Brisbane gears up for biggest social event of 2020
After the most un-social year yet, celebs are gearing up for this major event - with a raft of high-profile names slated to attend. All the gossip and social pictures from the week.
U on Sunday
Don't miss out on the headlines from U on Sunday. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With a mere nine sleeps left to what is shaping up to be the most social day of the century’s most anti-social year, Brisbane is gearing up for a huge Melbourne Cup 2020.
And in exciting news for fans of The Bachelor series franchise, it appears that Doomben Racecourse has replaced the Bachelor in Paradise beach resort as the new looking-for-love party playground.
Revealed: Lewis’ new job after shock 10 axing
Queensland’s most instagram-friendly spot
If you’re single and ready to mingle the place to be for the Cup is definitely the track with Brisbane Racing Club revealing that no less than a dozen former stars of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette will be descending upon Doomben for all the festivities on November 3.
One can only hope the racecourse will be bringing in extra supplies so as not to have to make a last minute dash to Dan Murphy’s as these fine folks are known to enjoy a tipple. Amongst the Bachie stars to join the trackside fun are Jamie Doran, Brittney Weldon, Cat Hennessy Smith, Marg Zogoulas, Keely Spedding and Scot Fuller. Die-hard fans will be keeping a keen eye on Doran and Weldon with the pair’s “failure-to-launch” romance one of the most talked-about aspects of the last series of Bachelor in Paradise.
Other celeb guests confirmed to attend are SES Australia stars Ali Oetjen and Shayna Jack, media personality Kimberley Busteed and former AFL star Brent Staker.
As for the hottest offtrack Cup events, Fortitude Valley’s fashionable James St is shaping up as party central.
Traditionally a magnet on the day for the Millennial style set, Gerard’s will see its bistro and sister venue Gerard’s Bar team up for a lavish long lunch that will feature free-flowing Louis Roederer champagne and a 3-course banquet with local seafood and iconic Gerard’s dishes.
Across the road, the always buzzing Cru Bar will be serving up a 4-course menu with Veuve Clicquot. A couple of doors down at The Calile Hotel the chic poolside Hellenika’s lunch will be hosted by Georgina Lewis. DJ Jamie Porteous will provide the tunes with guests to be indulged with Roederer bubbles and a sumptuous banquet menu.
Across town it will be hard to go past The Terrace rooftop bar at posh Emporium Hotel for Cup Day glamour with its spectacular views, Mumm champagne and a 3-course lunch hosted by Nine newsreader Alison Ariotti and featuring a fashion parade from the vibrant Bonita Collective label.
Always a hoot are the Gambaro events with two options: Gambaro’s in Caxton St hosted by B105’s Stav, Abby and Matt and Persone restaurant at Brisbane Quarter with Jonathan Uptin on the mike.
In August, we confirmed that fashion stalwart Country Road had vacated their iconic National Australia Bank shopfront on the Queen Street Mall, and would soon ‘pop up’ in a nearby location - and they have!
On Thursday, they opened their new Brisbane City home slightly up the street in the Myer Centre.
It’s an interesting choice given shopper and retailer interest in the 32-year-old Myer Centre was said to be waning even before COVID hit.
Fingers crossed the opening of Country Road brings back some foot traffic to the centre, if not we recommend they bring back the Tops rollercoaster.
In a year in which loungewear became almost all we wore, it doesn’t come as any surprise that sneakers seem to have taken over from stilettos as the footwear du jour.
Aje has again dipped a toe in to the sneaker game, collaborating for the second year running with Superga - giving the Italian brand’s signature kicks an earthy and minimalist spin as part of their new Resort 21 collection, Chroma.
Former Brisbane gal and Aje co-founder Edwina Forest told us Chroma explores themes of “providing hope and inciting joy during this time of universal uncertainty”.
“As part of the collection, we too reimagined the Superga x Aje collaboration... but this season - with two low environmental impact and sustainably designed shoes,” she says.
The finished product is two styles of sneaker - low and high profile - made from a mix of organic cotton, hemp and environmentally friendly natural dye with minimal ink, and recycled card used in the packaging process.
“Equally timeless as they are versatile … the beauty is in the ease; to us they are the perfect pairing for any occasion,’’ she says.
The Superga x Aje sneakers are available instore and online and prices start at $130.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
Lexus Ladies’ Day
Doomben Racecourse, Ascot
The 2020 Brisbane Spring Racing Carnival continued in style at Doomben with Lexus Ladies’ Day, and though female racegoerswere in the spotlight, that didn’t stop the lads from making the most of their day at the track. In addition to the excitementof viewing Sydney’s The Everest and Melbourne’s Caulfield Cup races on the big screens, the enthusiastic crowd was treatedto a 9-race local program, pop-up bars, DJ entertainment and the hotly contested Westfield Chermside Fashions on the Fieldcompetition. In fashion, the Gold Coast’s Milano Imai took out the winner’s sash with Brisbane’s Stephanie Martin awardedrunner-up. The carnival continues Saturday at Doomben with Derby Day, a spring racing season highlight.
Pictures: Adam Shaw (Vethaak Media)
LOOK OF THE WEEK
Event: Lexus Ladies’ Day
Location: Doomben Racecourse, Ascot
Name: Mildred Ellwood
Age: 41
Suburb: Wynnum West
Occupation: Nurse
Dress: White Label Noba
Turban: My Hat Millinery
Shoes: The Attico
Handbag: Louis Vuitton
Style Icon: Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge)
INSIDE MY WARDROBE: CAROLINE MCCULLOCH
She’s the podiatrist whose “rubbish feet” launched a multi-million dollar footwear empire, so it’s no surprise Frankie4 Footwear founder Caroline McCulloch owns a lot of shoes.
“I have about 100 pairs of Frankie4 size 9 samples in our garage, some days you’ll find me out and about test-running prototypes with a different style on each foot,’’ she says.
Footwear aside, Caroline loves a tailored and polished look and has filled her wardrobe with Australian brands, along with a few international heavy hitters.
“Wearing uncomfortable fashion, no matter how ‘great’ it looks goes against my grain,’’ she says.
Who are your style icons?
Jacqueline Kennedy for chic yet simple fashion and actress Michelle Williams; I love how her style has evolved. She’s versatile, and effortless.
How would you describe your personal style?
It’s tailored and polished on some days, but other days I’m out and about wear-testing prototypes with different styles on each foot.
What was your first big splurge?
A Prada bag; it’s an everyday piece and I adore it; it’s the kind of piece I’ll pass on to my daughter one day.
What’s your favourite off-duty, casual Sunday look?
T-shirt, skirt and kicks (plus or minus headscarf depending on hair situation)
What are your favourite brands?
Zimmermann, Morrison, Scanlan Theodore, Country Road, Prada, Coach and, of course, Frankie4 for all things footwear!
What’s the newest addition to your wardrobe?
A blue gingham Scanlan Theodore dress. I’ve already worn it three times already; dressed up with heels, make up and drop earrings and paired back with white kicks, top knot and sunnies. I love it because it feels lightweight, easy to move in with just the right amount of coverage for me.
What’s the best fashion advice you’ve received?
If you don’t feel good in it, don’t wear it. Wearing uncomfortable fashion, no matter how ‘great’ it looks goes against my grain.
What is your most sentimental item?
A handbag that used to be my Nan’s.
Any cringeworthy outfits or trends in the past?
A Facebook memory recently popped up from a friend’s wedding about 10 years ago, and I was wearing these weird stockings that looked super shiny in the photo. They looked terrible.
What’s your favourite pair of FRANKiE4 Footwear shoes?
My favourites are always styles that haven’t hit the market yet because I test new styles a season ahead. We’re working on something special at the moment that I think our customers will love.
How many pairs of shoes do you own?
At any given time, I have about 100 pairs of FRANKiE4 size 9 samples in our garage; it’s been a long time since a car has fit in there. They are a combination of rejected colourway samples that we keep to modify when developing new styles, and countless adjusted samples as we tweak the pattern until we are happy to launch the style to market.
