Who was turning heads at the races?
Which high profile guests made the biggest splash in The Aviary marquee this week? All the social events and gossip from the week.
U on Sunday
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ALI’S BOND GIRL DREAM
It was as big and celebrity-studded as was expected with nearly 5000 spirited racegoers flooding through the gates at Doomben Racecourse to hit the track for Melbourne Cup Day. There were more former stars of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette than you could poke a stick at with fans queuing up for the prerequisite selfies with the aesthetically pleasing singles but they weren’t the only ones causing a commotion with revellers.
Former The Bachelorette-turned-SAS Australia star Ali Oetjen and her fellow SAS’er swimmer Shayna Jack left a trail of turned heads in their wake wherever they went. With both ladies “handing in their numbers’ earlier this week on the high-rating reality program that sees celebs put through arduous special forces training, the popular pair were making the most of the glamorous day.
A-List caught up with the engaging Oetjen in The Aviary marquee and asked her what had attracted her about signing up for SAS Australia. She revealed that growing up she’d been a huge James Bond fan and had dreamt of becoming a secret agent. When she was just out of school at 18, she was seriously considering pursuing a career as an ASIO agent and began taking steps to qualify. But once it dawned on her “that I might have to kill somebody” she dropped that particular pursuit.
Life after SAS has seen the meditation/yoga instructor and wellness coach having recently relocated to the Sunny Coast where she offers wellness retreats with the next one scheduled for early 2021.
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DALE’S DÉJÀ VU
There was one familiar face missing from the Cup Day action at Doomben and that was Brisbane fashion icon and socialite Dale Olsson who was laid up in a hospital bed nursing a broken ankle.
Two days before she was supposed to judge Fashions on the Field at last weekend’s Derby Day, Brissy’s “Queen of Hats” had a nasty fall during her daily walk with husband Jim in Highgate Hill. The injury meant the style maven would not only miss out on Derby Day, her favourite race day of the year, but also on Melbourne Cup Day.
And in a bizarre coincidence, this wasn’t her first time at the rodeo having had an accident almost exactly one year ago on Derby Day 2019 injuring her shoulder that robbed her of attending 2019 Cup festivities at Flemington.
Olsson, who owned The Hat Box in Brisbane Arcade, has kept her humour about it all joking from her hospital bed, “It’s a double whammy, a Derby Day curse!” After undergoing surgery on Thursday the fashionista is hoping to be released from hospital tomorrow.
SKIN LIKE KENNER
Whether you love her or hate her, there’s no denying beauty mogul Kylie Jenner has that je ne sais quoi, and from Tuesday, Aussies will be able to their hands on her hit skincare range, Kylie Skin by Kylie Jenner.
The range of eight products, which will drop exclusively at MECCA stores and online, is free from parabens, sulfates, and gluten. They’re also all vegan, cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested.
In a press release, the beauty billionaire said: “So many of my fans have been asking me to make my skincare brand available in Australia and New Zealand, and I’m so happy that they’ll now be able to make my favourite products a part of their daily lives too.”
Last year, Jenner sold the majority share in her makeup brand, Kylie Cosmetics to Coty - the company that owns CoverGirl, OPI, Rimmel, and Sally Hansen - taking Jenner from reality TV star and Kim Kardashian’s little sister into a beauty billionaire.
WELLNESS HEAVEN
When it comes to health and wellness, Queensland has the world beat with Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland named the World’s Best Eco Spa at the 2020 World Spa Awards.
Co-owned by Hugh Jackman, Gwinganna has long been a favourite of rock stars, fashion designers and TV stars with The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson checking in once a year.
Nestled within the venue’s 200 hectare site is a $6.5 million spa - reserved exclusively for retreat guests - designed to highlight the surrounding environment with its architecturally-designed eco-friendly treehouse-style building featuring wide use of reclaimed timbers and an organic garden.
The spa is also one of the few in the world that is completely self sufficient in terms of water consumption and collection relying purely on rainwater collected from run off of its vast roof structure.
It is the first time an Australian retreat has won this prestigious accolade, beating out nominees in California, Ecuador, the Philippines, Vietnam and Wolgan Valley retreat in the Blue Mountains.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
Brisbane Fashion Month Resort Finale
Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct
Fashionistas fronted up in their finery for Brisbane Fashion Month’s sparkling Resort Finale event, the culmination of a month-long celebration of Queensland fashion.
Held in the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Showroom at new go-to venue, Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct, the style set was treated to watermelon cocktails at the pop-up Brookie’s Gin Bar and culinary treats from Lumiere Events before the runway show. Hitting the catwalk were collections from designers and labels including Sacha Drake, Gina Kim, Christina Stephens, Styling You The Label and Une Piece. Kudos to BFM director Laura Churchill and her team for delivering a top-rate fashion festival amidst current COVID-19 challenges.
Pictures: Jared Vethaak
LOOK OF THE WEEK
Event: Moet & Chandon Derby Day
Location: Doomben Racecourse, Ascot
Name: Cindy Simpson
Age: 52
Suburb: Mt Gravatt East
Occupation: Hairdresser/Millinery Designer (Cinderella After Midnight)
Dress: Self-designed/made
Hat: Cinderella After Midnight
Shoes: Wittner
Earrings: Lovisa
Bracelet: Lovisa
Style Icon: Audrey Hepburn
INSIDE MY WARDROBE: KENDALL GILDING
When it comes to fashion favourites, Kendall Gilding’s top picks are home grown Australian brands and women.
“Fashion is my happy place and I love Apero Label, Aje and Country Road,” the Channel 7 presenter said, showing off her latest buy - a sage green floral tired midi dress by Apero Label.
Having grown up in Cairns, it comes as no surprise that Kendall’s style icons - Margot Robbie, Elle Ferguson and Jules Sebastian - are also at home by the sand and the surf.
How would you describe your personal style?
Effortless & feminine
Do you remember your first big fashion splurge?
A dress for my 21st birthday brunch. It was $450 it was raw silk and was a pink/purple colour and it was a dream!
What’s your favourite off-duty look?
Mom jeans and a tee.
What are your favourite brands?
Apero, Country Road and Aje.
Who are your style icons?
Margot Robbie, Elle Ferguson and Jules Sebastian.
What’s the newest addition to your wardrobe?
A sage green floral tired midi dress by Apero Label.
Shoes or bags?
Shoes! I couldn’t care about bags.
Heels or sneakers?
Sneakers, especially Frankie4’s.
What are you top three wardrobe must haves?
My mom jeans, a pair of statement sunnies and a good blazer.
Denim or Dresses?
Both, but not at the same time.
What’s the best fashion advice you’ve received?
You can never be over dressed. My mum told me this often when getting ready for events and it’s held me in good stead for decades!
What is the most sentimental item in your wardrobe and why?
A Thomas Sabo pearl bracelet. It was the first Christmas present my husband gave me and we weren’t officially dating. It had a ‘K’ on it for Kendall. Later, I added ‘T’ for Tim. And on Father’s Day last year he bought me ‘O’ for our daughter Olive. I also wore it on our wedding day.
Clothes hoarder or minimalist?
Minimalist, no question about it! I regularly cull my wardrobe.
