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First in, best dressed

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Young Talent Time

Grazia loves to celebrate fresh new talent, so off we trotted to the Qantas Spirit Of Youth Awards on Wednesday night to see who would take home the perspex trophies. Of course, we were paying particularly close attention to the fashion category, with three of our favourite labels vying for the prize: Gary Bigeni, Arnsdorf and Romance Was Born.

But it was RWB designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, on their third attempt, who were called to the podium. The Sydney duo were clearly thrilled with their prize of $10,000 in cash and the same amount in flights, plus a year-long mentorship with Nicky and Simone Zimmermann. “I love the Zimmermann girls,” Anna said over a celebratory drink following the announcement. And Anna knows all too well that on top of RWB’s exuberant creativity, it’s time for them to knuckle down and concentrate on the other side of things: “It’s business time!”

We must also mention the winner of the photography category – doll-faced 17-year-old Nirrimi Hakanson. Nirrimi is set on a career as a fashion photographer and to her delight will be mentored by NY-based Australian fash photographer Tim Richardson. From the look of her photos already, we should be seeing her work on the pages of Grazia any time now.

Top: Romance Was Born’s Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales with Simone and Nicky Zimmermann.
Bottom: A photograph by Nirrimi Hakanson.


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Lisa Ho’s debuts new A/W 10 collection

Lisa Ho’s A/W 10 collection was launched in the opulent surrounds of Country Trader homewares mecca, an appropriate venue for this decadent range that took its inspiration from a hedonistic Budapest glamour girl. As we took our very comfy seats and couches, the parade began to the

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In praise of Granny pants

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Thanks for the memories

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As you read this, I will be taking my seat at my 14th Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. Yes, I am that old and so are the Zimmermann sisters because they have been at every one too (sorry to dob you in, girls). I have seen the good, the bad and the plain ugly over the years and I thought I would share with you my most memorable moments.

Click here for more memorable moments from Australian Fashion Week

Macy Gray belting out I Try (think: “my world crumbles when you are not here”) at the end of the Marcs show in 1998. It was a surprise, and even the most cynical black-clad fashion editor was bopping along and cheering. Cate Blanchett was in the audience as Harper’s Bazaar’s guest editor. This photo above of Cate with Macy and Mark Keighery, who sadly passed away last July, leaves me misty-eyed.

Christy Quilliam in the Morrissey Edmiston (when they were a duo) show at the first fashion week in 1996. Debate raged when the Daily Telegraph published model Christy in a cut-out maillot, all protruding ribs and hipbones. (History repeated last year when Balenciaga house model Steph Carter, deemed too thin, was banned from Aussie runways.) In the audience, I didn’t notice Christy’s ribs until I saw them in the paper the next day – not sure what that says about my conditioning or attention span. For the record, Christy is now happy and healthy living in NZ. She always claimed she didn’t have an eating disorder, but no one listened.

The launches Tigerlily’s wet and wild first runway show in 2001, with Eva Herzigova in a $500,000 pearl bikini, having water dumped on her in front of an audience which included Jodhi Meares’ then-husband James Packer (his current wife Erica modelled in the show) and his father Kerry. It was one of those moments when worlds collided. And never to be forgotten (or forgiven) is the arrival of ksubi (then tsubi) and their rats in 2000.

Charlie Brown and its stars: Sophie Dahl, Jerry Hall and Jade Jagger.
Oh, to have those budgets again!

The supers Linda Evangelista (despite the backstage tantrum while being poured into an Alex Perry frock); Helena Christensen (twice: once as a model in 1996 and later as a photographer); Erin Wasson for ksubi in 2007 and the lesser-known but beautiful Chrystelle, Marc Newson’s former girlfriend, in 1997.

Special guests Dita Von Teese riding a giant M.A.C lipstick in 2007 and Elle Macpherson as guest editor for Bazaar in 2002.

The theatrics Tony Assness and Terry Biviano in particular. Think: horses, circus stunts and can-cans with pom-poms…yes, those two really turned it on for a good cause: stilettos.

Special mention…
And Collette Dinnigan deserves a nod because the shows were great and only outdone by the settings (Government House, the old Boomerang harbourfront home, and a Paris bar built from scratch). And we needed those delicious feeds!

Erin Wasson with ksubi front row at Josh Goot in 2007, and Eva Herzigova in a $500,000 Tigerlily pearl bikini in 2001 (above); Jade Jagger walks for Charlie Brown in 2005 and Sarah O’Hare walks for Collette Dinnigan at Government House in 2001 (below).



















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David Jones autumn/winter 09 launch

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It’s L.O.V.E. I’ve just returned from David Jones’ autumn-winter collections launch where Orlando Bloom sat front row (just three seats away from me!) and winked and smiled as the gorgeous Miranda made her way down the runway. He flew into town on Monday (but you knew that because you’ve seen our cover this week) and today he was seated beside Miranda’s paternal grandma, who he put his arm around and whispered to during the show – so cute! Yes, he is as gorgeous as you would expect in the flesh and he seemed very happy to be there, supporting Miranda. She giggled as she caught his eye at each exit. The clothes were good, in particular sass & bide’s finale of mostly black pieces, Collette Dinnigan’s summery prints, Kirrily Johnston’s fabulous orange, Ginger & Smart’s silky parachute pants and Scanlan & Theodore’s naturalist themes. There may have been other wonderful pieces I missed because, I confess, it was hard to stay focused on fashion. Orlando and Miranda sitting in a tree…oh, they’re just so LOVELY!

Miranda Kerr blows a kiss to boyfriend Orlando Bloom who was sitting in the front row. Photos by Getty Images.

IN PICS:
Click here to see who was at the David Jones AW 09 launch

Exclusive VIDEO:
Click here for Grazia TV’s exclusive behind-the-scenes video of our sexy Miranda Kerr cover shoot

More Miranda Kerr news:
How to get Miranda’s $5m body
Miranda Kerr: 10 dresses in 10 minutes
Miranda Kerr: that body
Are Mirando planning to live The Good Life?
Miranda's Buddhist wedding plans
EXCLUSIVE: Miranda Kerr interview

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Styling the Stars

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Let all past sins be forgot and let’s move on to the Oscars! Here’s my fashion advice for the Best Actress nominees announced today – we’ve even picked out the dress for you and suggested colour where we feel it’s necessary. Why pay Rachel Zoe when you’ve got me, for free?

Click here for our Oscars wishlist: this is what we would like to see the Best Actress nominees wearing

Anne Hathaway, Rachel's Getting Married


Chanel couture, and colour.

Angelina Jolie, Changeling


Please oh please wear Lanvin!!! I know she won’t because it would show she cared about fashion, but I live in hope.

Melissa Leo, Frozen River


Christian Lacroix did a great job with Helen Mirren’s dress when she won Best Actress in 2007 – I think Melissa Leo should go to him and ask for something similar.

Meryl Streep, Doubt


She can wear Armani Prive if she promises not to wear one of those horrible Mao styled jackets she wore at the Globes – and no gold Meryl, it washes you out.

Kate Winslet, The Reader


YSL again – I loved her Golden Globes dress and it’s her moment so she should wear the designer of the moment, Stefano Pilati.

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Balenciaga babes

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I loved Balenciaga’s spring/summer 09 collection, but with the runway lights creating optical illusions on crinkly fabrics that looked like they wouldn’t be out of place on a Christmas tree, the jury was out on its wearability. At least it was for me until Mark Vassallo and I visited the showroom in Paris and I felt them. The dress that Cate Blanchett wore to the premiere of Benjamin Button this week was mounted on a mannequin. It’s super-soft armour, more like silk feathering to touch than tinsel. They are such clever fabrics. Jennifer Connolly’s dress was shown on the catwalk with tricky jersey pieces underneath, but free of its layers it looks even better, just sequins on skin. The sequins are multi-layered and change colour so subtly that up close it is impossible to pinpoint an exact line of transition, like the brush strokes in a Monet. Both Cate and Jennifer shone this week; they were almost iridescent. Nicolas Ghesquiere suggested his clothes looked like “solar panels”, but they looked more like magic to me.

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I dream of...good taste

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We had high hopes for Katie Holmes — we even thought she showed promise as a designer — but then we spotted her leaving Broadway (on the opening night of your fabulous performance) in this. Don't shoot the designer because by all reports she designed this genie get-up herself!

Looks like jumsuits are the next big thing. View more celebs sporting the trend here.

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Richard Nicoll jumps to it

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Our fashion director Mark is sharing the love from London via daily blogs. Read them if you haven’t- they’re bursting with energy and inspiration. Somewhat concerning, however, (at least to me) is his new found passion for jumpsuits. Jumpin’ Jezeeus- how the hell am I gonna wear that? Of course, they have been around since Stella and Stefano Pilati fell in love with them a summer ago, and now it seems there is no avoiding them. I was worried, until I saw Richard Nicoll’s show. He’s come up with the most sophisticated, fabulous way to wear a jumpsuit and a bow down before him for it. The UK born, Perth raised, Saint Martin’s graduate created an elegant jumpsuit! What a feat! The man is a genius. With a nod to the current Forties obsession, it drapes across the top decorated with a Swarovski crystal brooch. From the waist down it moves into the 70s, with a wide leg that buttons on the side.

Let’s hope these arrive at Elle boutique in Perth very soon. If not, this is one trend I may have to pass on.

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Dressed up – despite the downturn

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New York Fashion Week starts today – visit us at www.grazia.com.au for regular updates – and we’re excited. A report in USA Today says designers are spending up big on their shows despite the US credit crunch (even US Vogue has “Value-conscious Chic, When To Spend, Where To Save” on its September cover).

Designer Mara Hoffman says it costs about $70,000 to stage a show. “Buyers are definitely skittish and price conscious,” says New Zealand born, New York-based designer Rebecca Taylor, who has been showing at New York Fashion Week for 10 years.

At Grazia we’ve tuned our crystal ball and we’re predicting a continuation of the new austerity – clean lines and minimal styling which is focused on quality fabrics, clever structure and tailoring. Bring it on! But while we are on the subject of New York, we hope Manhattanites don’t see UK magazine Pop’s latest issue which features a photo shoot of Agyness Deyn falling from a four-storey building onto a crash mat. She looks fabulous and we love a good shoot, but…it kind of reminds us of images we saw seven years ago…in New York. We’re sure they didn’t mean to…but.

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The preen teamBeauty & health director Lucinda Pitt and Beauty editor Tracey Withers tackle life's important issues First in, best dressedFashion features director Glynis Traill-Nash's view from the front row Out of the pantry!Food columnist Matthew Evans shares his current gastronomic obsessions From the cupboardGrazia's interns let us peek inside the beauty and fashion cupboards ... Diary of a fashion shootBehind-the-scenes and on location with the Grazia's fashion team. Did someone say drama? Catwalk blogGet your virtual seat in the front row with instant show reports from our editors
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