Myer backstage at RSFF

sonny vandevelde

Herewith an exclusive preview of Sonny Vandevelde's backstage portfolio from Myer's SS0910 show last night in Sydney, in which we saw a lot of colour, a lot of dresses, "statement shoulders", as Myer face Jennifer Hawkins referred to the silhouette in our video chat - even if 'the Balenciaga shoulder' is what we called it at RAFW four months ago - and rather a lot of eveningwear. The show commenced with an eveningwear medley from various designers and closed with Aurelio Costarella, the Perth eveningwear specialist who has spent the past few years showing at New York Fashion Week. And who told frockwriter last night that, GFC notwithstanding, there are still plenty of Australian women who think of nothing of spending $2500 on a special dress. Costarella also observed that showing in New York is "less stressful" than showing in Sydney.

Toni Maticevski's new Maticevski Sweethearts line also enjoyed an outing. That's Maticevksi's new bridesmaid-skewed line of dresses that is fully customizable up to a size 24. Did any plus size models get a guernsey in that section? Not a chance. After making such a song and dance about including plus size models in Myer's suburban shows, it seemed like a lost opportunity at last night's high-profile launch event.

The cast included Australian haute couture queen Alexandra Agoston, fresh from the Paris couture shows, ANTM Cycle 5 winner Tahnee Atkinson, Rachel Rutt, Simone Kerr, runway veteran Tanya G and Tallulah Morton.

For more pics from the show head to Sonny Photos.










all photos: sonny vandevelde

A chat with Jennifer Hawkins at Myer

A (very brief) chat I had last night with Myer face and former Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins. We did the interview in Hawkins' private green room area and look, I'm not quite sure what it is with model green rooms and lights, but after recording Miranda Kerr's interstate press conference in her backstage green room after the David Jones show on August 4 - in near darkness - at one point, one of Hawkins' minders helpfully stood right in front of the only light that we had at our disposal. Only to then have the light disconnected altogether.

Seafolly backstage at RSFF

sonny vandevelde

A mini backstage portfolio by Sonny Vandevelde from today's Seafolly show at the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. Among models who joined RSFF face Elyse Taylor (right, above) on the runway was under-the-radar Shanay Hall from Sydney's Viviens/IMG New York + Milan (shots #1, #3 and #6), who bears more than a passing resemblance to models.com's world number three Lara Stone. For more Seafolly show images head to Sonny Photos.







all photos: sonny vandevelde

Jayson Brunsdon backstage at RSFF

They had ballerina hair and ballerina-inspired footwear. Herewith a backstage portfolio from Kent Vaughan of last night's Jayson Brunsdon Spring/Summer 0910 show, which opened the 2009 Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival - a consumer event that presents in-season collections. A glamorous, softly-toned collection of silk shirtwaisters, cocktail shorts, embellished halter tops and draped goddess gowns, it was originally inspired by the "classic Australian woman", as epitomised by Brunsdon's mother Dorothy and unveiled at RAFW in May. Frockwriter was busy snapping backstage shots in real-time to upload to Twitter and shooting a live-stream video (below) - to the hilarious commands of "Rock and roll!" from one backstage snapper as the girls exited the runway to head backstage. The show was opened and closed by RSFF face Elyse Taylor, with plenty of other local highprofilers, including Rachel Rutt, Vanessa Milde, Simone Kerr and NZ's Georgia Fowler.
























all photos: kent vaughan

Kite Tails: First look at the second summer of Ginger & Smart

Frockwriter loved Ginger & Smart’s first spring/summer 0910 collection at RAFW, entitled Sky Dancer. In fact we thought the collection - highlights from which included rainbow maxi dresses and tough chic grommeted gilets - was probably the strongest that sisters Alexandra and Genevieve Smart have shown at the event. Well on the eve of the sophomore edition of IMG FASHION Asia Pacific's new consumer-focussed Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival, at which Ginger & Smart will present a mélange of their first and second summer collections on Saturday night, here is an exclusive preview of that second summer collection. Called Kite Tails, it is similarly inspired by children’s kites. Here is also the brief (and sadly low audio quality) backstage interview we did with the Smarts after the RAFW show. Click here for the full RSFF schedule, which kicks off officially at 6.pm tonight with Jayson Brunsdon’s show. Frockwriter will be on the scene, reporting live via Twitter. Follow the Twitter widget on the right-hand side of the page.

Lui Hon: Project Runway Australia’s Voice of Hope

Project Runway Australia series 2 is underway. For those, like frockwriter, who were unimpressed with the commercial RAFW offerings of PRA series 1 winner Juli Grbac, take heart. The edgy, unisex aesthetic of Malaysian Australian Lui Hon, who made it to the top four of last season's show, is quietly gathering speed. First up, Hon's womenswear and menswear is already stocked in Assin Sydney and Melbourne, which sells leading international labels such as Lanvin, Rick Owens, Dior Homme, Junya Watanabe and Haider Ackerman. Other stockists include Sydney’s Alistair Trung and Artwear and Perth’s Zekka. Hon's Autumn/Winter 2009 mini collection, previewed at the Melbourne Fashion Festival in March, can be seen on his website. But herewith an exclusive preview of Hon’s first complete production collection: SS0910's Voice of Hope.


















all photographs: christopher tovo