Brownlow Medal red carpet: The style that made a statement
THE Brownlow red carpet might be a vision of sequins and spray tans, but every now and then someone dares shift the goalposts. We revisit some of the most notable statement outfits.
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LINDA Weatherlake will be making a powerful fashion statement on the Brownlow red carpet, by wearing a vegan dress.
The passionate animal rights campaigner, who dates North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebal, says it’s important for her to promote her beliefs with her fashion choices.
“I think that you are going to get picked to pieces by couch critics no matter what you wear, so why not voice your opinion in a public place,” Weatherlake said.
“People spread so many stereotypes about the wives and girlfriends of football players, so I would rather just say, this is what I stand for, take it or leave it. You get thick skin when you are a vegan,” she joked about the polarising dietary choice.
The business woman, who is also the sister Anna Weatherlake, the wife of cricketer Peter Siddle who famously posed naked for animal rights earlier this year, has been a vegetarian since childhood before becoming fully vegan, which involves not eating or wearing animal products, five years ago.
Silk, leather trimmings, wool and pearls are among the products that must be avoided by Melbourne designer label One Day Bridal in making Weatherlake’s gown for Monday night, but Weatherlake says it is becoming easier to have a vegan-friendly wardrobe and beauty routine.
“My company Nina stocks all vegan skin care, make up and vegan-leather handbags which are made from recycled plastic. Technology has come a long way in replicating fabrications, soon we will see leather made from the tops of pieapples, and even mushrooms.”
“The more demand there is the more the industry will grow, and in Melbourne particularly we are seeing the industry booming,” she said.
Ahead of Monday’s count, we revisit some of the most notable statement outfits of the past.
Laura Csortan, 2001
The AFL Record might be iconic, but this dress, worn by The Great Outdoors presenter and made from fabric featuring its Grand Final souvenir poster, was not. But at least it would have helped guests on her table put some faces to names.
Tania Buckley (nee Minnici), 2001
The then-girlfriend of Magpie Nathan Buckley got cheeky in a jewel-encrusted G-string. The glitzy underwear would go on to inspire foxy morons Kath & Kim and remains one of the most daring ensembles to date.
Sarita Stella, 2002
The AFL Record was also responsible for this novelty gown worn by Brodie Holland’s girlfriend. The football-inspired frock fell a long way short of a fashion goal, even if she did accessorise with a Sherrin-themed handbag.
Rebecca Judd (nee Twigley), 2004
It was the night the Brownlow became the Gownlow. While her partner Chris Judd won the coveted medal, Twigley stole the spotlight in the Ruth Tarvydas dress with navel-plunging neckline and thigh-high split.
Blair McDonough & Natalie Bassingthwaighte, 2004
This Neighbours pair tried to bring sexy back with these unique ensembles. While Bassingthwaighte’s Kookai dress was detailed with a cascading account of the AFL ladder’s top eight, McDonough’s dinner shirt was printed with an iconic image of Demons legend
Ron Barassi.
Shane Crawford & Brodie Holland, 2004 and 2005
Before former AFL president Andrew Demetriou became the fashion police in 2010, refusing entry to players who flouted the black-tie dress code, a few experimented with their red carpet looks. Crawford had a shocker with an ill-fitting suit in a metallic, Hawthorn-inspired palette, while Holland went for beach wedding-chic in a beige, striped suit.
Kelly Tisdale, 2005
The plus-one of Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa teamed with the Brownlow theme in a deep teal green dress embellished with an embroidered motif of the AFL best-and-fairest medal. Unfortunately that did not make the frock the best or fairest on the red carpet.
Emma & Tom Hawkins, 2014
The fashionable farmers declared their love of the land by wearing merino wool ensembles. Both wore the natural fabric to support wool growers, with Emma in a custom-designed gown by Aje in collaboration with Woolmark, and the big Cat an M.J. Bale suit to promote the yarn’s versatility.
St Kilda wives, 2016
D’Arne Finnis, wife of Saints chief executive Matt Finnis, and Jo Richardson, wife of coach Alan Richardson, bucked the trend for bespoke ball gowns, instead dressing in preloved frocks. The pair were joined by Karen Massen, partner of president Peter Summers, in wearing budget gowns from South Melbourne’s Sacred Heart Mission Op Shop. Finnis’ dress cost just $8.
Annie Nolan, 2016
Having already headed a #BullyFreeBrownlow campaign for the Herald Sun, the wife of Bulldogs champ Liam Picken took her political statement a step further by stepping out in a tuxedo identical to Picken’s. The outspoken blogger said she chose her attire to showcase the “double standard” of the focus on the outfits of the footballers’ female partners.
Haylea Cooney, 2016
The Brownlow veteran who has walked the carpet 10 times, has made it her mission to protect younger wives and girlfriends from couch critics who shame and bully women on medal night. She tamed the trolls last year by boycotting the pressure to wear a new designer gown, instead wearing her bridemaid’s dress from best friend Annie Nolan’s wedding, also proving she is cost-per-wear aware.
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