A masterclass in modern bridal and occasion dressing at NZFW from Juliette Hogan.
For Together Journal, one of the most exciting moments of New Zealand Fashion Week was always going to be seeing bridal take its place on the runway at Juliette Hogan. We were fortunate to get some early insight, spending some time last week with Juliette and designer Alice Feutz to explore some of the bridal pieces being prepared for the runway and hear why it felt important to include bridal in the presentation. We also spoke about what makes bridal such a special part of the Juliette Hogan world, and how these pieces sit alongside the wider collection.
Studio by Mikayla Bollen
There is something undeniably powerful about seeing bridal on a runway. The scale and movement of a show allow a wedding look to be experienced in an entirely different way, bringing the fabric, silhouette and craftsmanship to life. For Together Journal, bridal brings another layer of emotion and occasion to a fashion presentation, so we were absolutely delighted to see it given such a considered place within this year’s show.
And for those who may not know, Juliette and Alice have quietly been creating a very limited number of bespoke bridal pieces each year for the past six years, alongside the demands of the mainline collection. With only a small number of gowns created annually, each one is an incredibly special and considered undertaking, bringing the craftsmanship, beautiful fabrication and precise tailoring of the Juliette Hogan world into something deeply personal for each bride.
Runway by Greta at Together Journal
Juliette Hogan marked a significant moment with bridalwear on the runway, unveiling pieces from the brand’s custom bridal offering alongside its new-season collection. Rather than feeling like a separate chapter, the bridal looks sat naturally within the wider Juliette Hogan design language, demonstrating just how closely the worlds of bridal, occasionwear and ready-to-wear can intersect.
Juliette Hogan and her team consistently deliver some of the most immaculate runway presentations at New Zealand Fashion Week, and their show is one we look forward to every year. There is a confidence and precision to the way the brand presents its collections, from the clothes themselves to the casting, styling and considered set design. Season after season, Juliette Hogan remains a Fashion Week highlight, and this year felt particularly elevated.
The collection presented a sophisticated exploration of fabrication, movement and occasion dressing. Flowing silks, intricate brocades and distinctive prints sat alongside the beautiful tailoring for which Juliette Hogan is so well known. There was a sense of refinement throughout, but also versatility, with pieces that could move effortlessly into the worlds of wedding guests, bridesmaids and the wider bridal wardrobe.
The collection presented a sophisticated exploration of fabrication, movement and occasion dressing. Flowing silks, intricate brocades and distinctive prints sat alongside the beautiful tailoring for which Juliette Hogan is so well known. There was a sense of refinement throughout, but also versatility, with pieces that could move effortlessly into the worlds of wedding guests, bridesmaids and the wider bridal wardrobe.
Texture and movement played an important role throughout the collection, with fabric fringing appearing across hems, scarves and ties. The fringe concept was partly inspired by the artwork Shredded Shirt by Pip Culbert, whose practice pares everyday objects down to their essential seams. It is a less-is-more philosophy that feels naturally aligned with Juliette Hogan’s signature sense of ease.
Creating these pieces was an undertaking in itself. Some used up to 12 metres of fabric each, with the intricate work brought to life by the JH team, including Juliette Hogan, creative lead Alice Feutz, sample room manager Morgan Hollis-Ward and skilled in-house sample machinists Lily Li and Shirley Wu.
“I’ve always loved the way fringe brings movement to a garment. For this collection, we wanted to take that idea further – to explore how it could fall and respond to the body, while still feeling very Juliette Hogan. There’s something beautiful about the tension between the delicacy of the fringe and the work involved in creating it.” – Juliette Hogan
The fringe extended beyond the garments and into the environment of the show itself. Dramatic circular installations of cascading threads created an ethereal pathway for the models, with light shifting through the strands as they moved along the runway. Seeing this textural language carried from the clothes into the set made the entire presentation feel exceptionally cohesive and immersive, connecting the collection and its surroundings in a way that felt both engaging and unexpected.
NZFW Runway Photos
Several designs were created exclusively for the show, offering a closer look at the recently launched JH Bespoke service. A selection of these runway looks will be available to purchase from the Juliette Hogan Commercial Bay store until August 24, giving clients a rare opportunity to experience pieces created specifically for the presentation.
And then came the moment we had been waiting for. The show closed with fashion bridal runway moments, presenting two elegant wedding looks from Juliette Hogan Bridal: a custom handwoven shantung silk gown and a nod to a tailored tuxedo. Together, they offered two distinctly different directions for the modern JH bride and a fitting finale to a collection that had so beautifully blurred the boundaries between fashion, occasion and bridal.
What continues to distinguish Juliette Hogan is the attention to detail behind every element. The precision of the fit, the quality of the tailoring and the understanding of how fabric moves on the body are among the reasons the brand has become such an enduring presence within New Zealand fashion.
Having been given an insight into the bridal pieces and their design process before the show made seeing them finally emerge onto the runway even more exciting. It felt like a natural evolution for a designer whose understanding of tailoring, femininity and occasion dressing has long resonated with modern brides, and a very exciting moment for bridal at New Zealand Fashion Week.
BNZ was the premium partner of the show, supporting the business of fashion and the creative industry behind it. A limited-edition Juliette Hogan T-shirt was available to purchase for one night only through a special merchandise stand powered by BNZ.
Creative direction, casting and styling were led by Alice Feutz, creative lead at Juliette Hogan, with Courtney Joe, longtime friend of the brand, joining as co-stylist.
The runway was completed with footwear by Bared Footwear, hair by Lauren Gunn and the Colleen team using Davines, makeup by Josie Wignall with skin preparation from Aotearoa-based brand Kaea, and music by Cay.
“This ‘new nude’ beauty look started with hydration, calm and glow. I combined Kaea The Vitaliser Multi-Omega Face Oil and The Rejuvenator Multi-Nutrient Face Balm – this combo was the key to natural luminosity. A wash of lightweight skin tints, creams and glosses created light across the face, with the makeup being more about subtraction than addition,” says makeup director Josie Wignall.
Hair director Lauren Gunn describes the look as ‘whisper hair’, capturing the beauty of natural hair.
“Healthy, shiny, flowing and free with a barely-there wave and a clean texture that evokes simplicity and mimics the drape and effortless grace of Juliette’s collection. It’s about minimal intervention and a quiet beauty to win your heart and calm your soul,” says hair director Lauren Gunn.
Hero products used include Davines More Inside Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid, Davines Medium Hold Hairspray and Davines Strong Hold Cream Gel.
“20 years since my first show, Fashion Week remains an important moment. For our team, it’s an opportunity to come together and push ourselves creatively, and for our brand, it’s about sharing who we are today and where we’re going. For the local fashion industry, it’s about celebrating the collective talent we have here in New Zealand. And of course, it’s about the pure joy of creating and sharing beautiful clothes.” – Juliette Hogan
Discover more by visiting juliettehogan.com and @juliettehogan.
