Stylist Deni Todorovic shamed for political stunt at Melbourne Fashion Week

Melbourne Fashion Week is meant to be about designers, but a stylist who made a catwalk social statement had insiders sniping the show was about Deni, not them.

Whenever the convo at Melbourne Fashion Week was raised (and believe us doll when we say it came up, like, a lot) it always started with: “Not that I don’t support equality and the community…”

Keeping on trend, Page 13 will follow suit.

But all the chatter behind the catwalk this fashion week was not about the thankful shunning of athleisure wear, nor the socks and clogs, billowing sleeve, bold colour, or wide legged pant “lewks”. It wasn’t about fashion at all.

No, no, no, most of the stylish set were trending over the palaver that took place for Melbourne Fashion Week’s opening night Plaza Ballroom Runway downstairs of the Regent Theatre.

Insiders say Deni Todorovic made the ultimate fashion faux pas. Picture: Regi Media.

A fashion insider described it as the “ultimate fashion faux pas.”

One designer was in tears. While another was said to be shocked at curator and stylist of the event Deni Todorovic’s insistence backstage to walk the catwalk at the close of show.

Hmmm where to begin? Maybe we will throw in the: “Not that I don’t support equality and the community” again for good measure.

In fashion folklore the role of the stylist has up until recently been credited as a loveless, thankless, but much needed behind the scenes role. The job is to make the designs and the talent sartorially shine.

In recent years many a laminated eyebrow has arched among fashion purists at the stylist emerging from shadows. Instagram is largely to blame, but many still see the talent and designers who are the true hero.

So there was a collective shock and awe when non-binary stylist and curator of the M/FW opening night Todorovic strutted down the runway at close; normally the role of a humbled looking designer, holding the hand of trans model AJ Clementine with the words “they/them” emblazoned on Todorovic’s T-shirt while flying a rainbow flag.

To say Melbourne Fashion Week have embraced their diversity and inclusivity initiative with serious aplomb would be er, putting it mildly.

“Dah-ling it’s been positively rammed down our throats,” said one of the well-heeled on the frow at the sustainable themed SEALife Aquarium Runway on Wednesday night.

While there is a much need role for more representation in the modelling and fashion world, the all round sentiment was that Todorovic took it tad too far and was veering into Pride March territory.

Melbourne Fashion Week is usually all about the models and designers.

“The show was all about Deni, the collection or the designers who worked so hard to pull it together was an afterthought,” said another.

Perhaps cluing in on the behind the scenes backlash Todorovic took to Instagram on Friday to state the Melbourne Fashion Week runway “wasn’t about fashion, it was about feeling” and coincided with Trans Awareness Week.

“It wasn’t about following trends it was about rejecting them,” Todorovic added.

“Diversity is one thing — objectifying is another, this just screamed of tokenism,” were the last words as we waited for the next runway.

Nothing like a catty catwalk.