2024 NGV Gala pink carpet spectacular: See all the glamour
Entertainment and arts figures have stepped out in style, alongside political and sporting stars, at the annual National Gallery of Victoria Gala.
Fiona Byrne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fiona Byrne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fashion, art and money collided in an exuberant splash of colour, creativity and style at the annual NGV gala in Melbourne on Saturday night.
It was a night of big dresses, big fashion moments and the fun side of event dressing.
The gala has in a matter of years cemented its place as one of Melbourne’s most desirable social events. This year the gala celebrate the work of artist Yayoi Kusama.
US actor and self-described “freak”, Julia Fox lived up to her reputation for wild media wall outfits sporting a bespoke ensemble created by Melbourne designer Catholic Guilt.
Fox, who is known for her bizarre, flesh baring, red carpet outfits, and for briefly dating Kanye West before he married Melbourne architect Bianca Censori, said the outfit was inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s Chandelier of Grief infinity mirror room art work.
“When I actually found out I was coming here I had a vision of a chain mail dress so when my stylist presented me with the idea for the chain mail dress I was like ‘my god we are psychic’,” Fox said.
“I already had a pre-existing relationship with Catholic Guilt, I have worn her many times so it was a no brainer to support her.”
Fox said she was constantly looking to express her art through fashion.
“I don’t want to wear it if it is not art,” she said.
“Finding a pretty dress, a beautiful dress, a hot dress, that is easy but finding art that you can wear, that is where the challenge is and I love a challenge.
“I think you only live once and I want to take advantage of every single opportunity I have.”
FOX FM radio host Carrie Bickmore turned heads in a corseted and tulle draped Palo Sebastian gown with inspiring mantras written across the bodice.
“I am wearing my favourite designer, Palo Sebastian,” Bickmore said.
“I wore Palo when I won my Gold Logie. This dress has never been worn in Australia, it has just come back from overseas somewhere, it is the dress of my dreams.”
Bickmore has undergone a style evolution in the past year and has become a slinky red carpet fashion darling.
She put her supercharged style down to being up for anything.
“I have decided to let hair and make-up artist and my stylist do whatever they want.
“I am in their hands, I am open to anything, I am up for adventure with my styling.
“I am happy to experiment and try new things.”
Motorsport great Mick Doohan and his wife Selina arrived at the gala fresh from Abu Dhabi were they had watched their son Jack hit the F1 circuit with Alpine.
Doohan said he was getting used to being referred to as Jack’s dad.
He was at the NGV Gala as a guest of Mercedes, said he and Selina were thrilled that Jack was driving full time for the Alpine F1 team next year.
“Jack is doing an amazing job to get himself there (to F1 level) and then next year is really the start of it all, especially here at Albert Park in Formula 1, the first race of the year,” Doohan said.
“He has worked very hard to get there and it could not make us happier to see him in that position and to see what he is doing and what he has done so far.
“Now the real work begins for him, it is competitive out there. Alpine are doing a great job.
“He just has to perform and put his head down and go to work like all of us do.”
Doohan said he and Selina had a “small collection of art” in their homes.
“It is nothing crazy and we do not profess to know anything more than what we like,” he said.
Philanthropist and fashion collector Anastasia Kogan made a spectacular arrival wearing a rare vintage 1995 Jean Paul-Gauliter catsuit and trailed by a trolley which carried a cape constructed from more than 1000 flowers.
The cape was delicately placed on Kogan before she carefully ventured along the pink carpet with her rich lister husband, Ruslan.
The cape was delicately placed on Kogan before she carefully ventured along the pink carpet with her rich lister husband, Ruslan.
Melbourne beauty expert Alex Pike shone like a star in a strikingly moulded strapless gown by couturier Alin LeKal.
“We had to take a Sprinter van and I had to stand up the whole journey as I can’t bend or sit in this fabric,” Pike said.
Former ABC News Breakfast co-host Lisa Millar hard launched her new boyfriend Simon Carless at the Gala.
Carless, a pilot, and Millar seem to be deliriously happy with Millar sharing that this year had been the best of her life.
Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs and her wife Karina Natt, who are expecting their first child early next year, made a graceful appearance on the pink carpet.
Jesinta Franklin, elegant in a white Effie Kats gown said it was her four-year-old daughter, Lulu, how urged her to attend after taking a shine to Kasuma’s colourful work during art class.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he felt out of place on the pink carpet, while delighting at how the gala had energised the city.
“I feel like the kid who has turned up to the school photoday with rude hair,” Reece quipped.
Model Shanina Shaik proved big is better with her tartan gown by emerging Melbourne designer Jarrod Reid.
The gown was tightly fitted around the bodice and featured an enormous bloom at the calf level. She required four helpers to shuffle gingerly onto the media wall.
Collingwood star Darcy Moore and his partner Dee Salmin made an elegant arrival.
Salmin is a breath of fresh air, continually mixing high/low labels and supporting local artisans.
She wore silver Simone Rocha crocs to the gala and teamed them with a delicate white vintage nighty she purchased from an Op Shop a decade ago.
Other guests included Ariarne Titmus, Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Kat Stewart, Charlee Fraser, Angie McMahon, Mimi Elashiry, Christine Centenera and Joel Edgerton, Baker Boy, Hanan Ibrahim, Carrie Bickmore, Akosia, Montana Cox, Phillippa Northeast and more.
Two couture gowns by Miriwoong artists Peggy Griffiths and Cathy Ward made their pink carpet debuts being worn by emerging First Nations models Lisa Fatnowna and Charvarnie Walsh.
Influencer Charlene Davies was inspired to create her bold ensemble of a tulle opera coat over pants and a shirt with a large piece of silver tubing draped around her shoulders, after a household accident.
Davies was having a bubble bath at home when a silver tube that her husband had tucked away to use as part of a renovation tumbled onto the bathroom floor.
“I looked at it rolling around on the floor and thought, ‘I could do something with that’,” Davies said.
Art collector Fair Shen was a burst of colour in a vintage dress by Moschino by Jeremy Scott.
“This piece has a lot of expression, it is like a painting,” she said.
She teamed the richly hued gown with long gloves by Romance Is Born.
Actor Pallavi Sharda looked stunning in a rich pink saree by Ekaya.
Chyka and Bruce Keebaugh made a dashing couple on the pink carpet, with Chyka sporting a sleek Rebecca Vallance gown with a dramatic shoulder drape.
“Melbourne needs this, we need a bit of oomph and this is it,” Chyka said.
“Every single person here has made a massive effort to get dressed up. This is our night of nights here in Melbourne for everyone to showcase beautiful clothes, make up, hair and jewellery and to have some fun.”
Melbourne power couple Andy Penn and Kallie Blauhorn charmed fellow guests as they waited for their turn on the media wall.
Blauhorn chose a stylish bespoke gown by menswear designer Christian Kimber.
“This is my boardroom boss bitch look,” Blauhorn joked.
Dessert Master’s host Melissa Leong was a fashion stand out in a colourful, embellished column gown that was created via a collaboration between designer Romance Is Born and artist Zaachariaha Fielding, who is one half of the electro pop group Electric Fields.
Leong topped off her look with dramatic make-up.
“I was canoeing on Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania two days ago, so being here on the pink carpet at the NGV Gala is quite a different environment, but I love this night,” she said
Join the conversation
Star misses Carols By Candlelight after emergency surgery
The high-profile co-host of the Christmas Eve tradition Carols By Candlelight has pulled out of the show after undergoing surgery just hours before the event.
Read more
Robbie Williams set for Melbourne next month
The pop superstar is continuing his Melbourne love affair and will be in town next month to celebrate his movie Better Man.
Read more