Michelle Yvette

Eye on the ball

A young designer perseveres through the global economic crisis with just the faith that feminine, versatile, quality garments would weather the storm…

Steeped in Parisian glamour, the Michelle Yvette signature store at Britomart is an unashamedly feminine space. It’s the perfect showcase for a label that specialises in stylish, beautifully crafted pieces in luxurious fabrics. Often presiding over the shop with her miniature Pomeranian dog Buster, Michelle herself is the epitome of style. Her hair is effortlessly coiffed, her makeup flawless and her lipstick a blazing forties red.

With the help of her gorgeous assistants, she ably helps every customer, whether they are looking for a ball dress, race-day ensemble, corporate or casual wear that captures the feel of her brand: well constructed (yet with hints of the unexpected), with luxurious rich colours (vivid coral, yellow, electric blue and flaming red) and stunning fabrics (from soft wools to fine silks and cotton).
"I try to create collections that take in to account: age, personal taste and practicality, and suit most variables within those groups,” says the 27-year-old. It's this versatility that has made her a secure up-and-comer in the New Zealand fashion scene in just four years, and well on her way to becoming the kind of established designer for which this country is known.

And all of this came from a determination that was evident at a very tender age; not many young people know what direction they want to head at 23 – but Michelle knew from the start. Even though not everyone was confident she would be able to survive in the fickle fashion industry, she didn’t let go of her passion to pursue something more ‘safe’.
“I just knew that there was a market out there for quiet glamour, something that takes each fashion fad and makes it work in a way that is timeless,” she says.
“I try to be in the retail space as much as possible so I continue to get feedback from customers firsthand, which I find incredibly valuable and illuminating.”

Her rewarding journey in to fashion started while she was a student at Massey University’s Design degree programme, where she majored in fashion. During a chance meeting, she was commissioned by Viggo Mortensen to create a shirt for him to wear to the world premiere of Lord of the Rings, encouraging Michelle to launch her own-name label in 2006.

In 2008, she debuted at Fashion Week as part of the Verge Breakthrough Show, scooping the coveted Verge Development Grant for Best New Entrant, as well as lending her name to represent deliciously memorable designer ice cream from Kapiti. Since then, Michelle has participated in the event every year, including last year, when she showcased her winter 2011 collection, Hitchcock’s Muse.
“Few directors were as passionate as Hitchcock about the clothing the women wore in his films,” says Yvette. “He saw wardrobe as a significant feature of a film's overall design and visual impact and, once he made the move into colour, emotional suggestion,” says Michelle. “I couldn’t think of a better embodiment of the Michelle Yvette label than his heroines, which included Tippi Hedren, Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman and Kim Novak, truly powerful women who embodied the idea of dressing yourself with respect,” she says.
“There is no right or wrong of how a woman should dress, but I love to see women wearing classic clothes that make them feel extraordinary, as it is that confidence that makes them irresistible.”

She recognises that fashion should be a feel good thing, a manner of expressing and celebrating your identity, even if it is through something as simple as teaming a bright orange belt with a structured red dress.

In 2009, Michelle added several nationwide stockists and moved her boutique from Herne Bay to Britomart, where she stocks her label alongside True Religion jeans, a wide range of jewellery and fascinators and her new bag and belt lines. From there she also runs a made-to-measure service for special occasion wear, bridesmaids and wedding party dresses.
“I still have so far to go, but so far both the ups and downs have been such a wonderful experience,” she says. “I want to be positive about the future and express that in my clothes.”
Her drive to be a success, confidence in her talent and faith in her designs are what fuels her ambition. But if her past success is to be any indication, this journey is just beginning.


Natasha Arul
www.michelleyvette.com