Ex-wife, industry leaders pay tribute to Brisbane design icon Daniel Lightfoot

Brisbane’s fashion elite have paid tribute to design icon Daniel Lightfoot, who died suddenly on Christmas Day.

Di Cant, Daniel Lightfoot and Marie-Louise Theile at Eagle Farm judging Fashions on the Field. Picture: Supplied

• ‘Safe now’: Ex-wife’s heartbreaking tribute

Daniel Lightfoot is being remembered by Brisbane’s fashion elite as “one of Queensland’s greatest talents of all time”.

The multi-award-winning designer died suddenly on Christmas Day, leaving his family in shock and the wider fashion community mourning one of their own. He was 58.

Daniel Lightfoot with Danielle Harris. Daniel designed her wedding dress. Picture: Supplied

While a funeral date has yet to be set, his close confidante and ex-wife Suzie Lightfoot said it would be a colourful event celebrating “Daniel’s fabulous glory days because that is how he would want to be remembered”.

“We met in primary school and have known each other our whole lives, including his rise to fame in the glamorous 1980s and 90s’ eras of fashion that will never be repeated,” Ms Lightfoot, a former model who is now a personal brand and business coach, told The Courier-Mail.

“We had one pace and that was ‘flat out’, diamonds all the way, and we rode that wave together. I can’t believe he is gone.”

Suzie Lightfoot on the catwalk in one of Daniel Lightfoot’s designs. Picture: Supplied

Kimberly Gardner, style director for the Brisbane Fashion Festival and head stylist for the Magic Millions, said Mr Lightfoot’s death was “a huge loss for anyone who knew him and for very many who didn’t”.

“His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs,” Mrs Gardner said.

“He was one of Queensland’s greatest talents of all time.”

Industry stalwart Di Cant remembered Mr Lightfoot as “very sharp – he wasn’t one of those dreamy people who go into a design bubble; he was always on the ball”.

Daniel Lightfoot in his Brisbane store. Picture: Jeff Camden

Mrs Cant, this year awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the fashion industry, met Daniel in 1984 when he entered the RAQ Fashion Awards, of which she was its long-running manager.

He would go on to win 18 awards before being inducted into the RAQ Hall of Fame in 1992, following fellow fashion icon Keri Craig OAM.

“Those were heady days with Daniel; he had just come out of college and was only 20 but, boy, was he a star,” Mrs Cant told The Courier-Mail.

“Although he excelled at designer day dressing, he could do anything, he just had that innate style and talent.

“Daniel was a standout as a person and as a designer – he was noticeable, unforgettable, charismatic and, yes, he was a bit naughty and had a wicked sense of humour but he was adorable, actually.”

Daniel Lightfoot and Di Cant dining out in New Farm. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Cant worked alongside Daniel helping corporate clients, including the then Hyatt Coolum, present a professional image with their staff uniforms.

Their last catch up was in July 2020 when she said Daniel wanted advice on reopening his studio after a long break.

“He was planning a comeback and realised the heady days of the designer day dressing wasn’t really where he could fit right now, but he was still going to do beautiful things, and he asked if I’d compere his opening parade for him.

“I said, of course, I’d do anything for him, then COVID revved up and I didn’t hear anymore from him.”

Luisa Klinge was hand-picked by Daniel Lightfoot to model for him.

Luisa Klinge was one of “Daniel’s girls”, hand-picked to model for him her entire career from 1988.

“I absolutely adored him,” said Mrs Klinge, who runs Arki Haus interior design studio and appeared on reality TV show Love It or List It Australia.

“Daniel was a really calming sort of person, his eyes were always so bright and cheerful and he had that cheeky wit.

“He made you feel like you were the most beautiful girl in the world; he wouldn’t pull you around like a mannequin, he would treat you like a goddess.

“He was European level, using the most stunning fabrics, and he designed both of my wedding dresses.

“I am completely devastated by his passing.”

Daniel Lightfood with his daughter, Paris. Picture: Supplied

Danielle Harris, a former fashion buyer for David Jones, was another of many Queensland brides, including Kristina Gambaro (wife of restaurateur John), whose gowns were designed by Daniel Lightfoot.

“The dream of having a bridal dress by Daniel was a big deal back in the 1990s,” said Mrs Harris, who runs Blaq Marketing and also sits on the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust.

“He was so patient and kind, and made sure I did not look like a toilet roll dolly,” she said.

“After ensuring the dress fitted perfectly on the day, he then drove to the church and when I got out of the car attended to the dress with so much love – I know he was a family friend (Di Cant’s daughter) but he did this with other brides as well.

“I loved the Daniel and Suzie team; they were the absolute power couple and they worked very hard and very well together.”

Amelia Taylor, owner of Liquidity Marketing, had a long connection with Daniel Lightfoot’s designs.

“My grandmother had so many of her clothes tailor-made by him and he made my formal dress in 2002, and when my mum phoned to tell me about his death, she was in tears,” Ms Taylor said.

Real estate agent Vaughan Keenan was organising a fashion parade for the relaunch of the Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise, in 1991 when he met Mr Lightfoot.

“Suzie was modelling and Dan came to watch the rehearsals and we instantly became best friends,” Mr Keenan said.

“We shared a passion for fashion, luxury cars and architecture and his incredibly quick wit and many stories used to just make time fly in his presence.

“From that day on Daniel made every suit I ever wore; his eye for cutting a garment to make your body look its best and somehow disguise the parts that were not was incredible.

“I later worked with Daniel to re-invent the look for Christie Corporate; I was a director at that time and he took the entire staff from looking like their uniforms were Bananas in Pyjamas’ costumes to Chanel-like timeless fashion.

“He will be missed; a talent like his is a rare thing and his presence and company can’t be replaced.”