New peeps at Beat...

Taking over the role of Showroom Account Manager is the lovely Kate Roydhouse, previously of Karen Walker. Kate has a keen eye for style, and has over four years experience in the industry - so if you need fashion advise, she's your gal. 

To kick off her time at Beat, Kate brings you her top five style tips... Enjoy!

1. Dressing for your body type over what’s “on trend”
2. Dress up! There’s no reason not to.
3. It’s better to be adventurous than boring.
4. Always have basics in your wardrobe; plain tee’s, ballet flats, black jeans & a classic blazer.
5. Don’t be afraid of a pop of colour, even if it’s just on the nails.

Picks for Mum...

Ah... Mothers Day. Five sleeps and counting, have you got picked up something to show your Mum you care? If not... here are a few suggestions from the team at Beat! If you want to know more, we can help! Drop us a line at beat@beat.net.nz. Enjoy...

Geneva's beats... at Beat...

To celebrate NZ Music Month, the Genevalab Sound System team (check those puppies out here, they're pretty awesome!) has put together a few classic NZ Music Videos. So turn up your speakers and lower your swivvel chair. In no particular order, we bring you NZ Music Videos at their very best...

1. ALWAYS ON MY MIND - TIKI TAANE

2. LONG TIME - HERBS

3. PLASTIC MAGIC - HOME BREW FEAT. ESTHER STEPHENS

4. SOPHIE - GOODSHIRT

5. EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT - BABYSITTERS CIRCUS

6. POI E - PATEA MAORI CLUB

7. SECOND CHANCE - LIAM FINN

8. HOW BIZARRE - OMC

9. BROKEN MACHINE - ZOWIE

10. PUNCHING IN A DREAM - THE NAKED AND FAMOUS

Technology meets nature...

To celebrate Naturaltech's new look, BEAT threw a little get-together at The Greenhouse in Auckland's Wintergarden. Displayed amongst an array of wild flora, dispursed with an air of science, guests were treated to a evening of wine (served in beakers, of course), nibbles, and a sampling of the best hair and beauty products on offer. 

Paul Jobin delights the crowd at Sealord launch

Sealord, New Zealand’s largest seafood brand renowned for delivering irresistible seafood, has partnered with McCashin’s Brewery, to create a recipe for tasty beer battered Hoki fillets.  Fillets are hand cut, snap-frozen then coated in a crispy Stoke Beer batter, bringing you a real taste of Nelson. 

At the launch, Celebrity Chef Paul Jobin prepared a tasty array of Nelson inspired side dishes and sauces to tempt the tastebuds.

For a copy of recipes, email beat@beat.net.nz.

Move over Balayage...

Move over Balayage, there’s a new treatment in town.

Introducing Flamboyage, an innovative colour service personal designed by Angelo Seminara that pushes the boundaries of hair colour. The new technique allows colourists to enhance the natural reflects of the hair by spontaneously blending bright and saturated tones with natural bases. Offered exclusively to Davines salons, this new service is a revolution in hair colouring.

Offering the ultimate creative freedom, Flamboyage uses a brand new tool called Flamboyage Meche, a practical adhesive strip that provides precise and creative colouring. Once placed on a client’s head, Flamboyage Meche selects and isolates sections of hair with a simple and fast gesture leaving behind a small random amount of hair adhered to the strip that becomes a new working surface.

Flamboyage Meche is a versatile, practical and simple tool used to achieve extremely natural-looking results.

Semi-Permanent Speaker – Alex Trochut

Alex Trochut was born in 1981 in Barcelona. Studied Graphic design at Elisava, and started working as freelance designer and illustrator in 2007. Alex Trochut's illustrations, designs and typography take the modern notion of minimalism and flip it on its side.

Trochut's work philosophy is "More is more." It is rich with elegant, brilliantly detailed executions that simultaneously convey indulgence and careful, restrained control. Trochut is driven by a desire to constantly evolve which can be seen in his eclectic body of work. Renowned for his technically exquisite type creations and designs, Trochut attributes his special connection with typography to his grandfather Joan Trochut – a typographer and the creator of a modular typographic and ornament system built in the 40s. Alex Trochut's client's include Nike, The Rolling Stones, Nixon, British Airways, Coca-Cola, The Guardian, Non Format, Wieden + Kennedy, Saatchi and Saatchi, BBH, Fallon, and Beuatiful Decay.

Megan from Thread.co.nz caught up with another hot name on the speaker list – Dan Gosling of Stolen Girlfriends Club. Check it out here. http://www.thread.co.nz/news/6430/15/Stolen-at-Semi/d,thread-article

Easter treats from Beat...

To celebrate the season of chocolate and bunnies, Beat's Fashion Showroom team have put together a selection of goodies to give to a loved one, a friend, or even as a gift for yourself this Easter! So why limit yourself to chocolate when pastels are just as fun?

Happy Easter from Beat!

Can't take my eyes off of who?

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are set to perform their one and only New Zealand performance on their current tour. Taking the stage at Vector Arena on Thursday evening (the 5th of April), this crooner will take Kiwi's back to a classic era of dancing, singing, and general good times. 

Frankie, with classics such as “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” and “Walk Like A Man”, is especially popular in NZ at the moment, with the Tony-winning musical “Jersey Boys” (profiling the life and times of Frankie and his band) running just a week after the New Zealand stop on the tour.

Be watching out for interviews with Frankie Valli. Follow Beat PR (@BeatPR) for updates.

 

Semi-Permanent speaker - Benja Harney...

Benja Harney  // www.paperform.wordpress.com

Benja is a self-taught Sydney based Paper Engineer.  Paper is his passion…

Through his business Paperform, Benja has been dedicated to engineering high-end pop-up books and paper construction professionally for 6 years, for a variety of applications including:  advertising, magazine illustration, fashion, packaging, invitations and fine art. “Paper is such a humble medium to work with.  It inspires and challenges me every time I sit down at my cutting mat.  I strive for creativity and perfection in every project I undertake”.

Disturbingly daring...

NOM*d and filmmaker Rebecca O’Brien have collaborated to produce DO NOT DISTURB. The film features NOM*d’s AW2012 collection ‘Do Not Disturb.'

Trapped in a motel on the edge of nowhere, evil churns and thrashes in a Pandora’s Box of frozen moments.

‘Do Not Disturb’, the AW2012 collection from NOM*d, celebrates this murky, hidden world with a concise collection of oversized layers and intricate contrasts. The film, launched at No Home film festival this year, is an unnerving and dark exploration of this world.

Director Rebecca O’Brien reflects: “Margi originally came to me with the title of this year’s winter collection ‘Do Not Disturb’. My understanding is this was in response to the hard time Mother Nature has been giving the South Island of New Zealand over the last year or so. Margi described a feeling of wanting to hide away to lick their wounds and to be left alone to just get on with things … undisturbed”.

O’Brien drew on these influences, while also being mindful of the unique NOM*d aesthetic. There are nods to Lynch, namely Twin Peaks.

“The association with ‘Do Not Disturb’ and motels is obvious, but I also wanted to create a world of fear and isolation with the consent threat of some great power or evil about to be unleashed at any moment. A foreboding place where malevolence and ruin are ever present,” says O’Brien.

Disturb only if you dare. 

Do Not Disturb from No Home on Vimeo.

Semi-Permanent speaker - Ron English...

One of the most prolific and recognizable artists alive today, Ron English has bombed the global landscape with unforgettable images, on the street, in museums, in movies, books and television. English coined the term POPaganda to describe his signature mash-up of high and low cultural touchstones, from superhero mythology to totems of art history, populated with his vast and constantly growing arsenal of original characters, including MC Supersized, the obese fast-food mascot featured in the hit movie “Supersize Me,” and Abraham Obama, the fusion of America’s 16^th and 44th Presidents, an image widely discussed in the media as directly impacting the 2008 election.

Other characters carousing through English’s art, in paintings, billboards, and sculpture include three-eyed rabbits, udderly delicious cowgirls and grinning skulls, blending stunning visuals with the bitingly humorous undertones of America’s Premier Pop Iconoclast

Oi... it's oil...

Italian sustainable beauty company Davines is delighted to introduce a new code of absolute and universal beauty, inspired by multi-functionality and versatility: OI/OIL.

The innovative new OI/OIL is a refined, multi-functional product that offers the perfect combination of treatment and styling for all hair types. A true beauty potion, OI/OIL provides immediate results and has been designed for high performance, speeding up drying times without weighing down hair, and adding shine and softness. The uniquely named product detangles and fights the frizz while providing a restructuring, anti-radical and anti-oxidant treatment.

Pulses racing with Semi-Permanent...

Semi-Permanent, the world-leading design conference, is heading to New Zealand on May 18 – 19. Set to have pluses racing and brains grinding, the conference will entail a stellar line up of 16 speakers. 

Over two days, NZ will see a mash-up of creative minds, with the likes of industry heavy-weights Ron English, Hi-Res, Industrial Light & Magic, Alex Trouchet, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Tomas Gabzdil from Libertiny, Moffitt Moffitt, Special, The Monkeys, Gmunk, Wallpaper Magazine, Benja Harney, Southsouthwest and Swifty.  Two speakers are still to be announced - so watch this space.

Tickets are available through www.the-edge.co.nz/semipermanent and www.semipermanent.com.

Kate moves to Britomart...

Kate Sylvester opened her fabulous new flagship store in Britomart last night with a party for media, customers and friends. Guests sipped Drambuie Whiskey Sours, Peroni and Millton Wines and dined on Ebisu delicacies, walked over from the neighbouring eatery. The Psychs brought their retro rock to the party ensuring the store opened with a bang. Stocked with the beautiful Winter 12 Secretary collection, the new boutique is a must visit on your next Tyler Street sojourn.

Fatboy takes to the stage...

Vector Arena went off on Friday night, with acts Porter Robinson, Die Antwoord, Skrillex, and Fatboy Slim playing together in one epic show. 

In this 'something for everyone' lineup, it was hard to pick a favourite. With Porter's electro-house, Die Antwoord's ironic rap, and Skrillex defining dubstep, the opening acts brought the crowd to life.  

DJ Norman Cook (a.k.a Fatboy Slim) took the night to its climax with an hour and a half long set, incorporating some of his classic tunes including the hit Praise You. Accompanied by a visual meld of comedy and the plain weird, it was a show not to be missed. 

REBUILD - Project...

Check out the brilliantly reinvented Levi’s Denim Jackets that 16 of NZ’s top creatives have customised to raise money for Rebuild Christchurch.

Designers such as World, Zambesi and NOM*d along with top stylists including Kylie Cooke and Barry Betham have set their talented minds to work, and their creations will be auctioned off in March.

Click the image below to check out their Facebook page for more info. Keep an eye on Facebook to find out when the Trade Me auction begins! 

Behind closed doors...

Exhibiting at NZ Fashion Festival on Tuesday, NOM*d's AW2012 collection was completely stunning... right down to the socks!

The collection titled ‘Do Not Disturb’ celebrates a murky, hidden world with a concise collection of oversized layers and intricate contrasts.

Revelling in the tension between the immaculate and the horrific, NOM*d’s distinctive shapes and signature details come alive in a sludgy colour palette of slate, army and nightshade - with splashes of lime and purple conjuring a slightly monstrous way of life.

Disturb only if you dare.

A little taste of New York...

A little taste of New York Fashion Week for you...

Levi’s debuted their Fall / Winter 2012 global collection last week with a quirky runway show celebrating the ritual of getting dressed.

The new range is based on a more refined and tailored look for both men and women, and was portrayed by both models and people cast from the streets of NYC, including a Washington Square Park banjo player who played for the finale. 

Pick of the week ....

Doritos and Pepsi Max have come together to create the ultimate fire and ice combo designed to test the endurance of even the most tolerable taste buds.

It’s time to open fire with Doritos ‘Burn’, a fiery and delicious chilli seasoning, warming you up perfectly for a Pepsi Max ‘Ceasefire Lime’ recovery. 

Just like a Hollywood marriage, this union of flavours will only be together for a limited time. So it’s time to man up for the collision of the extremes – are you up for the challenge?!