Melbourne Falls Under Fashion’s Spell as L’OREAL MELBOURNE FASHION FESTIVAL takes centre stage from 2-9 March and ushers in the latest looks for Autumn and Winter.
This year, the designers on show in the highly anticipated L’Oreal Paris Runway Shows include Camilla and Marc, Ginger & Smart, Jayson Brunsdon, Marnie Skillings, Kirrily Johnston, Arabella Ramsay, Anna Thomas, Christine, Lee Matthews, Martin Grant, Megan Park, Toni Maticevski, Yeojin Bae, Gail Sorronda, Gorman, Kate Sylvester, LIFEwithBIRD, Little Joe by Gail Elliott, Obüs, Zimmermann, Aurelio Costarella, Fleur Wood, Gwendolynne, Mad Cortes, Nevenka, Nicola Finetti, Thurley, Antipodium, Carl, Friedrich Gray, Manning Cartell, Therese Rawsthorne, Alpha 60, Friedrich Gray, Kate Hurst, Leopold, Material Boy, Romance Was Born, Shakuhachi, Sü, TV.
With so many different styles to showcase, Festival Director Karen Webster is excited by the wealth of talent in Australian fashion and our love of it.
“I was sitting in the audience of one of last Festival’s Runways and I saw the faces of the people around me – entranced and so openly enthusiastic for fashion – and I thought: this is really what it’s all about, the magic and wonder of fashion and making the aspirational, accessible,” says Webster.
The 2007 Festival attracted over 230,000 attendees and delivered an economic impact on the Australian economy of $69.3 million. LMFF has, over the past 11 years, carried on the role of launching the Autumn/Winter collections of Australia’s leading designers and brands to a fashion loving community. It delivers runway shows and state-of-the-art fashion ‘happenings’ to the public, not just to fashion’s inner circle.
This year’s Festival channels the magical glamour fashion images in Man Ray’s photos of the 1920s and 30s, with an ultramodern spirit. This combination of a rich history and an exciting future can also be seen in the choice of location for the home of the majority of 2008 LMFF runway shows and activities – Central Pier at the Docklands – which has been restored as part of a multi-million dollar development. ‘Peninsula’ at Shed 14, for example, was inspired by London’s iconic Tate Museum and features high ceilings, exposed trusses, huge floor-to-ceiling windows and a 66 metre-long crystal chandelier.
HIGHLIGHTS
Sun 2 March
Government House sets the scene for the Festival’s exclusive Opening Party presented by L’Oréal Paris and the style talents at Harper’s BAZAAR.
Mon 3 – Fri 7 March
Seven not-to-be-missed L’Oréal Paris Runway Shows at Central Pier, Docklands.
Tuesday 4 March
The LMFF Designer Award presented by Woolmark puts $10,000 and a trip to the fashion fairs of Europe on the table. This year’s finalists are Antipodium, Carl, Friedrich Gray, Gail Sorronda, Manning Cartell, Therese Rawsthorne and Thurley. The award recognizes excellence in fashion design and has been a significant factor in the successful career of previous winners including Yeojin Bae, Toni Maticevski, Mad Cortes, Claude Maus and Josh Goot.
Tues 4 – Thurs 6 March
POP UP fashion catwalks being staged at lunchtimes around city locations such as the massive grounds of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, QV, Federation Square and City Square.
Fri 7 March
Behind the glamour, fashion is big business and hard work. The festival’s Business Seminar at the Sofitel Hotel Grand Ballroom brings together international luminaries from the fashion world to explore the commercial realities and opportunities the industry faces. This year attendees have the chance to hear from Marion Hume, Kenneth Walker - Retail Design Master (USA), Sir George COX – Chair of the British Design Council (UK), Zhandra Rhodes – the Doyenne of British Haute Punk (UK) and Dana Thomas – author of ‘Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Lustre’ (France).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
The Fashion Collections, presented by the City of Stonnington, are a more personalized series of catwalks that will be held inside the Prahran Town Hall. Lisa Ho and Just Jeans in collaboration with Levi’s are just some of the leading labels presenting stand-alone shows at the Fashion Collections.
As always, there will be a dedicated youth catwalk show: the Independent Runway presented by MINI, where new careers are launched and nurtured. Target Rocks Red Market will reside indoors and out at Central Pier. At last year’s Festival, Target had phenomenal success launching Stella McCartney for Target. This year at Target Rocks Red Market, Target will announce yet another international designer label for its domestic market.
LMFF’s Cultural Program will once again be in full swing throughout the city at the 2008 Festival, bringing together a mix of film, installations, exhibitions and performances linked by a fashion theme. “Our connection to the Arts is just one more thing that really defines LMFF as a unique fashion event on the global calendar,” says Karen Webster.
On the net:
Tickets:
www.ticketmaster.com.au and 13 61 00
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