AskBronny Blog

I’ve got a lot on my publishing plate at the moment. As well as writing my weekly shopping column, I’ve just taken on the roles of Editor on Melbourne Home Design & Living and Beauty Editor on Melbourne Wedding & Bride Magazine. Amidst the couture craziness, I developed a consuming obsession with Project Runway Australia.

The show has since wrapped (please divert your eyes if you’re watching cable re-runs) and I was completely happy with the choice of winner. Julie’s designs were not only commercially viable, they were inspired. She has a clear point of view when designing and has developed a gorgeous signature style I’m sure Australian women will lap up.

I’m not the biggest fan of Australian productions (‘Aussie Princess’ anyone?) but I have to admit that the our version of the world wide hit was such clearly great TV. From the show taking place in my home town of Melbourne to the creative tasks and guest judges, Project Runway Australia became a part of my weekly fixture along with manicures and Japanese food. The calibre of designers was most surprising. Of course I’m aware of our amazing home grown talent but for some reason, I didn’t expect our contestants to be such great designers.

My favourite, while slightly biased, had to be Petrova Hammond. I met Petrova last year when I reviewed her first boutique for my column. At the time, and I should have put money on it, I could tell she’d be an incredible success story. Her label ‘Lady’ and her subsequent boutique stood out to me as being not only well planned and adorable in her girlie aesthetic, but completely innovative. Petrova has since become known for her signature party dresses in feminine fabrics and styles. Most of her designs can be worn in different ways and incorporate vintage fabrics. The collection she paraded as part of the final three on the show was colourful and a breath of fresh air.

Petrova and her business partner Skye recently relocated their Armadale boutique to fashion destination Flinders Lane. Still with an intimacy that made the original store so charming, the new space was personally renovated by the girls and is a pure delight. With white and lilac walls, lace patterned floor, a staircase attached to the ceiling and whimsical illustrations by Eveline Tarunadjaja, the boutique is a dolls house where grown up girls are invited to play dress ups.

On Friday night I had the pleasure of meeting with Petrova and seeing her latest collection. Dressed in sky high black peep toes heels imported from overseas, a Lady purple silk gown and just in time for Spring Racing, a purple fascinator she’d made, Petrova greeted me at the door and despite her new found fame hadn’t changed a bit. The collection launch, complete with fairy bread and cupcakes, was imaginative and sure to get the attention of all important buyers.

Entitled ‘Glass Flowers’, Lady’s latest collection was inspired by the fragility of glass and draws inspiration from the The Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, a famous collection of highly realistic glass botanical models at the Harvard Museum. Many of the flirty pieces, including silk halter neck gowns, lace shift dresses and frilly silk numbers in a colour palette of lilac, apricot and sage, are reversible or can be worn in multiple ways allowing the wearer to inject their own personal style into an outfit.

I can’t wait to see her next body of work. Petrova shared with me some secrets from her upcoming Autumn/Winter collection that she just completed the Look Book for. The out of character ‘dark’ collection centres around a fairytale theme juxtaposed against a modern cubist feel.

Now that Project Runway’s over I suppose I’ll have to find a new show to become addicted to. I’ve tried watching The Janice Dickinson Modelling Agency but while she’s absolutely hysterical, the quality of the show is pretty lame. Project Runway America is about to start but I don’t know whether I could take Heidi for another 12 weeks. It just came to me, America’s Next Top Model! I hear that next season there’s a transgender model!