Paolo Sebastian creator Paul Vasileff ends Adelaide Fashion Festival with Disney collaboration
ABOUT 1000 people looked on in awe on Sunday night as Adelaide fashion king Paul Vasileff, creator of the Paolo Sebastian label, brought to life his boyhood dream of everything Disney.
It’s farewell to the Adelaide Fashion Festival and welcome to the wonderful world of Disney as seen through they eyes of Paolo Sebastian creator Paul Vasileff.
An audience of 1000 looked on in awe as the Young Australian of the Year brought to life his boyhood dream of collaborating with and creating couture inspired by the cinema legend for the festival’s finale at the Torrens Parade Ground.
Vasileff set the scene with an enchanted forest for a runway and an evocative medley of timeless tunes from Walt’s vault as the soundtrack for his Spring/Summer 2018 collection titled Once Upon A Dream.
But it was the couture that truly cast the magic spell — a mesmerising mix of fairytale ball gowns, dresses, capes and a jumpsuit, many adorned with embroidered motifs — such as the poison apple, bluebirds and a clock face to represent the stroke of midnight — and song lyrics.
The show, starring the face of the festival Akiima and Adelaide supermodel Madison Stubbington, was also streamed live on Facebook where it was watched by Paolo Sebastian fans around the globe including Mary Costa who was the voice of Princess Aurora in the 1959 Disney classic Sleeping Beauty.
The American opera singer and actor played fairy godmother for Vasileff — the two becoming friends after he wrote to her early on in his career — when she introduced him to the folk at The Walt Disney Company Australia.
This opened the door to the collaboration and Vasileff being given access to the archives in Los Angeles.
Among the VIP guests were Disney bigwigs and Vogue Australia deputy editor Sophie Tedmanson and fashion director Christine Centenera, who were both born in Adelaide, the latter also being personal stylist to Kim Kardashian.
Originally published as Paolo Sebastian creator Paul Vasileff ends Adelaide Fashion Festival with Disney collaboration