Bianca Dye’s epic birthday fail
It was a romantic gesture from her partner, to celebrate her birthday. But it turned into an epic birthday fail for Bianca Dye and her partner Jay Sandtner. All the gossip and social pics from the week.
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THE SCOOP
BIRTHDAY FAIL
Sometimes the best-laid plans can result in an epic fail especially if they involve a busy breakfast radio star. It was Hit90.9 Gold Coast brekky show host Bianca Dye’s birthday during the week and partner Jay Sandtner decided to surprise her with a bottle of her fave French champagne and a beautiful cheese platter elaborately set out on their sunny terrace for the time she said she’d be home from work. However, with everything that is thrown at a brekky radio host post-show on any given morning, plus responding to all the well wishers, the birthday girl was very late, arriving to a melted cheese platter, lukewarm bubbly and a very cool reception. Sandtner did get a measure of revenge by posting a pic where he’d aged Dye up a few decades, possibly the amount of time it felt like he had been waiting.
Things ended on a positive note when he took her to a lovely dinner at Palm Beach’s Balboa Italian restaurant where he presented his now-forgiven beloved with a bespoke bag featuring the image of legendary artist Frida Kahlo (Dye’s a big fan) that he’d had made in Bali.
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COVER UP
While facemasks aren’t mandatory in Queensland, they have become the accessory de jour. Lots of Queensland brands are re-purposing leftover material to help consumers protect themselves, while reducing waste. Skincare brand Bettyquette have released a range of pink gingham masks that have sent their fans gaga while Noosa’s Penelope Shirt Dresses had their first collection of 120 sell out within one night. “We’re just covering the cost of making them and postage, but we wanted to help where we can,” owner Penelope Holt said. Meanwhile Brisbane label Maiocchi has made and sold more than 3000 masks - at $20 a pop - which has been “a godsend” for owner Deanne Mayocchi. “When COVID hit we delayed production on our upcoming collection to see what would happen, so the masks have kept us busy,” she said. “Because the fabrics we use have been so special, we’ve always kept the off cuts so we have boxes and boxes to use up so it’s brought back a lot of old memories.” And rumour has it that influencer turned author turned designer Nikki Parkinson will soon release masks under her brand, Styling You the Label.
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SPRING HAS SPRUNG
Is it just A-list or is everyone feeling a bit excited for the official start of spring this week with its warmer weather and blossoming flora and social scene? Brisbane’s spring social season sprang early on Friday with Emporium Hotel’s sparkling celebrity ladies lunch as well as the highly anticipated return to live performance at QPAC with the launch of its QPAC Unlocked series, a sold-out dinner show at the Lyrebird restaurant featuring Opera Q’s Katie Stenzel and Samuel Piper. Shaping up to be a very busy September, this week alone will see the official opening event on Friday for the Brisbane Festival (whose 2020 program highlights include Naomi Price and Luke Kennedy’s The Isolate Late Show and Katie Noonan’s The Sweetest Taboo). For fashion fans the Designer Q Fashion Festival hits the runway on Saturday with spring collections from 16 designers including Niki Teljega, Alyssia McDonald and Caren Lee.
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TIGHT ROPE
Nadia Tucker and Stevie Angel have sold tens of thousands of pairs of tights since launching their activewear brand, Active Truth, in 2016—and they’re paying it forward by collaborating with charity Share the Dignity. The duo - who count Zoe Foster-Blake and Kimberley Busteed as fans - have launched a five-piece limited edition collection supporting Share the Dignity. “For every tight sold we’ll donate $10 which can purchase four period packs containing pads and tampons,” Tucker said. “Now, more than ever, it’s important to look out for those in our community who are the most vulnerable.’’
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RAINY DAY
Brisbane-based typographer and blogger Jasmine Dowling’s latest collaboration has us wishing for a rainy day. Named Creative of the Year at the 2019 Cosmopolitan Women of the Year awards, Dowling has worked with big name brands including Sportsgirl, Tony Bianco, Maybelline New York and David Jones, and now she’s turned her talents to NZ umbrella brand, Blunt. “I wanted the BLUNT + Studio Jasmine Umbrella to bring joy through the abstract painted foliage design in colours that instantly make me feel happy and positive,” Dowling, who boasts more than 220,000 Instagram followers, said. We think you’ll agree, stepping out in wet weather has never looked so good.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
Lights On: QSO + Tom Thum, Brisbane Powerhouse
Brissy’s first major venue to return with live performances, the Brisbane Powerhouse, had a hit on its hands with its Lights On series over three consecutive weekends. The final instalment was a sensational collaboration between the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Brisbane beatboxer Tom Thum alongside composer/conductor Gordon Hamilton performing their genre-defining symphony, Thum Prints. With the Powerhouse Theatre transformed into a cabaret-style venue with socially distanced tables and dimmed table lamps, the setting was as delightful as the unique performance.
