Formal dress from Australia on show at Emmys
Mandy Cordobes has come up trumps in her quest for an Emmys dress, finding not one - but two - with a Taranaki style.
Cordobes threw down the gauntlet to the region's designers to fashion a red carpet showstopper with a distinctive Maori vibe, and a raft of hopefuls took up her challenge.
Ann Thompson and Keri Wanoa had their sewing machine pedals to the metal and custom-made a short formal dresses each from scratch.
The pair were fine-tuning and making last minute alterations to their creations until Cordobes left for Auckland before flying to Los Angeles today.
In Los Angeles Mandy will meet up with her husband, Richie Cordobes, who is over the moon about his nomination for an Emmy in the Outstanding Special and Visual Effects in a Supporting Role category for the television series Mob City episode A Guy Walks into a Bar.
Mandy says he is the closest she's got to a celebrity stylist and his advice will hold the greatest sway.
" He will be sporting a traditional tux. And I want to look stunning on his arm and showcase Keri or Ann's talent," she said.
Mandy was impressed by Wanoa's jewellery and edgy day-to-night wear, and asked her to create a formal dress .
Wanoa put her heavy workload on hold to craft a sleek black-and-white number from satin and silk chiffon. Her signature patterns form the bespoke panelling and the garment's classic, clean lines create an elegant silhouette that make the cheap formal dresses.
"I knew I'd only have a week or so to do it . . . Taranaki is so isolated when it comes to the fashion world and it will be a massive opportunity to get my work out there," Wanoa said.
Self-taught dressmaker Thompson tailored a formal full-length black satin-and-chiffon gown and is rapt it fits her like a glove.
Her custom blood-red koru patterns and panel to burnish the next layer of fine black chiffon.The contour line dress with low-cut bodice increase their sultry style.
A personal invite by Television Academy governor Kevin Pike for the couple to sit at his table during the after-function ball could mean double the media glare for the lucky dress.
