Blue crush

Six months after an explosion of hype over New Zealand’s Olivia O’Driscoll, which included mention of gigs for international magazines, haute couture shows in Paris – and a potential Prada show exclusive, which never eventuated – the upwardly-mobile Kiwi has scored a second (after NZ's Pilot, tks Isaac) glossy cover. Here is a preview of the winter 2009 cover of Australasian mag KAREN, due out next week. And what a cover. Shot by Charles Howells, the hallmark feature of makeup artist Sarah Laidlow's beauty look is a pair of blue smackers courtesy Sweet Georgia Brown. "I wanted something very classically beautiful and modern, I wanted it to pop on the stand" KAREN's editor in chief Marian Simms told frockwriter. "Everyone is feeling that times are bleak and I wanted to have a bit of celebration”. The issue includes Jessica Hart and teams photographers Michele Aboud and Sonny Vandevelde with stylists Geoffrey Burger Nolan and Michael Azzollini.

Swim Fashion Week: Zimmermann

zimmermann SS0910/wire image via coutorture

Alice Burdeu isn’t the only high profile Australian model keeping a low profile downunder this week. Overnight Sarah Stephens (^) popped up at Zimmermann, the first runway show of Swim Fashion Week, which is currently underway on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Given that Stephens is as far as frockwriter is aware, the only Victoria’s Secret model to be taking part in the event, it’s bizarre that a bigger deal was not made of her involvement (the fact that she is not repped by the event organiser IMG may explain it). Click here to see the complete portfolio of shots on the runway-specialist blog Coutorture, which uploaded them at about 2am this morning, before anyone else – yep, an international outfit not actually attending the event. Which is kind of ironic, given that Swim Fashion Week is crawling with Australian media peeps who accepted IMG's junket.

But look, it was late when the show wrapped - like, 9pm - there was the afterparty to attend and judging by some of the commentary provided by Marie Claire Australia, which appeared to be the only Australian media outlet to provide Twitter coverage from the show as it was happening, and also Sydney publicist Christine Kardashian, there may have been a technical problem at the Sanctuary Cove 5 star in which everyone is staying.

KAREN mag's Marian Simms was the next to follow a couple of hours ago with a barrage of catch-up Tweets (including a pic gallery of unsourced runway shots) and the intel that media delegates received a Zimmermann gift bag upon arrival, containing "beach bag, book, candle, body lotion, lip gloss, exfoliator, sunscreen so thoughtful".




zimmermann SS0910/wire image via coutorture


It was a terrific little 1st summer collection of scoop neck one-pieces, tie-front bandeaux, string bikinis, retro-look two-pieces and a chic “Papillon” one-piece with wing-like applique strips - with some of the necklines featuring an interesting cutaway effect.

The “super cute zebra print” Marie Claire told us about as the show was underway, turns out to be a psychedelic violet/bubble gum pink combo.

Other prints featured vintage maps, desert florals and a butterly wing motif.

Zimmermann’s resortwear addons included sweet sundresses and maxidresses, some striking floral peignoirs and a selection of the moment’s white hot harem pant – both in sheer muslin and bright florals.

AWOL from the runways, Alice Burdeu to resurface on Queen Mary 2

the cc via TFS

Wondering where the hell Alice Burdeu is? Well according to her Sydney agency Priscilla's, Burdeu is in town and about to make a special appearance at tomorrow’s Alex Perry show aboard Cunard cruise liner, the Queen Mary 2, which is due to glide into Sydney at 6am. That’s right, while 16 of Burdeu’s compatriots are walking up a storm on the FW0910 runways, Burdeu will be doing a Titanic, as it were, parading Perry’s AW09 collection in front of 100 of Sydney’s “A-listers”. That's after 2000 Cunard passengers have disembarked. Frockwriter attempted to find out precisely why Burdeu is not in Europe and if there is any chance she plans to return for the Milan and Paris legs of the season. The only information we could glean was that she has returned to see her family "after a busy 2008".

Swim Fashion Week: Seventh Wonderland

Well the inaugural Swim Fashion Week is underway at Sanctuary Cove on Queensland’s Gold Coast. For a variety of reasons frockwriter could not get there, however we will be covering the event. First up, a preview of new Sydney-based, fashion-nosed swimwear label Seventh Wonderland, which will make its runway debut at the event at 4pm tomorrow. Operated by ex Jets and Karolina York designer Bonnie Coumbe and her business/life partner Carlos Aviles – a multitasker, who also happens to gm of AM Eyewear – Seventh Wonderland launched in July 2008 at no less than the Miami SwimShow, the world’s biggest swimwear trade showcase. Coumbe and Aviles are also gearing up to show on-schedule at RAFW in April, one of at least two labels participating in this week’s Gold Coast event that are doing a double IMG header (with Zimmermann already confirmed for RAFW).





All images: Seventh Wonderland SS0910.

Josh Goot's space cadets

josh goot FW0910/wwd.com

If Josh Goot seemed to be moving away from his trademark bodycon look over the past few seasons, evidently he’s had a change of heart. In one of his strongest presentations to date, and in his second consecutive London Fashion Week show, overnight Goot sent out a tightly-edited collection of 31 knit-heavy looks - all but four of them cut close to the body. Recalling the retro futurism of the 1960s, the collection was part Mod, via its two-tone, black-on-cream colourblocking - and part sci-fi warrior uniform, courtesy of an intergalactic space print (the inspiration for which, as it turns out, was in fact rocks) and an intriguing series of sculpted garments boasting intricate, wave-like contoured seamwork. Goot cut loose with some oversized, colourblocked boyfriend jackets, the smartest in grey marle and cream. By all Twitter accounts, the show looks to have played to a packed house, with a last minute venue change prompting a chaotic scramble for the front row seats.




josh goot FW0910/wwd.com

Click here to see the complete collection on wwd.com.

Oscars 2009 - Best In Show

1/ Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab haute couture
2/ Natalie Portman in Rodarte
3/ Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent Atelier
4/ Reese Witherspoon in Rodarte (Getty)
5/ Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior haute couture (Getty)
6/ Freida Pinto in John Galliano
7/ Tilda Swinton in Lanvin
8/ Meryl Streep in Alberta Ferretti
9/ Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive
10/Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab

All other images: Reuters

Oscars 2009 - Best Meringues

1/ Sarah Jessica Parker in Christian Dior haute couture
2/ Marisa Tomei in Versace Atelier
3/ Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain
4/ Melissa George in Dolce e Gabbana (Getty)
5/ Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad
6/ Taraji P. Henson in Roberto Cavalli
7/ Jessica Biel in Prada

All other images: Reuters

Oscars 2009 - Best Bonbonniere

1/ Sophia Loren in Armani Prive/Reuters
2/ Queen Latifah in Georges Chakra/AP
3/ Beyonce in House of Dereon/Reuters - also takes home the Best Ottoman Award

Oscars 2009 - live (kinda) from the red carpet

Smyfsonian

elle.fr via TFS

People, do we have a new model power couple on our hands? After McBeha – Catherine McNeil and Freja Beha Erichsen - modelwatchers couldn't help notice the new friendship that has blossomed between Australia's latest rising model star, Myf Shepherd and Dutch supermod Nimue Smit, both 17. Frockwriter is claiming first dibs on a hybrid name for the new duo: Smyf.

With a veritable avalanche of shots of the pair surfacing over the past week, taken backstage by a variety of media outlets at various shows, it’s been hard to miss Smyf.

Backstage at Marc by Marc Jacobs:


models.com via TFS


wwd.com via TFS


Backstage at Michael Kors:


wwd.com via TFS


style.com/vogue.com.au via TFS


Out and about in between shows:


elle.com via TFS


Whether they’re locking lips - or just the best of mates - nice to see Shepherd and Smit making friendships on the circuit.

It can be a lonely place.