt returned to the runway to model Holy Trinity Church op shop’s recycled fashion in style. Her mother Charmaine is church vicar.
  • That’s a wrap… Many in the audience left with mental notes to shop the local looks they liked

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