![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Media-Mingle.jpg?time=1719862654)
Last night media were invited to celebrate the beginning of NZFW 2013 at the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour. Held in the ‘The Cellar’ at the Sofitel, media mingled and fashion’s elite battled it out to see who could create the finest cocktail. Shannon Ryan DJ’d, as Dame Pieter Stewart (who was amongst the lineup of judges) cast her eye over a whirlwind of cocktails to see who was excelling in a mixology creation fit for the fashion fickle. Adrian Hailwood, Steve Dunstan, Lela Jacobs, Chris Lorimer (to name just a few) did their best to nab ‘1st place’ in the cocktail competition. What an amazing and fun night – the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of New Zealand Fashion Week 2013!
Check out some of our highlights from the evening…
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/What-A-Lineup.jpg)
What a line-up of contenders!
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Steve-Dunstan-of-Huffer-preparing-his-cocktail.jpg)
Steve Dunstan of Huffer preparing his cocktail creation
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Steve-Dunstans-cocktail-Right-Place-Wrong-Time.jpg)
Steve Dunstan’s cocktail – Right Place, Wrong Time
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Lela-Jacobs.jpg)
Lela Jacobs’ amazing cocktail creation
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Lela-Jacobs-creation-DETOUR.jpg)
Lela Jacobs’ creation: DETOUR
![Chris Lorimer puts the final touches on his cocktail creation - White Noise](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Chris-Lorimer-but-the-final-touches-on-his-cocktail.jpg)
Chris Lorimer puts the final touches on his cocktail creation – White Noise
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Chris-Lorimer-Ciel-PR-created-White-Noise.jpg)
Chris Lorimer of Ciel PR created: White Noise
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Adrian-Hailwood-created-THE-GRAIL.jpg)
Adrian Hailwood’s creation – THE GRAIL
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/The-ever-photogenic-Wouter-De-Graaf.jpg)
The ever-photogenic Wouter De Graaf of the Sofitel AKLD. I swear this man just cannot look bad in a photo!
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Sofitels-very-own-Wouter-De-Graaf-Spring-with-a-french-twist.jpg)
Sofitel’s very own Wouter De Graaf’s creation: Spring with a french twist!
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/The-Judging-commences.jpg)
Let the judging (and interviewing) commence
![Sofitel AKLD Celebrates NZFW 2013](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Anna-Jobz-PR.jpg)
Anna Jobsz looking as gorgeous as ever! (seriously stop making pregnancy look so damned easy and glamorous ha ha)
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Wouter-De-Graaf-of-Sofitel-shows-us-how-to-open-a-bottle-of-champagne-with-a-sword.jpg)
Wouter De Graaf of the Sofitel AKLD shows us how to open a bottle of champagne with a sword
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Noms.jpg)
My god – the selection of cheese!! Absolutely divine!!
![The Sofitel AKLD, NZFW, New Zealand Fashion Week, Dame Pieter Stewart, Steve Dunstan Huffer, Adrian Hailwood, Shannon Ryan, Lela Jacobs, Fashion Media NZ, Style, Fashion, Beauty blog nz, fashion blog nz, style blog nz, NZFW Media Launch](https://d96627.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Media-Mingle.jpg)
Media mingle…
A thoroughly enjoyable night and fabulous way to kick-off NZFW 2103 – Thanks Sofitel AKLD!
Ange x
Gurlinterrupted
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye