Old and new guard of influencers step out at the Melbourne Fashion Festival
The old influencers of social media collided with the new at the launch of the Melbourne Fashion Festival’s premium runways. See the pictures from the night.
Page 13
Don't miss out on the headlines from Page 13. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne’s queen of social media Bec Judd showed the TikTok stars how it was done, stepping out for the launch of the Melbourne Fashion Festival’s premium runways.
The old influencers of social media collided with the new, as contemporary Australian designers including Acler, Nevenka, Maara Collective and Ginger + Smart took to the catwalk.
Baring her toned midriff in a colourful two piece bralette and pant set by Eliya The Label, Judd joined her atheleisure wear co-founder Michelle Greene and model Kate Connick on the front row.
The daughter of crooner Harry Connick Jnr and Victoria’s Secret model Jill Goodacre will walk the runway on Tuesday and looked a vision in white Nevenka as she talked with the labels designer Rosemary Masic.
“It’s exciting this is my first time in Melbourne and I have been obsessively researching all the local designers, it’s such a great vibe,” Connick said.
Elsewhere homegrown TikTok stars, including Tatenda Elizabeth and Teejay Hughes, who garner millions of followers on the social media platform, also know how to garner plenty of attention and were out in full front row force.
The peacocking, posing and positivity stirred inside as favoured celebrity brand Aje opened the festival’s runways with a joyful colour palette and cinched feminine floral midi dresses.
Lavender hues, slouchy suits and underwear for outer wear continue to be strong trends with Carlton brand Van Der Kooij a crowd favourite for the Festival’s return to the grand, world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building.
Gale’s fiance praises her ‘very special’ runway return
Fashion and family collided on the David Jones catwalk as Megan Gale returned to the runway after a 15-year absence on Saturday night.
For Gale’s fiance, former Richmond star Shaun Hampson, it was a glimpse into his partner’s past.
“I am so proud,” Hampson said.
“David Jones was a huge part of her life. I never got to see her do her thing so tonight was very special.”
Gale said the emotion of her return to David Jones would not fully sink in until a few days post show.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” she said.
“We have spent the last few years immersed in our children and family and day to day life.
“This (fashion) used to be my normal. Now it is not. It is very unusual, but lovely.”
The 600 guests – all with a front row seat thanks to the runway snaking through the designer collection level within the David Jones store in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall – enjoyed a performance by the Australian Ballet School, complete with cellists playing while embedded in the shoe department, before Gale opened the show in an Aje frock.
Gale later closed the show in a dramatic one shoulder black gown by Rachel Gilbert.
Each time she took to the runway she was met with applause from the appreciative crowd.
In total 185 outfits were shown on the runway as a nod to David Jones marking its 185th anniversary.
Among the labels showcased were Acler, Alémais, Balmain, Bianca Spender, Carla Zampatti, Isabel Marant, Maticevski, Rebecca Vallance, Leo & Lin, Michael Lo Sordo, and Scanlan Theodore.
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop, who owned the black carpet in a striking Rachel Gilbert gown at the event, doubled down on her mission to push the boundaries of fashion for women of mature age.
“I’m pushing the boundaries for when it comes to the misconceptions about what women should and should not be and I believe if you are happy and comfortable and setting your own standard, then it will do,” Bishop, 66, said.
“Don’t let other people tell you what you should and shouldn’t wear, how you should wear your hair, how you should behave.
“As long as you feel authentic and happy, go for it.
“I know there will be critics, but hey, I have had 20 years in politics. There is really nothing they can throw at me now.”
Asked if your 60s can be sexy she said: “well, I will let others be the judge of that”.
Guests at the David Jones showcase included Magnolia Maymuru, Nathan Mcguire, Tom Derickx, Victoria Lee, Adam Goodes, Kate Waterhouse, Toni Maticevski, Caroline Ralphsmith and David Briskin.
Fashion queen’s $2m allowance
Remember the days of getting an allowance from your parents or picking up a few dollars for chores?
Well, one very well off daughter of well to do parents has blown that concept to pieces – millions of pieces.
This young woman is a firm favourite with luxury labels in Melbourne and around the country.
The Melbourne-based beauty with a taste for fine fashion and exquisite jewels knows what she likes and isn’t afraid to splash out on her wardrobe.
And so she should, because with a yearly allowance from her parents of $2 million she hardly needs to resort to Afterpay and can certainly afford to indulge in labels and collections that most can only dream of.
This lady is not a myth, she is real and as a well-connected business figure whispered this week “she spends, she certainly spends.”
Her startling yearly allowance is well known within her circles and naturally is talked about with a degree of awe.
The money is made available from her parents, she is not being funded by a wealthy other half.
Don’t go looking for this trust fund kid – actually, she is well out of her teens – with very deep pockets at this week’s Melbourne Fashion Festival.
This is discreet money and sitting on a guest list at media focused events is not where she is going to be found.
TikTokers ruffle feathers
Move over influencers, TikTokers are taking over your spots on the frow.
Not long ago social media influencers gracing the coveted front row at fashion runways caused quite the curled and sneery overplumped lip from our old school farshun royalty.
But fashion moves with the times.
Now Page 13 is hearing whispers the influencers are desperately calling their reps and teams in charge of seating arrangements at the Melbourne Fashion Festival demanding “FROW or no show.”
Celebrities invited to a runway almost always land in the front row.
Designers actively court big stars for this purpose, sometimes paying them to attend and wear their designs.
Lesser celebrities and the influx of the influencer, or the cringey term ‘content creator’ meanwhile, vie for seats as a means of scoring the press of being associated with the fashion festival.
Fashion “it” girls, socialites and “friends of the brand” also fall in the front row category. Celebrities are usually seated and huddled together, like birds to a feathered hem, just like rich people who always seem to congregate together, they can smell cash, we digress, where photographers can get them all in a single shot – also known as the money shot.
Well, another industry has a different use for the term, but you get the drift.
So expect some ruffled birds in feathers designated to Row B on Monday when the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s premium runways kicks off at the Royal Exhibition Building.
Monday’s Utopia Runway, featuring contemporary Australian designers such as Aje, Van Der Kooij, Nevenka and Leo Lin will feature more than 15 or so TikTokers.
Names Page 13 has never heard of, such as Katherine Denton, Eloise Mumme and Silk Cartright have millions of followers on the TikTok platform and are due to attend.
The sartorial battle lines have been drawn.
Join the conversation
Melb heiress, AFL star, wed on same day, in very different way
Two big names have tied the knot in very different style weddings. While Melbourne ‘it’ girl Bella Geminder said ‘I do’ at her family’s Kew estate in an epic society wedding, AFL star Jeremy Cameron was wed on his farm.
Read more
Sheedy’s surprise catch-up with Bombers tragic in Aspen
Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy has joked he is chasing Bombers fans all over the world, after a surprise meeting with Olympic snowboarder Scotty James.
Read more