The DVF show rolls into town

diane von furstenberg takes a bow after her SS12 show in NY via zimbio.com

If you don’t already know by now, frockwriter has little doubt you soon will be aware that New York fashion doyenne Diane von Furstenberg is visiting Australia this week. First up, to present her Spring/Summer 2013 collection at Westfield Sydney on Wednesday evening, not far from her first Australian boutique, which opened in the development in late 2010. Secondly, to talk at a Business Chicks lunch on Thursday. Tickets for the latter sold out in a  week reports Business Chicks, which had to upgrade to a bigger venue at Sydney's Doltone House to accommodate 650 people. And finally, on the weekend, to unveil The DVF Suite – a penthouse at the recently refurbed Hayman Island luxury resort, which was of course flattened by Cyclones Yasi and Anthony in early 2011.

Once upon a time in David Jones

the great restaurant at david jones, 1938

With apologies to Miranda Kerr, the terrific cast and some great Australian designer offerings at David Jones' Autumn/Winter 2012 showcase on Wednesday, in frockwriter's opinion the real star of the evening was DJs' just-restored On Seven space. This was no mere refurb, but essentially the fruit of retail archaeology - not to mention a multimillion dollar budget that must have made the David Jones board hyperventilate when it was first proposed mid 2011, shortly after ceo Paul Zahra issued a shock profit downgrade. Originally launched in 1928 as The Great Restaurant, the space was shuttered in 1965 and eventually cut in half with a floating ceiling in 1981, to make room for an international designer brand floor. The remaining void became home to over 200 different utility cables and a lot of dust. The space has been hidden from public view for the best part of 50 years.

Auckland retail in the Qantas Travel Insider

I recently mentioned that I have started writing about global fashion retail for the Qantas Travel Insider blog. Today my mini wrap of Auckland retail went up on QTI (here). It's just a quick snapshot really, a few must-see basics for anyone who may be brand new to the city, in what promises to be a very busy year for Auckland. FYI that's James Dobson, above, aka designer Jimmy D, at the entrance to his marvellous multibrand Children of Vision boutique in St Kevin's Arcade - a shot I took in September 2009 during New Zealand Fashion Week (with most of the other images supplied by World, Kate Sylvester, Zambesi and The Department Store, many thanks to all). Feel free to add in suggestions in comments. What's your favourite Auckland store?  

Westfield Sydney in 3D

The Ivy bar and restaurant complex isn't the only initiative that's helping put a pulse into Sydney's CBD. The A$1.2billion Sydney Westfield development already has the city buzzing and it's not due for completion until 2012. Both anchor tenants, Australia's biggest David Jones and Myer flagships, have increased their trading hours by an hour each day. And as anyone wandering through the 130 specialty boutiques and restaurants that opened in Stage One in October can attest, it's pretty busy in there. There is a lot yet to open in the first half of 2011, including Australia's first Zara and new luxury players, including Bottega Veneta, Christian Louboutin and Miu Miu. Adding to the existing level five "food precinct" that has already opened - aka The Sydney Room - will be a by all accounts spectacular open air rooftop terrace on level seven called the Sky Bar. This is not a traditional box mall, but an amalgam of three existing retail arcades. It's a little complicated to navigate at first and some are complaining it is also a little dark, but the striking architecture marks this development apart from other Westfields. It was outsourced to Melbourne's John Wardle Architects for the exteriors and for the interiors, to Tokyo's Wonderwall, whose clients include Colette, A Bathing Ape and Uniqlo. Curious to see what the whole development will look like in 2012? Check this cool 3D animation below, for a virtual tour.   

Dolce & Gabbana's Spiga2 in the Qantas Travel Insider

 

I have just started writing for Qantas Travel Insider, the cool little travel advice blog operated by the Australian airline, by way of ACP Magazines (and at 300-350,000 page impressions/month, it's not so little). I’m going to be specialising in fashion retail, so I guess that kind of makes me the Travel Insider's fashion insider. First up, a new startup in a city whose cobblestone-paved streets are well-trodden by fashionistas – and this fashionista in particular, while covering the biannual ready-to-wear show season. Yes, Milano. Click (here) to read my QTI review of Dolce & Gabbana’s new fashion incubator project Spiga2 which showcases the work of over 20 designers, including Australians Gail Reid and Martin Grant.