ARIA Awards: Aussie star stuns with red carpet look
One of Australia’s most recognisable singers has rocked an unusual piece while taking to the ARIA Awards red carpet.
The stars have begun to file in and strut their stuff down the red carpet at Australian music’s night of nights, with the 2023 ARIA Awards now under way.
All eyes will be on the multi-award-winning musicians and Australian music royalty who have come to celebrate the past year, with many up for awards.
There are also eyes on those involved with hosting duties, with the red carpet led by model and actor Christian Wilkins and podcaster Bridget Hustwaite.
Wilkins opted for a daring number that Hustwaite said made him look like a “shimmering Glamazon”.
“I am personally wearing very little and I’m a little bit cold and a little bit hungry,” he said on the red carpet before revealing there was a “long story” behind the outfit.
“It’s the Skims Swarovski collaboration which was announced last week – I woke up at 1am last Tuesday to order it online, I got it sent to my friend in LA who then shipped it back to me.
“It arrived last night when I tried it on for the first time … to have that full journey and be wearing it tonight, it’s very fitting.”
Wilkins’s father, entertainment journalist Richard Wilkins, was all praise for his son’s outfit.
“I was going to wear that - I thought they put that out for me but it probably suits you better,” he joked.
Wilkinson senior offered up some wise words to his son on how to handle hosting duties at Australian music’s night of nights.
“Have fun, enjoy it, it’s a celebration of Australian music,” he said.
“It’s all about putting Australian music in the lounge rooms of Australians.”
While Wilkinson opted for a “sheer” look, his co-host was determined to stand out in a bright frock.
Hustwaite rocked the tight hot pink number featuring row upon row of tulle fringing, which she said connected her to where she was from.
“I’m so excited to be dressed by Georgia Young couture based in Brunswick and my jewels are by Millie Savage in Fitzroy, so northside Melbourne represent,” she said.
While many artists chose a more casual vibe for this year’s red carpet, Dami Im certainly wasn’t one of them.
The X-Factor winner appeared to almost grow out of the red carpet with a full scarlet-bottomed skirt and black strapless top.
While opting for a classic look for her outfit, Im added a splash of fun with her accessories, putting a Toblerone piece as a pendant on a diamond necklace.
“If I want to stay awake and enthusiastic the whole time, I’m going to need some help [from the chocolate],” she joked.
Labelled as “one of the biggest talking points” of the night with six nominations, G-Flip looked cool, calm and collected while rocking a floor-length sleeveless coat and huge sunglasses.
“I’m still pinching myself and I can’t believe I’m alive and here and this is really happening,” they said.
G-Flip was joined by partner Chrishell Strause who turned heads in a soft pink co-ord set.
On the back of a “crazy” year, Troye Sivan was the perfect mix of colour and style, pairing a yellow silky muscle tee with black pants and Prada accessories.
Up for four awards tonight, Sivan was also recieved two Grammy nominations this week but was all class when talking about the leaps in his career.
“The crazy thing is that it doesnt feel that different because at the end of the day, I have been so lucky to do what I love which is just create music and make things withthe people that I love and now its just that you’re doing this on a scale that feels really new,” he said.
“But at the core of it, I just feel so lucky that I get to make stuff all day with people I love.”
One of Australia’s most loved artists, Jessica Mauboy, described Wednesday’s awards and her outfit as a return to her roots, referencing her 2010 red carpet look by designer Toni Matacevski.
“I’m back in Matacevski again and I just wanted to do a bit of a full circle and looking back at all of my images and my outfits,” she told the ARIAS livestream.
“I just love the awards so much, I love the ARIAS, you can really attach your feelings to the music you’ve been able to create over the years and particularly new music you’ve got coming out.
“So (my outfit) is how I’m feeling right now.”
Mauboy stood out in a chic black cape-like fringed coat, adorned with a chained broach and a red clutch that matched the red carpet itself.
It wouldn’t be an Australian red carpet without an appearance from The Wiggles, who are once again nominated for Best Children’s Album while holding the record for most ARIA wins in any category.
“It is wonderful and it is great to see the new Wiggles come along and carry it on with everything,” Murray Cook, who was the original red Wiggle, said.
The ARIAs weren’t the only reason the group were in high spirits, with popular yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins celebrating her 18th birthday on the same day.
“We eat fruit salad and sing hot potato,” she said when asked how the Wiggles celebrated.
From the current Wiggles to a former member, Emma Watkins was celebrating her individual style, sporting the iconic orange colour she’s worn since leaving the group in 2021.
Watkins said she had opted for comfort in what was likely to be a long night.
“I’m so comfortable and I think that’s the trick to the red carpet at the ARIAS, you’ve got to make sure you’ve got longevity,” she said.
“So I’m here, I’ve got my sparkly shoes on, I’ve got my butterflies in my hair and I’m ready.”
After the fun wraps up on the red carpet, the musicians will move inside Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion for performances by G-Flip, Budjerah, DMA’S, Brad Cox, Fanny Lumsden, Jessica Mauboy, Meg Mac and Peach PRC.
Some of the performers are up for an ARIA themselves, with G-Flip and the DMA’S nominated for Album of the Year alongside Genesis Owusu, Matt Corby and The Teskey Brothers.
Frontrunners for Song of the Year include pop princess Kylie Minogue for Padam Padam, Troye Sivan for Rush and The Kid LAROI for Love Again.
Not only will Australian music royalty be at Wednesday’s award show, but international artists will also be in attendance, including country queen Dolly Parton, who will be a presenter for one of the awards.
Other presenters include Troye Sivan, Baker Boy, Claudia Karvan and Dylan Alcott.
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