Simply spend $20 or more, recieve your boarding pass and unique barcode, take this to a digital check in kiosk located adjacent to the Shot Tower Square or on Level 2 next to the Dining Hall and enter the draw to win!

For terms and conditions and to find out more visit melbournecentral.com.au.

L’ORÉAL MELBOURNE FASHION FESTIVAL’S RESPONSE TO IMG’S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY REGARDING 2013 DATE CHANGES

Graeme Lewsey, CEO, L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival says;

“The L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) is a not-for-profit organisation that has serviced the Australian fashion industry for 16 years and continues to reinvest into the industry to deliver outcomes for Australian designers, stimulate retail sales and importantly provide unparalleled experiences for consumers. It is a nationally significant event that has successfully occupied the March period for 10 years in Melbourne.  We are therefore disappointed that IMG would move its event to the same time, potentially compromising the Australian fashion industry”.

“LMFF firmly believes there is enough room in the calendar year for IMG’s business to flourish elsewhere. In this instance we will continue to work with our industry to deliver the best possible outcome for our Australian designers, retailers, media and consumers. LMFF has an outstanding track record of showcasing and selling clothes to consumers, the timing of which has always been key to that success.”

“Dividing designer and media attention does not make sense. We should be working together to strengthen Australian fashion on the world stage which is what it’s all about.”

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact Brooke Shell at AMPR:
+61 3 9428 2288 brooke@ampr.com.au

Thank you for all your support, provisionally LMFF released dates for March 21 – 28, 2013.  Share your thoughts on Twitter @LMFF.

Photo Lucas Dawson Photography

Susie says…

1. Rise above the clutter – you need to find your niche and standout from the pack.

2. Story is even more important that timing, it is be better to have a story worth telling than race to get something up first.

3. Understand your motivations for blogging.

4. Ask yourself ‘what does your blog stand for‘ and think about how it may be perceived.

5. Think about how you may want to integrate brands into your blog.

6. Content is king – make sure you take charge over the editorial content and find your own voice.

7. Utilise other brands to create useful content for yourself and the brands you work with.

8. Learn to be a spokesperson for a brand – you have the potential to be their megaphone and amplify their message.

9. Remember “Bloggers are not the future of fashion magazines, they are the future of fashion branding” – AdWeek 2011.

10. Once established, consider moving your blog from online to offline and build real life experiences such as in store appearances, editorial styling, curating and more.

Photo by Candice Lake for vogue.com.au of Susie in Australia – wearing Lucas Nascimento jersey bomber jacket, Karen Walker cap, Magdalena Velevska dress, Nike Gyakusou trainers, Boyy bag. Via stylebubble.co.uk.

His spring/summer 2012/13 collection embraced a palette of cornflower blue, powder blue, violet, white, charcoal and black and featured oversized tunics (with surprising exposed backs), sheers, tailored trousers, front-skirt splits and a touch of leather.  Christopher Esber also made his first exploration into menswear presenting a capsule collection as part of his broader collection. See shots from the runway below.

Esber won the 2012 LMFF National Designer Award supported by Tiffany & Co. and The Weekend Australian Magazine recieving a highly sought after prize pool including a custom designed trophy by Tiffany & Co., a cash prize of $10,000 from KPMG, financial and investment advisory services from KPMG, legal services courtesy of Middletons, a pop-up store in Westfield Doncaster, advertising support in The Weekend Australian Magazine and a 12 month commercial subscription to EDITD.  See pictures from the 2012 LMFF National Designer Award HERE.

Applications for the 2013 LMFF National Designer Award open later this year. Sign up to the LMFF newsletter ‘Swingtag‘ to be the first to hear when applications open.

christopheresber.com.au

Photos by Lucas Dawson Photography

PASTELS & SORBET

The pretty pastels and sweet sorbet palettes that emerged strongly in spring/summer have found their way into the autumn/winter collections as we couldn’t be happier.  As the temperature drops, thank goodness these warm palettes will stick around to brighten grey days.

L-R – Kate Sylvester, Lisa Ho, Camilla & Marc, Christopher Esber, Something Else

COBALT BLUE

Blue is definitely a dominant colour for autumn/winter, appearing in different guises through so many Australian designer ranges on the runway.  The best thing about this shade of blue is it suits pretty much everyone and will provide a punchy lift to your winter wardrobe.

L-R – Jac & Jack, Gary Bigeni, Dion Lee, Jack London, Something Else

PRINTS

Prints are IT right now.  Matching or clashing, in every garment style, in a range of prints from landscapes, florals and digital, you can’t escape 2012 without being seduced by the bold fun of it all.

L-R – Karen Walker, Bianca Spender, Jolet, LIFEwithBIRD, Manning Cartell

L-R -  Leonard Street, White Suede, Dion Lee, Lisa Ho, Romance Was Born

SHEERS

Sheer fabrics cast a romantic spell accross the most elegant collections this season. Ideal for both day and night, modern sheer paneled garments reveal just enough to captivate the imagination.

L-R – Nicola Finetti, Bianca Spender, Toni Maticevski, Kirrily Johnston

LACE

Lace is a perennial player in fashion and this year reemerges with a vengeance to articulate an ultra-femme appeal in both day and eveningwear.

L-R – Lover, Rodeo Show, Shona Joy, Collette Dinnigan, Nevenka

LEATHER

It’s fair to say the fashion pack tend to get slightly obsessed with a certain fabrication every so often, and right now, leather is having it’s ‘moment’. It’s rockin’, it’s cool, it’s sexy – if you haven’t embraced your own leather moment just yet, we suspect it’s only a matter of time.

L-R – Aurelio Costarella, Jolet, Flannel, Gary Bigeni (top), Ellery (bottom)

THE CROP PANT

The crop pant is the definitive pant style of the season and can be worn with flats for a chic casual look, or with heels for the office. It also a sexy evening alternative and versitile enough to be worn in any fabrication, colour or print.  We love this flattering transeasonal style.

L-R – Magdalena Velevska, Therese Rawsthorne, Dion Lee, Arthur Galan AG, bassike

COATS

This season a stunning winter coat should be your main seasonal statement. A costly item, but think of the cost per wear, it is a true investment that will make your winter a warm and happy one. Our clever Australian designers know exactly what weight and features you need to get you through the coming seasons.

L-R – Collette Dinnigan, Jolet, Morrison, Arthur Galan AG

L-R - Carl Kapp, Ellery, Karen Walker

What a lovely winter it will be.  All styles are available in store now.  To review runway videos, images and to find your nearest stockist, visit lmff.com/shoptherunway today.

Images by Lucas Dawson Photography.

LAVISH OPAQUE – We can’t go past inky full opaque tights, a wardrobe staple that will keep you warm and looking totally sophisticated this winter as seen on the runway paired with this gorgeous leather sleeve zip front coat by Arthur Galan AG.  Shop The Runway now to get the look.

SEMI OPAQUE – A lighter way to wear black,  this chic and practical style with varying levels of sheerness provide a lean line with a hint of sexy – perfect for partying as seen worn throughout the Megan Park collection.  Shop The Runway now to get the look.

SOCK IT TO ME – Totally opaque knee highs are a fun way to wear hosiery in that in-between weather, try slouching them down as seen paired with this pretty Parisenne Power dress by Nevenka on the LMFF runway. Shop the Runway to get the look now.

SHEER ELEGANCE – Get ladylike with the old-Hollywood style elegant sheer stocking this winter.  Pair with patent heels and your favourite LBD for best effect, as seen in the Dita Von Teese Muse collection available at David Jones. Shop the Runway now to get the look.

TWILIGHT BLUE – Try a new hue with this luxe shade of blue seen on the Independant Runway partnered with this gorgeous Trompe L’oeil Silk Dress by Garth Cook.  Navy is complementary for all skin tones so have some fun and dare to wear blue this winter. Shop the Runway now to get the look.

Follow Voodoo on Twitter for the latest looks and inspiration for winter, twitter.com/voodoohosiery or visit their website to find your nearest stockist and shop the range voodoohosiery.com.au.

“The camera was really fun, stylish and easy to use – it got more comments than any of the clothes I was wearing.” – Vincent Fantauzzo.

Its stand out design makes it the perfect accessory for any fashionable shooter.  Vincent kept the Nikon 1 V1 with 35 mm zoon lens and detachable flash at his side throughout Festival week.  Below are just a few of the best moments captured by him at the electric and energetic Von Follies by Dita von Teese for Target show.

The Nikon 1 V1 offers portable power and incredible speed in a ground-breaking design.  With unique shooting modes, brilliant low-light performance and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder, it boasts all you need to capture standout stills and movies. Visit nikon.com.au for more information and propel your photography forward in ways you could never have imagined.

Images by Vincent Fantauzzo shot with the Nikon 1 V1

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT FOR FREE NOW

Speakers supported the idea that there are solutions and opportunities if retailers and suppliers know where to look for them. But it is clear the road ahead is not an easy one and fundamental changes of approach are required. So just what are the core issues and what do local businesses need to do to addresses them?

This is a must read for any Australian fashion business so if you didn’t make it along the LMFF Business Series last month, be sure to catch up on valuable insights by registering your details to download the full report for FREE at http://love.wgsn.com/lmffbusiness.

Access the light filled manufacturing space located at the Kangan Institute campus Building F, 85 Cremorne Street, Richmond, Victoria

Use leading edge equipment, production room, resource library, CAD room, seminar rooms with touch screens, meeting rooms and showrooms.

Attend any programs on Digital Mondays, Business Tuesdays, Artisan Wednesdays, Manufacturing Thursdays or Innovation Fridays.

Receive assistance with your preproduction and sourcing requirements.

Graeme Lewsey and Yolanda Finch from the LMFF team explore the facility. The space gives you the opportunity to network with like minded people through the Hub Cluster program.

Register and learn more about the Textile & Fashion Hub visit tfia.com.au.

Photography by Johannes Wosilat.

See it…

Saw a look you loved on the runway? Perhaps you went to LPR 5 presented by Cosmopolitan and fell in love with one of the looks, but can’t remember who the designer was. Simply head to the LMFF website and ‘Shop by Event’, review the runway video highlights and browse all the designers featured in the show.

Find it…

After browsing the designers you find who had the look you love. For LPR 5 we loved Joveeba’s light-hearted reinterpretations of classic shapes and a bohemian spirit on the runway.

Buy it…

Once you have found the perfect look, scroll down to the end of the designer page, enter your postcode, and locate your nearest stockist.  Many designers are available to buy online right away at Westfield.com.au, including Joveeba.

What are you waiting for? Find all the autumn/winter fashion inspiration you need to start shopping the new season looks at www.lmff.com.au/shoptherunway.

While the L’Oreal Paris Runways are still fresh in your mind make sure you take your inspiration to class – at Thread Den. These ladies of North Melbourne will have you in a sewing class a whipping up your own designs in no time at all. With classes that range from the very beginners to the very advanced you are bound to find your creative outlet here.

This years Cultural Program has had quite a focus on collaboration so while you may spend the last few days catching the amazing Windows By Design displays that are dotted throughout the city.  Make sure you also swing by Pieces of Eight Gallery to see  Cosmic Artefacts a window collaboration between designer Alexi Freeman and Tessa Blazey – amazing.

Finally, to the end a fantastic month of discovering fashion in our city, head to Cremorne for the unveiling of The Textile and Fashion Hub. The Textile and Fashion Hub is a collaboration between AusIndustry, the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia and Kangan Institute, and is the new ground zero for all things fashionable and there will be workshops and demonstrations all day. We can’t wait to explore it.

To view the full cultural program visit lmff.com.au/culturalprogram.

Day 1 | Pop Colour

Day 2 | Metallic Accessories

Day 3 | Rockabilly Glamour

Day 4 | Rolled Up Hems

Day 5 | Graphic Print Pant

Day 6 | Neon Brights

Day 7 | Statement Necklaces

Day 8 | Shoulder Detailing

WGSN is the world’s leading trend forecasting & analysis company, to see more key trends from LMFF alongside other Fashion events worldwide, visit wgsn.tumblr.com.

Neon Parc takes us back to 1995 with three international artists responding to Comme de Garcons Spring/Summer collection.

Alcaston Gallery presents the work of ground-breaking indigenous artists Gary Lee as he explores the art of the tattoo.

Nellie Castan Gallery showcases one of LMFF’s most loved fashion filmmakers Nicole Rose in her stand alone exhibition ‘From Here I Watch.’

Querido Alfredo – An Exhibition showcases a series of paintings and original 1920’s – 30’s wedding dresses forming part of the installation with hand-sewn tulle and trains and more words of love.

To view the full cultural program visit lmff.com.au/culturalprogram.

Timothy Coghlin, The Maosuit talking on China.

LMFF Red Carpet Runway ended the Festival week on a glamourous high, Toni Maticevski showcasing signature gowns from his by appointment, couture collection in an opulent, one off show.

The Festival has wrapt for 2012 – a huge thank you to everyone who attended to help make it the best yet!  More image highlights to come on our Facebook page. Make sure you visit LMFF’s Shop the Runway to relive all the runway moments and find where to buy your favourite looks.

Photography by Lucas Dawson.

Fashion Industry Forum 02 – The New Consumer followed in the afternoon at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. In this forum,  Adam Ferrier (Naked Communications), Lorna Hall (WGSN) and Howard Parry-Husbands (Pollinate and Soup) presented thoughts around the new ‘connected’ consumer and found out that maybe there is no new consumer, there is only new technology. We as marketers and industry professional’s need to adjust to these shifts in technology and the impact it is having on consumer behaviour and expectations. Follow @LMFF on Twitter to stay on top of all the business and fashion news as it unfolds.

The expert panel tackle questions from the sell out crowd in Fashion Industry Forum 02 – The New Consumer.

Howard Parry-Husband talking about how shoppers are  rejecting consumerism.

The evening brought us back to Peninsula, Central Pier for the exciting and innovative LMFF National Graduate Showcase presented by Sportsgirl. Twelve of Australia’s fashion design graduates were gifted the opportunity to showcase collections on the LMFF runway to an eager and captivated full house.  Media and consumers perused collections looking for the next big thing in fashion design. It was an amazing showcase bursting with originality, creativity and limitless possibility for these young design visionaries.

One of Natalia Grzybowski’s stunning pieces from her ‘Hybrid’ collection.

Ju Young Seo, a soft intricate collection themed around ‘blossoming’.

Stephanie McPherson presents ‘Fragments’ with ultra sophistication.

With the Australian industry congregating in Melbourne for LMFF, it was timely to capture views and feedback as part of a conversation that will no doubt continue for many more years to come.

What they had to say:

“It is critical to establish your brand locally before venturing overseas”
- Rae Begley,  Little Hero PR

“You must have clear marketing objectives before getting involved in a fashion event”
- Dominic Beirne, Australian Fashion Partners

“Engaging customers and bringing them in store post show would be a good addition to fashion events”
- Arthur Galan AG

“If designers can show to buyers and consumers, why buy on different time frames that is the ideal situation”
- Sarah Gale, AMPR

A retailers perspective “Young designers who come to us with clear goals can leverage our digital channels”
- Karen Riescieck, AliceEuphemia

“You can’t play the game if you don’t know all the rules. Events like LMFF help SMEs to learn & move forward”
- Jo Kellock, Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia

“Digital channels are assisting designers to develop their customer base and capture data internationally”
- Andrew Peters, AusTrade

“Quality of bloggers are important to events, they will be more valuable once respected & established in the market”
- Rae Begley, Little Hero PR

Follow us on Twitter @lmff to get our live feed of speaker summaries during our Fashion Industry Forums & Business Seminars.

View pages 23-25 of the official LMFF 2012 Program or visit lmff.com.au for more information on our other business events. Limited tickets available HERE or on the door at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

Models backstage in Gary Begini.

Josh Goot, classic crisp white shirt for an extra sleek finish.

ELLERY continues to woo us with metallics.

Well constructed style by Dion Lee.

Magdelena Velevska presents unique shapes in Autumn/Winters sought after jewel shades.

There is still lots on for the second half of LMFF so pop down to our beautiful waterside home at Central Pier and experience a world class runway show. Tickets available online via ticketek.com.au or on site at our ticketing booth located at door 1.

Photography by Lucas Dawson.

Below are some images from Toni’s past collections to give you a taste of the beauty we will witness on the Festival’s final night. Join us and toast to a fabulous week of fashion at this unmistakably breathtaking show.

LMFF Red Carpet Runway presents Toni Maticevski, Thursday March 15, 7.30pm. Tickets start at $69 and include a complimentary drink on arrival – BUY NOW.

L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival  is on now and runs from 8-15 March 2012.  Tickets are available through Ticketek or online at lmff.com.au.

The evening brought out clever ready to wear collections bursting with energy in L’Oréal Paris Runway 03 presented by frankie magazine.  Cool, off-beat and with a strong focus on innovation in colour and design, each designer presented collections perfect for lovers of texture, colour and prints. Featuring Friend of Mine, Gorman, Kuwaii, Leonard Street, Limedrop and Nevenka. View all the pictures and Shop the Runway HERE.

Finally, we headed in for the moody, edgy Independent Runway presented by Yen and The Thousands.  Featuring ksubi, Extinct, Francis Leon, Something Else, jolet, Livia Arena, Lui Hon, One Fell Swoop and Song for the Mute, this show was packed with plenty of attitude. View all the pictures and Shop the Runway HERE.

Backstage at L’Oréal Paris Runway 03.

The faces behind Limedrop, Clea and Nathan.

Nevenka bird patterned dress adorned with floral arrangements.

Socks and open toe shoes get the tick of approval in Gorman’s collection.

Kuwaii dress, also spotted on Lauren Brain in the LMFF 2012 creative campaign.

ksubi open Independent Runway with powerful animal print.

Lui Hon – soft fabrics, cleans lines and a fierce attitude.

Mixed material in subtle tones from Francis Leon.

Last chance tickets available at our ticketing booth on site for some shows, so pop down to our beautiful waterside home at Central Pier and experience a world class runway or buy online via ticketek.com.au.

Photography by Lucas Dawson.