Overflowing toilets, spray tans and plunging necklines: No shortage of Brownlow drama
The Crown Palladium bathrooms were out of action after overflowing (take what you will from that), with guests forced to relieve themselves elsewhere and many missing parts of the count after being locked out.
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Drop waisted corsets and bubble skirts, to plungers and spray tans verging into stripper territory, there was certainly something for everyone at this year’s Brownlow Awards.
While the red carpet has become big business, so with it has the safe side for AFL’s night of nights with stylists at the ready.
But thankfully it wasn’t all just sheer, nude bodices and layers of tulle, with a few standing out of the pack for not just the sublime, but for eye popping candy.
If you got em flaunt em, with hard as rock abs trending not just at Crown but also in Brisvegas where the grand finalists were gathered to watch the count.
Some plus ones are no doubt outdoing some of there AFL partners in garnering up the gym hours, take Melbourne veteran midfielder Jack Viney’s wife Charlotte and Lions forward Cam Rayner’s partner Elise Gosdchan.
Metallics always make an impression on the carpet and to the photographers flashing bulbs, but in-demand model Paris Bishop was a clear winner in a rose gold jaw-to-the-floor actual metal number for her Brownlow debut on the arm of Essendon midfielder Sam Durham. Because who needs to walk when you can look that good, tying up the carpet with one giant bow. Just don’t expect her to bow down, or sit for that matter, in the custom Alin Le’ Kal futuristic gown.
Plungers taking inspiration from Bec Judd’s red dress twenty years ago didn’t quite hit the mark.
But a pregnant Abbey Gelmi gave new meaning to maternity dressing, looking the goods and some in a Sonia Cappellazzo black figure hugging drop waisted gown with bubble white skirt finish.
Bec Judd also opted for a corseted tied up drop waisted look from her go-to designers J’Aton wearing thee couloir of the night in dusty pink with billowing bubble skirt saying she and the designers looked over the archives and thought “what haven’t we done yet”.
A sculptural showstopper from local designer Sean Rentero on Nathan Buckley’s smiling partner Brodie Ryan turned heads on the carpet and made a statement, as did Jeremy Cameron’s fiancée Indiana Putra in another homegrown label Silvana Tedesco, but didn’t quite hold the same wow factor when pictured under the bright lights.
Crown staff will still be busy scrubbing the spray tans straight from the noughties off the toilets – that’s if they got them fixed.
Both the male and female bathrooms up at the Crown Palladium were out of action after overflowing, um take what you will from that, with guests told to relieve themselves elsewhere and many having to miss parts of the count after being locked out.
But it wouldn’t be the Brownlow without a little frock shock, bridal safe plays and dunny drama!
Bec belle of Brownlow ball 20 years on from star-making debut
Twenty years on Bec Judd is once again the star of the Brownlow red carpet.
We all remember “that red dress” when a wide-eyed girl from Perth called Bec Twigley turned up to the Brownlow in a plunging red Ruth Tarvydas bejewelled gown in 2004, changing the course of the event and propelling her to become one of the nation’s biggest influencers and fashion entrepreneurs.
Wearing a drop-waisted peach lace-up showstopper by Melbourne couturiers J’Aton, Judd became emotional describing how the Brownlow had also changed her own life.
“It’s crazy to think I now have four children and everything that has happened since ‘that’ night all those years ago,” she said. “It’s come full circle.”
The red carpet has become a launching pad for many a career, with Josh Daicos’s new fiancee Annalise Dalins looking like Aphrodite coming in on a seashell in a pearly encrusted bodice and sheer gown from Sam Oglialoro with a diamond bobby dazzler and wide grin to match.
Model Paris Bishop, the partner of Essendon midfielder Sam Durham, almost stole the ruby rug for her Brownlow debut, looking like a bowed vision in metallic rose metal from designer Alin Le’ Kal.
Another Brownlow royal was Alex Pendlebury, who sure knows how to turn heads, wearing her go-to label Sam Oglialoro in a nude bodice and thigh skimming split, while Maddy Dangerfield was channelling a Pretty Woman moment in red velvet from Georgia Young Couture.
There was certainly no shortage of tulle, and plenty of cropped figure-hugging looks showing off abs of steel.
Plenty of skin, and perhaps even a reference to Judd’s red dress, came from Hawks headline-maker Jack Ginnivan’s plus-one Lily Mitchell, who hard-launched their relationship on the ruby rug wearing a plunger from label DZO.
Jeremy Cameron’s fiancee Indiana Putra wore duck egg blue from Silvana Tedesco, while Paris Lawrence didn’t quite hit the mark but raised the heat in dazzling yellow from Ingrid Olic Twelve South Bridal.
The men came and slew, taking a lot more risks than in past years, many bringing some of their own bling and jewellery to their tuxedos.
Max Gawn who has often worn colour and raised eyebrows, stripped it back, with his gold buttons the main event, while Darcy Moore didn’t quite pull off an olive green shirt and matching tie in Christian Kimber.
But get it right and that 15m long red carpet can become a game-changer.
The Brownlow, or “gownlow” as it is colloquially known, is now big business.
Gone are the peroxide hair extensions, bolt-ons and gaudy frock shocks (well, just).
And it isn’t just a case of throwing on a dress and heading out the door, though Collingwood captain Moore’s girlfriend Dee Salmin kept it real, having her bestie wash her hair earlier in her kitchen sink.
But for most it now takes a full-on team to assemble a look, from hair and make-up down to custom jewellery and content creator videographers.
Take young gun superstar Harley Reid, the 2023 No. 1 draft pick who wore a tuxedo made from Menz Club.
His childhood sweetheart, AFLW’s Yasmin Duursma, was pretty in “hot pink” tulle, wearing a custom look from Jason Grech and jewellery right from Catanach Jeweller, all styled by Alicia Marshall.
But never forget where it all began … that Bec Judd dress.
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