Lights, Camera, Fashion
April 4th, 2008L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Week has been crazy to say the least. Crazy because of all the events and running around and crazy just because I'm there. Have you ever had a dream, a really wild, imaginative dream that you never thought would come true? Well imagine it does and you'll kind of understand how I've been feeling. It has been my dream for my whole life so far to be in the front rows of fashion week and this week I have been.
I've been seeing all of my favourite designers parade their new collections sitting in priority seating next to celebs, designers and writers who I admire. Don't think the scenario is wasted on me, I was literally pinching myself at my first show and am still amazed to be there. I have to admit, I do work really hard and now thanks to my column I am getting my name out there a bit more but I still feel like I don't deserve to be there…especially when I'm sitting next to fashion writers like Rachel Wells whose work I have to read every Sunday morning despite whether I have a massive hangover or not.
There I am, little old me, Michaela Skilney, in my $30 dress and $50 shoes (swear to god!) sitting alongside Natalie Basingthwaite and Peter Morrissey. My first parade was L'Oreal Runway 1 featuring Alice McCall, Camilla and Marc, Kirrily Johnston, Marnie Skillings, Tina Kalivas and Toni Maticevski. The designers had been grouped together as the themes of their collections were quite similar. Almost all of them based their designs around the 60’s mode look with mini dresses, short and long sleeved, teamed with long sleeve skivvy’s, stockings and chunky platform heels. It’s a cute look which most of us can pull off and saves us going out and buying a whole new winter wardrobe Simply update your summer dress with a new pair of shoes and hosiery! The following day my best friend and I went to see Esprit's Skywalk. She's the Esprit store manager at Southland and seeings as she gives me 50% off all my purchases there I thought it was only fair to return the favour with a free ticket and lots of champagne!
If you didn't see any shots in the media of the event you probably won't believe it but models actually walked in the sky! They walked headfirst on cables down the tower in the middle of Melbourne Central in Esprit gear, the most ingenious runway I have seen so far and a great collection of easy to wear casual gear too. They have the cutest grey long sleeved knit you can wear with leggings, or ambitiously without…and when you get it half price it’s even better right? That night I saw two more L'Oreal Runway parades. The first showed new collections form Anna Thomas, Christine, Fleur Wood, Kate Sylvester, Mad Cortes, Martin Grant, TL Wood and Willow while the second parade astounded me with collections from Bettina Liano, Roger Grinstead, Morrissey, Nevanka, Su, White Suede and Alannah Hill.
Keep you eye on label Nevanka. Their collection was sugar sweet and refreshing. Coloured skivvy's in pinks or lilacs teamed with satin floral print dresses were sent down the runway on models who were holding Hessian bags filled with fresh flowers. An adorable concept and the floral fabric platform shoes by Lula were just as cute. Morrissey had a beautiful black and white floral patterned long sleeve dress I have to get my hands on and Bettina Liano had some gorgeous cream wool items I want to snuggle up in.
Alannah Hill, have I mentioned to you how much of a huge fan I am? Her collection was gorgeous and feminie as always with surprisingly, quite a bit of black. Her runway appearance turned into a Broadway show with atleast 20 young girls dressed in black dresses with dark wigs and bowler hats tap-dancing at the end. I will certainly be tap, tap, tapping my way into Alannah Hill this winter! As high couture as Australia is going to get were the designs from Aurelio Costarella, Gwendolynne, Richard Nylon, Jayson Brundson, Lisa Ho, Nicola Finetti and Wayne Cooper on the L'Oreal Paris Runway 6.
Gwendolynne's huge collection of cream lace ethereal creations completely blew me away and were incredible stunning and Jayson Brundson's tie shouldered dresses in white are at the top of my shopping list. The craziest and most imaginative collection for the whole week would have to be milliner Richard Nylon's, a constellation inspired collection of wire and diamante star headpieces worn on scantily clad models. That's what fashion is all about, being fun!
Sass & Bide was my last L'Oreal show and boy, it was an amazing show in true Sass & Bide fashion. Sure, the collection of singlets and mini's probably aren't very appropriate in Winter but no doubt girls will be sporting their look anyway. The show opened with a hot young 20 something guy dressed in street gear who sang opera and it just got better from there! Their metallic leggings were my fave teamed with tanks and boots. You need a body like Mischa Barton to pull the look off though so I think I’ll stick to my winter dresses and tights!
