Stars hit the red carpet at the annual 63rd Logie Awards in Sydney
The ceremony’s return to Sydney for the first time in 37 years saw some bold outfit choices from Australia’s favourite stars on the red carpet. See the photos.
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The annual TV Week Logie Awards returned to Sydney for the first time in 37 years with the red carpet rolling out at The Star for the biggest names in Australian television.
From the return of the little black dress – dubbed the “Logies Black Dress” – to low-cut necklines and thigh-high splits, the Logies served up some head turning fashion moments.
On a night where “elegance” returned to TV’s night of nights, The Voice coach Jessica Mauboy, Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr and Nicole Kidman’s TV presenter niece, Lucia Hawley, went back to black – as FBOY Island host Abbie Chatfield look the trend a step further, in a plunging halter-neck corset and skirt, with a dramatic split.
“The point of the night is to celebrate, not take ourselves too seriously and to just have a good time,” Gold Logie nominee Sonia Kruger said.
“It is bigger than ever. It is the pinnacle, television’s grand final. We have one awards ceremony in our country. In the US there’s Emmys, Golden Globes, and People’s Choice but we have the Logies.”
Kruger, wearing a Steven Khalil gown which screamed “Hollywood glamour”, is nominated alongside Hamish Blake, Julia Morris, Leigh Sales, Mark Coles Smith, Osher Gunsberg and Shaun Micallef for Australian television’s top gong.
Several stars have had to seek special permission from Hollywood’s Screen Actors Guild (SAG) to attend the awards due to the ongoing actor and writer strike in the US, among them Lincoln Younes, Stephen Peacocke and Patrick Brammall.
A total of 24 awards are up for grabs, separated into two categories – most popular and most outstanding.
The most popular categories will be determined by the voting public while most outstanding has been voted by respected panels of industry experts.
Vogue Australia fashion features director Alice Birrell said the Logies trend signalled the “return of the LBD”.
“After seasons of feathers, frills and sequins, taking it back to understated sophistication is the way to stand out now,” Birrell said.
“Just look at Lucia Hawley’s sculptural bodice that flatters with an impeccable cut,” Birrell said, of the custom Carla Zampatti look.
“Taste runs in the family. My best dressed of the night.”
Elsewhere, Rebecca Harding – the girlfriend of Andy Lee – dubbed herself “Logies Barbie” in a vintage Alexander McQueen dress.
Her stylist, Elliot Garnaut, said the pair jetted to Los Angeles to source the vintage outfit from iconic West Hollywood consignment store, Decades. “We really wanted to put an emphasis on sustainability and embracing the circular fashion economy,” Garnaut said.
“We ended up purchasing an early 2000s Alexander McQueen gown which we made small amendments to slightly modernise, with the help of [Australian designer] Effie Kats.”
Lee says his Harding shouldn’t be expecting a lavish wedding if and when they do finally tie the knot.
Rumours continue to swirl about whether he will propose with speculation flaring again after their recent holiday to Italy. There they attended the wedding of millionaire chicken heir Johnny Ingham to Rey Vakili at the Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina where the second season of The White Lotus was filmed.
Best New Talent nominee Chloe Hayden stunned in a line green ball gown, shimmery pink eye makeup and and rainbow flag painted nails.
The Heartbreak High star, walking the carpet with co-star and fellow New Talent nominee Ayesha Maddon, said she was “feeling overwhelmed and very excited.”
Home and Away actor Lynne McGranger said: “It is an honour to be nominated with my ‘dinner ladies’, with Emily (Symons) and Ada (Nicodemou).”
McGranger noted it was a good year for female representation.
“It says a lot that women of a certain age and beyond are still visible and still making an impact,” she said.
Gold Logie nominee Osher Gunsberg was particularly popular with the invited members of the public.
He happily trotted over to take selfies and accept shrieks of delight from the Aussie mums.
Ten’s long-running newsreader Sandra Sully said comedian and beloved I’m A Celeb host Julia Morris should win the Gold this year to acknowledge the contributions of the experienced women in the field this year, including Kruger and Leigh Sales.
“Julia Morris should win the Gold,” she said on the red carpet.
“All the women in their 50s nominated this year proves women have a significant role to play and always have done.”
One of the Queens of the Australian awards red carpet Jessica Mauboy said the “energy is insane” as the star-studded event returned to Sydney.
Mauboy who infamously was one of the big celebs stuck in the hectic arrivals logjam on the Gold Coast put her typical positive spin on the craziness which had nominees and guests in a scrum at The Star.
Mauboy isn’t down officially to perform at the ceremony but is prepping to drop a new single Give You Love with fellow The Voice judge Jason derulo on August 11.
Both artists are signed to Warner Music. “There’s no other celebration like it. Give us the entertainment. Give us the laughs. Give us the drama.”
Another trend of the night inspired by international runways was tomato red, seen on Jackie O in custom Effie Kats, Zoe Foster Blake in straight-off-the-catwalk Alemais, and Chrissy Swan in Solace London.
The usually red carpet shy Jackie O said it was the opportunity to introduce Amy Shark to perform that got her over the line to attend.
“I feel really healthy, I feel so much happier and better. It has paid off for sure,” she said.
“I am trying to say yes more often,” she said, adding of female representation in the nominations: “Now I think we are embracing women ageing and we kick arse when we age. Life gets better, why should we be ashamed of it.
“I love that we are acknowledging so many incredible women that don’t necessarily - and there’s nothing wrong with being 20, but they don’t have to be in their 20s to be recognised on a night like this.”
In one of the outfits of the night, Abbie Chatfield wore an eye-popping twist on the Little Black Dress.
The FBOY Island host‘s look featured a Mugler-esque silhouette, including a structured, corset-like body-suit with cut-outs and halter neck bra, by Australian designer JOTEO.
She teamed the revealing outfit with winged eyeliner that wouldn‘t look out of place on trendsetting US drama, Euphoria.
Tony Armstrong, 2022 Logie winner and up for a Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter, brought some urban cowboy flavour to the red carpet.
Armstrong said he would like to see the Gold Logie go to Mystery Road: Origin star Mark Coles Smith, who has made history as the first Indigenous actor nominated for the Gold Logie.
“The first black fella to be nominated and it would be good if we went one for one.”
Comedian and radio host Joel Creasey went for a cost-of-living inspired suit.
“I bought this for $80 from Zara,” he said.
“I left it very last minute. The tie is Yves Saint Laurent, the shoes Louboutin and I just had a play.”
Veteran comedian and television host Shaun Micallef is a Gold Logie nominee for the long-running sketch show, Shaun Micallef‘s Mad As Hell which ended last year. He was also nominated for the coveted Gold trophy nack in 2010.
“This was in the cupboard and the only other thing I had was a dinner suit. It was from channel 9 back in 2002, my wife said it was a good idea, so you can blame her,” Micallef said.
Three-time Gold Logie winner Rove McManus and wife Tasma Walton – who also has a Logie to her name - were among the first celebs on the red carpet.
The pair aren’t nominated this year, but Gold Logie winners have a standing invite to the event every year.
Home and Away stars Ray Meagher and James Stewart were all smiles with each other, despite going head to head for the Silver Logie for Most popular actor.
Stewart has said he has no chance at all in the category – given’s he’s up again the legend of Meagher and Sam Neill.
63rd TV Week Logie Awards aired on Sunday, July 30 at 7pm on Seven.
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Originally published as Stars hit the red carpet at the annual 63rd Logie Awards in Sydney
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