The 2023 Logies red carpet has succeeded where Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Wonder Woman 1984 and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles failed, by serving up sequels that surpassed the originals.
It wasn’t a revival of Water Rats, but a runway re-run of some of Australian Fashion Week’s greatest hits, worn by Lego Masters’* host Hamish Blake’s beauty entrepreneur wife Zöe Foster Blake, Home and Away’s Emily Weir and NITV presenter Natalie Ahmat.
‘Home & Away’ actor Emily Weir in Mariam Seddiq, NITV presenter Natalie Ahmat in Ikuntji Artists and ‘Today Extra’ co-host Sylvia Jeffreys in Rebecca Vallance champion Australian designers on the 2023 Logie Awards red carpet.Credit: Getty
Foster Blake shifted the focus back onto Australian talent after wearing Italian luxury label Gucci to last year’s awards. This time her stylist Jess Pecoraro selected a ruby slipper-looking red dress from local label Alemais, which opened Australian Fashion Week in Sydney at Carriageworks in May.
The floor-length dress was made using 100 per cent recycled sequins to avoid any glitter guilt.
“The gown isn’t a true ruby red, it has a hint of tangerine - it’s such an incredible colour, almost blood orange,” says Alemais designer Lesleigh Jermanus.
“It makes some noise, so I think it’s for someone with a good dose of confidence. She doesn’t take herself too seriously and knows how to have some fun. She has a sense of adventure about where the night might take her, ideally to the dance floor.”
Ahmat, head of Indigenous news at NITV, also raided the Australian Fashion Week runway in a bold printed dress from Ikuntji Artists. The label is based out of the Ikuntji Arts Centre, situated 230 kilometres west of Alice Springs, with Ahmat’s dress featuring work by painter Hayley Dodd.
Ikuntji Artists joined Ngali as the first Indigenous-owned fashion labels to have dedicated runway shows at Australian Fashion Week this year.
While Ahmat’s dress, called Dalhousie Hot Springs, is loaded with meaning, other Logies guests traded symbolism for sheer camera-grabbing sparkle. Home and Away actor Emily Weir, chose a revealing gown from the collection of one of Delta Goodrem’s favourite designers, Mariam Seddiq.
The sheer black dress featured embellished silver laurels which failed to achieve a PG-rating without the assistance of carefully coordinated black underwear. Fellow actress Christie Whelan also tapped into the sheer trend with a dress from Australian-owned label Zhivago.
Designer Rebecca Vallance didn’t show on the runway at Australian Fashion Week this year, but took time out from making pyjamas for Qantas to create a custom dress for Today Extra* co-host Sylvia Jeffreys.
Like Foster Blake’s Alemais gown, Jeffreys’ red sequins were on trend with colour experts Pantone’s colour of 2023, Viva Magenta. It is not known if Vallance used recycled sequins.
With Jeffreys’ dress, Vallance was looking beyond Sydney’s Star, the host for the ceremony, to New York.
“New York’s fabulous and unapologetic nature inspires a sense of self-expression that I hope Sydney will embrace more in its events and moments, including the Logies.”
While Australian fashion labels enjoyed increased attention, Australia’s legion of dressmakers and bridal businesses were remembered by guests keen to capitalise on the Sydney location.
“With recent Logies happening in Queensland you had to factor in carrying gowns on a plane,” stylist Donny Galella says. “This year being in Sydney you are not restricted with size, so we will see big gowns.”
Heartbreak High actor Chloe Hayden went big in a single-shouldered Kermit-green gown from Georgia Young Couture, cleverly bringing Barbie energy to the red carpet without resorting to pink. Also enforcing social distancing with a gigantic skirt was Sophie Monk, in a bronze gown by Velani.
Comedian Andy Lee’s partner Rebecca Harding chose sustainability over patriotism, by wearing a vintage gown from the late British designer Alexander McQueen.
“We went to LA last month to source a vintage piece,” says Harding’s stylist Elliot Garnuat. ” We really wanted to put an emphasis on sustainability and embracing the circular fashion economy.”
Male guests mostly stuck to basic black tie, with Home and Away actor and musician Matt Evans tapping into the Hollywood trend of ditching shirts by selecting a pectoral-enhancing suit jacket, from Sydney tailors Belance.
Gold nominee Shaun Micallef took an even greater risk, with ruffled sleeves that hinted at Austin Powers but delivered a stronger whiff of Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder and Jerry Seinfeld’s puffy shirt.
Next time Micallef might pay closer attention to Seinfeld’s word from the 1993 episode: “I think it’s the stupidest shirt I’ve ever seen, to be perfectly honest with you.”
*Lego Masters and Today Extra air on Nine, the publisher of this masthead.
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