> L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival Blog

WOW my life has changed. I have never had such an incredible day of information and inspiration that has made me really think about how the world of fashion is moving forward. What a thrill to have experienced the 2010 LMFF Business Seminar. People like Sarah Curran (from mywardrobe.com) and Sojin Lee (from fashionair.com) have changed the way we experience fashion revolutionising fashion retail and media online. Paul Bennett is an agent provocateur and the world needs more people like him who turn our business worlds upside down. I was equally inspired by the charismatic Christian Blankaert who has challenged my perception of luxury. Finally what a delight to hear from the dynamic duo of fashion Malcolm Carfrae and Francisco Costa from Calvin Klein inspiring the audience with their humble brilliance.

Author, Karen Webster, Festival Director

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

Beautiful jewel toned dresses, embellished separates in a range of gorgeous fabrics and an array of classic skirt styles, Review’s Sidewalk show featuring their “Winter Wonderland” collection was simple yet sophisticated.

A subtle but very fashionable take on the Alice in Wonderland theme ran through out the entire show, which featured several key outfits that I could have easily tucked into my bag at the end of the show! Loved, loved, loved the blush pink and steel grey A line skirt!

Cannot wait to see what the rest of the collection includes when it hits the stores later this month.

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

The Mini Me show is always a favourite with the crowds and LMFF team! Bonds kick started the show with a fabulous and energetic collection, Zephire created a mock paparazzi introduction while the show ended with an Alice in Wonderland themed moment along with a large costumed rabbit on stage! There were over 50 adorable kids involved in the show and many proud parents.  

Author, Jacelyn Hawkins, Project Manager, Fashion Collections

Bonds

Just Jeans

Moppit

Replika Revolution

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

If this is the future of fashion then beam me up Scotty! The amazing showcase of student collections was supported by established designer collaborators Sportsgirl and what a show it was. Inspiring, energetic and invigorating this show really puts the Australian fashion institutes on show and we should all be proud!

Theatrical light and sound set the stage for the recently graduated designers of Metamorphosis Student Showcase to wow the audience with their innovative, avant garde collections.  As yet unconstrained by the commercial realities of producing wearable, accessible garments, the 12 graduates from around the country showed collections that experimented and played with notions of fashion from a variety of perspectives.

The results were at times dramatic, extraordinary and elegant, as each designer presented his/her unique comment on fashion.

Author, Jo Cramer, Project Manager

Albert Lee – RMIT University, Melbourne

Christiana Livaditis – RMIT University, Melbourne

Daniella van Camp – University of Technology, Sydney

Laura de Vries – RMIT University, Melbourne

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

WOW!! What an amazing event the Spotlight presented Style Celebration turned out to be!  A brand new LMFF event and it’s proven to be a popular one.

Fashion experts and icons Dhav Naidu, Sarah Gale, Fernando Barraza, Karen Webster, Kate Gaskin, Gwendolynne Burkin and Richard Nylon (to name a few!) came together on Wednesday afternoon to showcase the latest trends, styles and designs to a packed audience at Federation Square.

Celebrity ‘Style Spotters’ including LMFF Ambassadors Olivia and Miriam Nervo and Kate Gaskin, were amongst the crowd hand picking stylish individuals who were later judged by special international guest Gabriele Hackworthy. The “Pin & Win” contestants whipped up fabulous designs in 15 minutes! And just to add one final touch, Ricki Lee Coulter closed the event in true style entertaining the crowd with her latest hits!

Nicole De Fazio, Project Manager – Style Celebration presented by Spotlight

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

Rae Morris, Beauty Director at L’Oréal Paris and Emily Taylor, Beauty Editor from marie claire lead two beauty workshops on Wednesday to ensure we could all go home and make ourselves Runway ready!

Rae and Emily covered all the key trends in make up for autumn winter 2010. The gift bag we received was filled with over $100 worth of L’Oréal goodies to ensure we all got a great start at refining our new found skills!

Author, Sherridan Green, Project Manager Business Events and Beauty Workshop

marie claire Beauty Editor, Emily Taylor, and L’Oréal Paris Beauty Director, Rae Morris,  talk ‘all about face’

Rae Morris demonstrates the common eyeliner mistake – ‘the golden arches’

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

Opening this group of designers was a special ‘Levante’ fashion moment featuring Bertie Blackman and band to showcase the versatile looks of the LMFF official hosiery partner.  The mood was dark, chic and almost a little gothic. The Runway was presented by Madison, who brought a ‘new polish’ theme to the show which was brought to life through the hair and make-up looks: a dark wine lip and 50s inspired hair that carried across all the designer sections by the amazingly talented Melbourne stylist Kate Gaskin.

Author, Geraldine Frater, Project Manager, L’Oréal Paris Runway 2010

 

 

Nevenka

 

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

From a beautiful and motley crew of seven, only one could win the golden ticket that is the 2010 LMFF Designer Award presented by Woolmark, supported by VOGUE Australia. Appropriately shrouded in a set of black and gold cleverly designed by local company Moth, over 300 industry folk gathered to give praise to the ‘new’, best and brightest fashion designers that Australia has to offer.

Dhini, Gail Sorronda, Therese Rawsthorne, Lui Hon, Dion Lee, Konstantina Mittas and Gary Bigeni all showed us the potential of our industry last night by presenting confident and cohesive collections with distinctive and original signatures.

DJ Leigh Irwin added a moody flavour to the event. A highlight for me was the choice of Melbournian songstress New Buffalo – what a sweet charmer.

When Dion Lee was announced as the winner a cheer went up from the crowd including the nominees who showed a cheeky level of friendship and mutual support of each other.  They made this event a pleasure to work on.

Congratulations to the nominees, the humble winner, the presenting partner Woolmark and supporting magazine partner Vogue Australia for their involvement in helping to conjure a strong, creativity led industry. And to all at LMFF – we’ve earned that champagne! Cheers, till the next one!

Author, Karen Rieschieck, Project Manager, LMFF 2010 Designer Award

Dion Lee

Winner Dion Lee with a model wearing his design alongside Chairman Walter Merriman and Scarlet Hill from AWI.

 Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

VOGUE Australia  brought a clean edgy consistency to the runway presentation of ANT!PODiUM, Arnsdorf, Dion Lee, ELLERY, Friedrich Gray, Gary Bigeni, Romance Was Born and Therese Rawsthorne.  The designer collection could be defined into two groups one quirky colourful and the other dark elegance. These themes were also captured through two differently styled hair and make-up looks throughout the show.  The direction of this show certainly had the special touch of VOGUE Australia stylist Meg Gray.

Author, Geraldine Frater, Project Manager, L’Oréal Paris Runway 2010

ANT!PODiUM

Friedrich Gray

Romance Was Born

Therese Rawsthorne

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

Those who attended the Metalicus show are sure to have found the perfect outfit to suit their personal style. The runway showcased examples of how to layer and combine with the garments from the New Move collection – most of which are a wardrobe must. Kirstie Clements, Editor VOGUE Australia, and Damien Woolnough, Editor Vogue.com sat front row across the runway from Olivia and Miriam Nervo. The lighting and Squared Division Choreography was very entertaining including the impactful moment at the end when all the models came out in the same outfit… Hot!

Author, Jacelyn Hawkins, Project Manager, Fashion Collections