Richard de Chazal Fashion Show - Review & Photos

Gold Coast Fashion Week had one other thing amid allegations of paedophilia – fashion.

Designer Richard de Chazal’s spectacular couture collection transformed jeans ‘n’ t-shirt-wearing models into high society ladies.

Normally a two-hour parade delay would be enough for any fashionista to stiletto it (in non-fashion speak, this means to leave).

But from the moment two, (shirtless) male models emerged to throw around some hay (the logic behind this remains a mystery, but it reduced the VIP audience to cheers), it was clear this was a show not to be missed.

A veteran in extravagance, de Chazal’s show was a celebration of the La Belle Époque period of 1895-1914.

“I’m really keen on the design ethics of the late nineteenth century,” he said.

“Generally it is kind of a Parisian movement, which was sort of spearheaded by the Beautiful Era.”

The Gold Coast Arts Centre appears a poor substitute for the streets of Paris, but the designer’s elegant signature style made it easy to forget Surfers Paradise was in such near proximity.

With no catwalk in sight, models paraded around the Western-themed setting to the beautiful voice of opera singer Jacqueline Mabardi, who had taken centre stage.

“I thought this might be a bit more interesting and work better than a catwalk,” de Chazal said of the layout.

“Quite often when you see [John] Galliano or [Jean Paul] Gaultier or Alexander McQueen, they have in the past done some really amazing shows, which are kind of set up in little fantasies where the models are in a kind of surreal existence.”

But word of warning, if you’re anti-frill, then this isn’t the show for you.

Layers of frills cascaded down creamy-white skirts and were mixed with the trademark styles of the nineteenth century: cinched in waists and corsets.

On top of this, models sported black top hats, chic veils and black leather gloves.

As for the fashionably late start, there were no backstage tantrums, nor were there any ‘technical difficulties’ as told.

“It wasn’t my fault,” insists the designer.

“Well first of all, there is no organisation, we were supposed to have models here at two o’clock, nobody bothered to show until six o’clock,” he said.

The show was an effortless piece, so it is hard to believe that only hours earlier, models had been learning when to come on, where to pose and what exactly to do with those giant black feathers some were holding.

Richard de Chazal VIP Show - GC Fashion Week

More photos to come...

One of the uber hunky male models.

Models pre-show.

Fashion designer Richard de Chazal gives directions to models during rehearsal.

The backdrop for the show

backstage at the couture show.

Jennifer Hawkins in Harper's Bazaar

Former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, will appear in the October issue of Australian fashion mag Harper's Bazaar. Hawkins will be on the cover and will also feature in an eight-page spread.

And in case you're wondering why Hawkins is dressed like a cat - no, cat costumes haven't become fashionable all of a sudden, and no, she isn't auditioning to be the next Pussycat Doll either.

According to news.com.au, the magazine's editor, Alison Veness-McGourty, said: "She may have turned down the role in Pink Panther, but we thought it would be fun to see Jennifer Hawkins star as the pink one.

"So we set about transforming her into something of a pussy cat."

Amazing photo. I can't wait to see the rest of the shots. I reckon she would make a savvy Bond girl in this outfit. Love the hair.

Charitable Fashion

Just out of curiosity, would you buy a fashion item simply because the profits were going to charity? I came across this hideous little number on my web travels... (and it's a Stella McCartney!)

"Limited edition tank top designed by Stella McCartney for the 2007 Glastonbury Music festival. The proceeds will go to OXFAM, an organisation against poverty in the world."

I'm sure my two-year-old nephew could do better finger painting than the print on this tee.

Brisbane Fashion Festival Starts Tonight!!

I probably didn't need two exclamation marks in the heading there... I'm just trying to psych people up.

According to the schedule there is some fancy invite only shindig on at Government House. I'm not going 'cause my life motto is never to mix fashion with politics. (Okay, okay, I'm not invited, geez.)

Depending on my degree of laziness/growing mountain of uni work, I will try and post on Brisbane Fashion Festival.

** Also, I did an interview with the Event Coordinator for Gold Coast Fashion Week - so I will be posting that up soon.

*** Further goss: I'm getting a media pass to Gold Coast Fashion Week (meaning I get in free, can go backstage and cause trouble, and chat up male models). Sweet. So I'll be reporting on that in a few weeks time and I should get some cool photos.

Emporium Mag

Has Myer’s emporium magazine been selling (at all)? I have no idea – but if the fact that they were giving away free copies with purchases last weekend is anything to go by, then it’s um, not. It must seem like I live at Myer since I am always going on about it. Just for the record, I don’t.

Launched earlier this year, emporium is supposed to be a quarterly thing, but who knows what the good people at Myer and News Magazines are planning to do. For a 15-minute read it’s alright, but not worth the $5,95 that they've been flogging it for.

Needless to say it’s disappointing.

I especially love how the cover says “Australia’s favourite designers”, which basically translates into “Australia’s favourite designers that are stocked at Myer”.

Midyear Sales - Woo Hoo!

Yep, it’s that time of the season again when fashion retailers realise they can’t sell any of their stock at the original price (mostly because it was priced way too high to begin with), so they generously mark it down for the people who could never afford to buy it in the first place. In other words, it is the only time I shop. Yay for markdown time! Sweet.

Consumer 1 Retailer 0

So with the sales season upon us, now is a good time to stock up on the essentials (eg. Myer was having 30 per cent off hosiery the other day, so I snagged a few things – get the whole ‘snag’ joke thing I did – ‘cause typically you snag stockings… yeah, ok, it’s over, I’m moving on).

I also bought a dress from Veronika Maine (which I worked out had been reduced by 70 per cent!). Crazy, huh? The original price was total b/s; sometimes I wonder how designers think people will actually pay that kind of price to begin with.

While the midyear sales have yet to measure up to their chaotic sister sales – aka the Boxing Day sales - they’re still worthwhile… especially since it’s uni break and there’s nothing to do.

P.S. Nine West is having 50 per cent off for two weeks only – such a shame their current stock isn’t anything that one would want to buy. But still – it’s half price, people.

Designers To Share Cooper Name

New Zealand fashion designers Tamsin Cooper and Trelise Cooper (not related, but share the same surname) have settled their legal dispute over the Cooper name.

The designers reached an amicable decision over the trademark debacle. Trouble first loomed when Trelise attempted to block Tamsin registering the Cooper name, on the grounds that it could cause brand confusion.

But it’s all sorted out and the two designers now believe their public legal battle has given people a distinction between the two labels.

How convenient. All a publicity stunt? Yeah, I doubt it, but it’s always start to fun rumours, right? Well, it was in high school.

Kate Moss Not Provocative Enough

This is probably a shit week for Miss Moss – first her dodgy BF Pete Doherty allegedly cheats on her, and now lingerie label Agent Provocateur has dropped her from the face of their campaigns. Unlucky.

Moss’ $1.2 million deal with the racy bra + undies label means there is a vacancy for a newcomer – and apparently a new fresh-faced, younger model has already been chosen. But whom?

SMG + satin = I don't know?

Here's super-cutie Sarah Michelle Gellar opening a Harrods Summer Sale. I still don't know what to make of the outfit - the top-half works, but as for the satin shorts... there's some weird stuff going on there. To be fair though, satin shorts are a difficult item to pull off for anyone.

Lighten Up

Looks like the hair shade of choice for some is on the lighter side of things.

Adriana Lima with her new 'do' and with black hair for the bebe ads.

I can’t believe how different Petra Nemcova looks as a blonde.

Cavalli Likes Drug Users

I heard back a few weeks ago that dirty duo Kate Moss and Pete Doherty—aka ‘Moherty’ I think they’ve been officially dubbed—were fronting Roberto Cavalli ad campaigns. Why? I do not know. How? I cannot tell you. Wait, yes I can – the photo shoot was done in trendy Ibiza.

Modelling must be the only industry where drug addicts get employed. Perhaps a coke addiction and rehab is a prerequisite? Good for them.

And Cavalli’s thoughts on Moherty: "Kate Moss and Pete Doherty perfectly embody everything that's contemporary and they're poetic, creative and wild." Riiigghht. Poetic, creative ane wild? Yeah, I’ll give ‘em that. Contemporary? No way. So what you’re saying Cavvy, is that people have to act like these two to be considered ‘in the now’? We’re all screwed.

These images of Kate have been photoshopped for magazine perfection (would we expect any less?).

Bargain Buy – Impulse Deodorant

I went grocery shopping for the first time in about a decade the other day and came across trusty Impulse deodorants. Now I thought Impulse have been off their game a bit for a while (or for a few years), but their new City Collection – NY Sass, Paris Chic and London Vibe are neat.

I bought Paris Chic (which is the only one the supermarket had), so I’m kind of eager to test the other two. Paris Chic is basically a decent-enough-smelling perfume in a can for a cheap price. I posted the ad above but it's been shown on TV about 5,494,032 times. If anyone is a fan of 'Top Model' you might remember one of the contestants (can't remember her name, but she was the annoying one - true, they were all annoying) did an ad for Impulse NY Sass.

Why do websites use flash? It’s positively the most frustrating thing. Despite this, the Impulse Paris Chic Australia website is cool...ish. I wanted to get a pic of it but the non-nerd in me doesn’t know how to do it. Blah. Anyhoo, on the website there’s this groovy ‘8 Chic Places to go in Paris’ map. If you’re bored, it provides some fun for about 80 seconds.

Also, I found this recall notice on the Impulse UK site:

Important safety notice - UK & Ireland Product Recall - Impulse Body Spray 75ml Cans

Quality checks have revealed that a small number of Impulse Body Spray 75ml cans (all fragrances) may have a manufacturing fault. The fault may mean that some cans are unable to stop spraying, which can potentially lead to a safety risk.

LOL. How does a can not stop spraying? But it sounds lethal. A person would probably choke from too much of the smell.

Kate Winslet for Lancome

This ad has such a refreshing feel to it... The pale skin and the windswept hair capture it perfect. I really like this fragrance, although I don' t feel like I'm Lancome 's key demographic. 'Tresor' has this old ladies smell to it . It's very strong. A great perfume for grandmas.

Spice Girls. Sydney. Jan 17

Enough said.

Mr. T on 80s Fashion

Classic. If you love cool music and bad fashion, then this one's for you. I'm glad fashion has progressed.

Spice Girls Coming to Australia? Please Say Yes!

The news of a Spice Girls reunion sorta rocked my world (I know, I have to get a life). So if the rumours that the girls are coming Down Under for a tour are true... I might lose it. They've only been here once - in 1998, so it is a much-awaited return.

Sure most people remember them as some 90s girl group who brought out that annoying Wannabe song and 'zig-a-zig ah' line. But come on, they are so much more than that. A decade ago it was all girl-power and stuff, now it's I dunno slut-power with the Pussycat Dolls. Puh-lease. I would much rather have SG's as my role model than PCD any day.

I love this photo.

Liz Claiborne Dies at 78

Fashion designer Liz Clairborne died on Tuesday at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. She had suffered from cancer for a number of years.

This photo and statement appears on the Clairborne website:

In losing Liz Claiborne, we have not only lost the founder of our company, but an inspirational woman who revolutionized the fashion industry 30 years ago. Her commitment to style and design is ever present in our thinking and the way we work. We will remember Liz for her vision, her entrepreneurial spirit and her enduring compassion and generosity.

According to the website, by 1985, Liz Claiborne Inc. was the first company founded by a woman to be listed in the Fortune 500. Awesome.

She was very stylish.

Which fashion labels are you loyal to?

I’m curious as to where most people buy their clothes from.

Personally, I’m going through a phase where I only shop from three labels: Cue, Veronika Maine and Country Road. (And I would say I buy half of my clothes from ebay now.) I don’t even bother looking at other stores because I know it’s all crap.

Of course I shop on a student budget but if I wasn’t shit-poor I might look elsewhere. I’m really not into surf/street wear so that excludes half the fashion labels right there.

It’s really embarrassing when I go into Veronika Maine now (because I’m always there) and I can tell which stock is new and not. You know you’ve got a fashion addiction when you can recall the stock better than the staff can.

The Country Road Duffle Bag – An Aussie Classic?

My BFF made the comment last week that lately the CR Duffle Bag is everywhere and most importantly “is still in style”. My friend made a great comment that they do virtually no promotion for the duffle bags and they still sell like hotcakes (mmm… hotcakes). How come?

Now I don’t major in marketing, but from what I remember from my Intro to Marketing course last year, these bags could sell themselves. I’m assuming they would cost little to produce as well:
1. They only come in a few colours (black, navy, red/pink), so the materials cost would be substantially lower than other items to produce.
2. They are probably made in Cambodia, which always helps to save a few dollars.
3. The bag never changes – it’s basically the same one they churned out a decade ago.
4. Advertising costs appear to be nil, which is always good.

They definitely seem more common for your average uni student and I would say that I see them every time I go to class.

Being the Country Road fan that I am, I see that they have reintroduced the pink colour back for the duffle. Nice.

And FYI: If you like their stuff then do yourself a favour and become a CR Card Member (it’s free, click here for their website – and no, I’m not employed by Country Road).

Also, has anyone noticed that they employ the most beautiful men to work at their stores? I totally have. It kinda makes you wanna shop there all the time.