Rocky designers' amazing fashion pieces on show

UNTIL the turn of the last Century, women's fashion was centred on bespoke, ornate and precisely fitted garments.

Rockhampton Art Gallery are taking inspiration from the days before mass-made, off-the-rack clothing and accessories to feature eye-catching designs by Central Queensland artists and creators.

By day, Kim Withers is an accountant, but in her spare time for the past decade she's busy making millinery for the women of Rockhampton for her business Art of the Hat.

Her stunning designs have even made it to the Melbourne Cup Carnival, featured at Oakes Day millinery award in 2014.

Now locals can get a taste for her wearable art, with pieces on show at the gallery complementing the colours and styles of the Coming Into Fashion: A Century of Photography from Conde Nast, running in the ground floor of the building.

It's the second time Kim's work has been displayed at the gallery, something she is thrilled about.

While designers sometimes plead that such stars evoke the Wild West or varsity culture (stars are cute! stars denote achievement!), the Nazis made sure that from the 1930s until forever that they will be associated with the murderous pursuit of Jews in the Holocaust.

And yet, Italian fashion giant Miu Miu got it so hopelessly wrong by producing a dress in its latest range with a yellow star patch on the chest.

Although the star is five pointed, and not the six points of the Star of David, and says "John", it didn't matter.

Is Fashion Performance Art?

 The heroine was Mary Poppins. And although London's Victorian age pearly kings and queens are somewhere between art and theatre, that intersection of the two elements was the point of creating these elegantly tailored jackets decorated with buttons.

                                                   
They were displayed in Rome at the Accademia Costume & Moda – a rare school that melds designing for the performing arts with fashion.

Since haute couture – and all high-end design – switched from primarily serving clients to showcasing creative concepts, there have been earnest discussions about fashion as art. It started well before the new millennium when drama on the runway was normalised by defining fashion shows as theatre.

But in the current confusion of what is now haute couture and, on another fashion page, whether students should be encouraged to make exciting but unwearable creations, the academic and industrial projects from the students in Rome struck a chord.

Is it a different context to the British or American schools that – especially in the case of the UK – have dominated design for the last quarter of a century?

Lupo Lanzara, Deputy Chairman of the Accademia Costume & Moda, explained that the family business he now runs with his brother, CEO Furio Francini, sets out to highlight three pillars of education: costume; fashion and accessories; and communications, which includes editing and styling. All three are treated as significant and important.

Kimbra and Dior team up for a night of fashion, art and music

The Grammy Award-winning musician will perform amongst a night of luxury food, wine and fashion.

                                           
This year’s inaugural National Gallery of Victoria Gala will not be forgotten in the history books.

The NGV today announced that Grammy Award-winning and style icon Kimbra will be performing at the black tie event, joining the likes of internationally acclaimed chef James Henry and DJ duo Yolande Be Cool in a sophisticated intersection of art, fashion, music, fine wine and food.

Guests attending the event — held on the August 26 — will be able to enjoy a glass of Moet & Chandon whilst exploring the many artistic installations, indulge in bespoke cocktails and canapés resting at the Starwood whiskey lounge, and walk the David Jones red carpet alongside the nation’s most stylish. Celebrated florist Flowers Vasette is transforming flowers into extraordinary large-scale installations, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to planning the most beautiful black-tie.

The event is set to be an all-immersive, multi-faceted experience and, without doubt, will capture the admiration of both attendees and those living vicariously through them. A line-up of this stature is certain to inspire, so with tickets still available now it’s time to recruit your friends and live, breathe, eat among art.

From Kalgoorlie Cup to New York Fashion Week

A fledgling couture label run by a mother-daughter team in Kalgoorlie has been handpicked for showcasing at one of the world's biggest industry events: New York Fashion Week.

                                         
Bel Cappello – Italian for 'beautiful hat' – is run out-of-hours by mining engineer Holly Kiely and her mother, lawyer Jennine Kiely.

There, they discovered a client in common with Australian designer Ana Pribylova, whose label Ana Bella Millinery is based across London, Melbourne and Dubai, and lent her a dress to show with a hat in the designer millinery category.

They placed in the top 10 in Derby Day Fashions on the Field and when Pribylova returned the dress she offered them the opportunity to showcase their collection alongside her at London Fashion Week's House of Ikons show in February.

This international debut sparked invitations from various houses to fashion weeks across the globe, including the big one: New York in September.

"We are very proud to be from regional WA and like to tell people about our background and show people it doesn't matter where you are based; if you work hard and are ambitious you can make it happen."

The team are sharing their success with local models, 19-year-old Roche Klopper and 15-year-old Chloe Grace, who they will take to the New York catwalk.

Fashion Critical on the 2017 Logies fashion

FAMED anonymous fashion blogger Fashion Critical is back again, this time to give their no-holds-barred verdict on this year’s Logies frocks.

CARRIE BICKMORE: Be still my beating heart: Carrie looks absolutely SMOKING. The colour, the cut, the twirl. This would not go astray on the Oscars Red Carpet, let alone Australia’s, ahem, entertainment “night of nights”. She looks breathtaking.

YAEL STONE: Um. I love this bird on Orange is the New Black but PLEASE, NO. This, my friends, is the dress that Austin Powers rejects. Please remove the sleeves, the buttons, the fabric, change the length …. Actually, could you just get changed please? I see the kinda 60s vibe that she’s going for, but it’s a no for me.

Hawkins hits the runway for Myer Fashion Show at Bourke Street Mall

CONSUMERS will get the chance to see Jennifer Hawkins and Kris Smith up close and personal at the Myer Fashion Runway in the Bourke Street Mall store today.

The glamour pair will sport the latest looks for the new season along a 280m long runway which snakes its way around the second floor of the city store.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting all the customers and soaking up the crazy energy,” Hawkins says.

“Everyone is so close to the fashion. It is a chance for customers to be involved in an intimate runway rather than just seeing it live online.”

More than 100 of the new season looks will be on show from designers including Asilo, by johnny, Cue, Sass & Bide, Seed, Acler and Skin and Threads.

One of Hawkins’ favourite trends for the season is Victoriana which includes soft florals, lace and ruffles.

“If you’re after a bolder look, then vibrant brights and colourful patterns are really popular. And statement earrings are a must. I always say to find the colours and trends that suit your own personal style and embrace them,” she says.