Interview with SkyLark Designer Kathleen Waite
Skylark BoutiqueSkylark Boutique
 
 
If you're shopping in Auckland, make sure to visit my favourite boutique SkyLark situated in Canterbury Arcade (running between High St and Queen St).

This charming boutique has a great ambiance and a feel of vintage vs new in aesthetics and layout.

Waite's designs are truly outstanding with good choices in fabric and sharp pattern making that truly make her stand out from other designers.
 
 
How did you become a designer - did you go to fashion college?
It all started when I was helping out a best friend organise outfits for hair shows/comps, this went on for a few years- and I decided I better go learn how to sew, pattern etc, as I loved trying to put together outfits from scratch. I enrolled at AUT did a short 6month course, decided I liked it and then jumped into the last 2 years of a 3 year diploma.

Does any style of music and/or art influence your designs
We are listening to a lot of Kate bush at the mo...

Skylark Look BookSkylark Look Book

Do you read design magazines?
Interior design mags - all of them!

Do you have any tips for men and women as to what to wear for next winter?
The trouser is going to have a big come back for women. Both men and women should avoid excessive details, keep to subtle layering, soft comfortable fabrics, not many bright colours this winter... we will be feeling the recession so our outfits will reflect this.

As a designer what inspires you to do your work?
I'm inspired by change... and we all know fashion is ever changing - even if its a style being reworked, there is a lot of fun thinking of a new way to interpret the original idea.

Describe your "style". 
My personal style is pretty relaxed so that's reflected back into the label - Skylark has always been  just slightly dressed up street wear.

Skylark Look BookSkylark Look Book

What projects has given you the most satisfaction?
Rob ( my partner ) and I are always dreaming up new projects which have nothing to do with our day to day jobs... so that's a tuffy. One of the bigger projects was renovating our 2000 sq ft apartment. We scribbled out all designs ourselves and had no problems waking up each morning - having a team meeting with our builders about the days work and just letting it happen, walls were going up and coming down as decided on a day to day basis - no finished plan had ever been made.
That's kinda how skylark works as well.

Which fashion designers have been important points of reference for you?
I look at everything that crosses my path, my system is absorb all don't dismiss any of it and don't get fixated on any one thing.

Skylark Look BookSkylark Look Book

Tell me about your look for the next collection?
Pants, pants, pants - all different shapes, high waisted, skinny, hareem, drop crotch - all of them.  Paired with pretty feminine tops and droopy jackets.

What is your favourite era of fashion?
I love it all - going from one extreme to the next, the fact that you love a certain look to pieces one minute then it changes, and all of a sudden you hate it .
... its a laugh.
 
Skylark Look BookSkylark Look Book
 
 
For more information on SkyLark boutique, including current and previous lookbook and press images, please visit skylarkboutique.com