English: Jan Bolwell says “ we were inspired by women such as Iris Apfel, 99 year-old New York fashion icon, and 70 year-old Dame Anna Wintour, long time editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine. We found further inspiration in the fabulous fashion books Advanced Style and Advanced Style: Older and Wiser by Ari Seth Cohen.

Dancing to Vivaldi’s glorious music The Four Seasons, four choreographers - Jan Bolwell, Sacha Copland, Tania Kopytko and Carolyn McKeefry each gave their take on the seasons through lively, inventive movement and costume design. The Crows were delighted to present guest artists and models Barbara Brinsley (82) and Margaret Austin (74) who joined them on the catwalk. Both are well known ‘arts’ personalities, Barbara in Dunedin and Margaret in Wellington. Their cameo appearance was a knock out. Barbara has long cut a bright, oomphy dash on the more monotone Dunedin fashion-scape. “I don’t mind being near the edge of fashion. I don’t mind standing out in a crowd because I feel comfortable within myself as to how I look.”

A lengthy OE took Margaret to Paris, where she led a mostly undressed life onstage at the city’s top music hall, the Folies Bergere. Back in New Zealand, as partner to Wellington’s late duke, she was clothed for the role by His Grace’s ex-Savile Row tailor. These days, as an after-dinner speaker and performance poet, she’s decorously keeping her clothes on!