Part two: Adelaide’s next 25 most stylish people
Who doesn’t love people watching – especially when they’re super stylish. Here’s another 25 examples of our best dressed and where you can check them out.
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As the late great Yves Saint Laurent famously said “fashion fades, style is eternal” …
JULIA RITORTO AND KATHRYN FORTH
It’s been 10 years since Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto founded their luxe label Acler, but they haven’t aged a day. The timeless beauties, who believe less is more, love natural-look make-up and perfectly undone hair. Dressed for success in chic, sleek work wear, they are brilliant ambassadors for their global brand to boot, which, BTW, is launching accessories including shoes at Australian Fashion Week.
KOULA DI BIASE
The Burnside Village marketing manager, who is also the hostess with the mostest when the up-market shopping centre stages events, is a fashion force (who’s featured in one of our best-dressed line-ups before). Sure, she is in prime position to get the first look at new collections from retailers like Zara and Camilla the second they hit the floor (and maybe also the occasional sneak peek in storerooms), but you also need to have “the eye”. Koula has a knack for spotting pieces that seamlessly fit into her wardrobe of chic, but also cutting-edge, designer threads and accessories. Plus, there’s also that aforementioned classy way she throws out the welcome mat (which is probably from a Versace homewares collection) to everyone who passes her way.
ZAACHARIAHA FIELDING AND MICHAEL ROSS
Electronic music duo Electric Fields missed out on making it into the Eurovision grand final. But we still love Zaachariaha and Michael, their dance floor anthem One Milkali (One Blood) and their inimitable eye-catching style, which is as electrifying and mesmerising as their music.
ROSE COCCHIARO
Committed to helping with win-win outcomes for couples going their separate ways, Resolve Divorce picked up the Boutique Firm of the Year gong at the 2023 Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards. Pictured at the business’s Christmas Party at Mother Vince, founder Rose was recommended for our most stylish list by Belinda Heggen who featured in part one.
And we can see why from this party pic.
Wearing fun oversized gold hoop earrings and giving a nod to the cut-out trend with her copper dress, Rose not only looks stylish but obviously knows that you’re never fully dressed without a smile.
MICHELLE REID
Okay, so “sharp-eyed Shirley” is going to say this pic is an oldie, but a goodie taken a few years ago. But, this mover and shaker in the arts scene, who has been Adelaide Festival’s marketing and communications director for more than a decade, hasn’t aged a bit – so we’re using it. Never one to be a slave to trends, she is a style queen who always looks the part in prints or black with a splash of colour.
ABBY POTTER AND WILL ALLEN
Named by The Advertiser as one of the 24 South Australians to watch in 2024, you only have to look at the House of Campbell designer on her wedding day to know she is stylish. She was a vision in that pastel pink gown, with her retro-inspired blonde waves that would do Veronica Lake proud and bold red lippy to show off her gorgeous smile. Her hubby Will Allen is also a pretty schmick (that’s smart and slick) dresser too. FYI, House of Campbell is also being showcased at Australian Fashion Week.
RAY DAHDAH
What’s not to love about a man in a self-tie bow tie? Ray runs event management, catering and styling business Out in the Paddock, with his wife Ally Aoukar, who featured in our first instalment of Adelaide’s most stylish people for 2024. Wearing an oversized velvet self-tie bow tie at to the opening of their pop up SOHO Supper Club last year, Ray was the consummate host – bringing a touch of old-school Hollywood class to each and every table as he an Ally – in couture+love+madness – took the time to welcome each and every guest in a most stylish fashion.
SARAH SNOOK
Not everyone was a fan of the Prabal Gurung gown, which has a semi-sheer top, the Succession star donned earlier this year for the Golden Globes. But, we will say this: Our Sarah is, no doubt, seeking advice from a stylist – because who has time to browse when you’re a superstar right – and not afraid to take a risk when it comes to fashion, which is stylish in itself. And here’s one that paid off: The Vivienne Westwood red gown, accessorised with bling from Cartier, no less, she wore to an Emmys (where she won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series), above, is on the money.
SAMANTHA FOREMAN AND SEAN CRAIG MURPHY
If you could bottle Samantha from Vasse Virgin’s style it would be like liquid gold. So it’s not surprising that the general manager of the olive oil business – who looks chic in everything from a white shirt to a black top with tassels (see above) – has a sidehustle as a model. Recently signed with Silverfox MGMT, she’s already in demand having modelled for international and local clients including SILK Laser Clinics. Her partner, Sean Craig Murphy, who is heard on SAFM and runs the Australian Radio School, also has style. We love the “SC” on his T-shirt peeping out from under his jacket, which he tells us is part of a KISS CHACEY logo that just happened to align with his initials!
DEBORAH EDWARDS
It’s not the first time Yankunytjatjara woman, Deb, who was born and raised in Adelaide on Kaurna land, has been featured our most stylish list. The former publicist, who has worked with everyone from Cold Chisel to Cliff Richard, rocks band tees and boho fashion like no one else. Pictured here with Adam Goodes, she also appeared in on 50 Inspiring Women over 50 special report, which recognised her for her role at The Lowitja Institute as a senior project officer and being a trailblazer in the music industry.
JANE DOYLE
After years of presenting the news on the ABC and Channel 7, Jane knows how to work a power suit. But hamming it up in Hans’s hat late last year to raise funds for the Salvos, she is also obviously seriously into fashion and having fun to get the job done. FYI, the OTT suit by Trelise Cooper’s diffusion label Cooper, which was also being auctioned, was from her own wardrobe. Hosting The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal launch at the Adelaide Convention Centre on May 8, she was a lady in red – wearing an on-theme – and on-trend crimson jacket. A rebel with a cause, who would give you the shirt – no, make that suit – off her back … now that’s stylish.
PETER GOERS AND SAMELA HARRIS
As any true fashionista knows, rules are made to be broken. For instance, we normally don’t feature on our own in these lists, but we’ve made an exception with Sunday Mail columnist Peter – who, for as long as we can remember, has loved to hate the gold shoes worn by women who shop at Burnside Village. But, as we said, snappy dressers know rules are made to be broken … Walking the red carpet at last year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Peter was wearing his “gilty” pleasure, gold shoes (and he was also spotted in a pair at a VIP event at Burnside some years back). They give his outfit the Midas touch, as does his elegant evening scarf and walking stick topped off with a red rose. Pictured with him, former Advertiser journalist Samela Harris looks just as fabulous in her black and gold ensemble. The cat eye glasses are purr-fection.
NATHAN JAMES CRANE
The creative director of Elever Australia jewellery, launched late last year at Kensington Park’s Regal Theatre, is the brand’s own best advertisement. Suiting himself in slick jackets, he always makes a point of adding a vintage brooch and pieces – such as earrings or rings or both – from his own stunning collections.
SOPHIE THOMSON AND KATRINE HILDYARD
Presented with The Inspiring South Australian Women’s Awards top accolade at Government House, gardening guru Sophie has a whimsical way of dressing that is earth mother, flower child and boho beauty all rolled into one. Her acceptance speech, in which she talked about how gardening is good for the soul, was also groundbreaking … and stylish. Pictured with her, MP Katrine is regarded by her parliamentary peers as SA’s best-dressed pollie. She’s featured on our best-dressed list before. A lover of vintage fashion, the elegant dresser has a vast collection of brooches – found on sustainable spending sprees at op shops – that she wears with 1950s-inspired outfits.
POH LING YEOW
When you know that Poh’s resume includes being an artist, make-up artist (for McLeod’s Daughters and David Jones local parades, no less), it’s not surprising that the MasterChef contestant-turned-judge has all the ingredients for sartorial success. But the cook can also add her warmth to the mix, plus an unmistakeable X factor that can’t be taught or bought. And those are the things that make her one of the most stylish big stars of the small screen.
ALYCE TRAN AND BROOKE BICKMORE
The co-founders of In The Roundhouse have a lot to bring to the table. Their quirky and cute dinnerware, which has been copied by others – take it as a compliment, girls, because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – is coveted by the sartorial set. And their dress-sense – as illustrated in the above pic where Alyce is pretty in pink and Brooke is giving off Pretty Woman at the polo vibes is just as sweet.
STEPHANIE OCKENDEN AND ALICIA SUPERINA
Stephanie’s featured on our most stylish list before because she would “look good in a potato sack” but also has a taste for affordable luxury labels like Adealide’s Sunset Lover. But we’ve recently discovered her fashionable friend, again thanks to Belinda Heggen. Alicia, who Belinda noted “always looks effortlessly stylish and is lovely” is sister-in-law of fitness guru Kayla Itsines and the founder Solo the Staple, which specialises in activewear for pilates which is designed to not only look good but make you feel great.
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