The battle between who owns what between Australia and New Zealand has been an age old one-on-one cares about lamingtons but for Matt Hickmott we would go to fashion war. Since we are an AUS based publication and snapped the exclusive of this NZ debutant's collection we feel it's only fair we claim him and his talent for ourselves. Settled, moving on.

A collection with so much embellished wonder couldn't be achieved by anyone with our a personality to match, and Hickmott's certainly packs a punch. When asked to give us a bit of info on himself he remarked cheekily; "hmmm the tricky part, what do I say about myself. Ahhhh I don't know. I just finished my 4th year of fashion design with honours and next year I'm planning on going to America!!! To find Paris (just kidding). Hehe". He may not be too serious but he is definitely sensational.

His 4th collection, which OF COURSE nabbed him honours, is based on rodeo styled pageants, glitzy glamour shots and the contrast between innocence and sexuality within a Western American context– this fascination is no doubt why he plans to visit American shores. Oh and Paris Hilton.

"I also kind of got influences from the tv show 'The Simple Life' because obviously Paris Hilton is my fave celeb! And it represents celebrity sexual culture mixed in with traditional conservative values promoted by Western idealologies. But really I just wanted a fun collection filled with denim and sparkles. I wanted the girls to look cutesy but also sexy, like they couldn't make their mind up haha. I also wanted it to be a mix of sophistication and bad taste because "that's hot" (trademark Paris Hilton)".

Hickmott definitely nailed it and more and vining Paris Hilton has never looked so good.

Photography / Izzie Austin
Makeup / Romaine Solomona
Hair / Henry Gerber,
Models / Will Bowman from Red 11, Gordon Lewin from Kirsty Bunny/Red 11, Islay Aitchison from Kirsty Bunny, Eva Wyles (unsigned).

Words / Jamie-Maree Shipton