All Entries in the "RAFW" Category
RAFW: DAY 3
All images courtesy of GHD Hair

I’m starting to get slightly delusional as the week goes on, so today there might be a few spelling errors, by Friday my words won’t be coherent so this is a pre warning. So it’s day 4 and Im catching up on what I didnt post from yesterday.
Kate Slyvester
What I expected: We are still loving the kiwi’s this week. I feel like somewhat of a traitor to my own kind but really isn’t New Zealand just a float away part of Australia (kidding! settle All Blacks) Anyway we are looking forward to ethical, down to earth, feminine clothing.
What I saw: A coherent collection that was pretty but not fluffy, just beautiful. An excellent take on the movie Almost Famous, 70′s prints, socks and sandals and lovely leather. Shiny,happy, people could of been an excellent catch phrase for the collection. What we didn’t expect was the across the body bags in rich leathers that complimented the collection well. The only thing I was fussed on was the ‘showing zip’ style shirts, been and gone.
Alice McCall
What I expected: I actually have been wearing Alice McCall all week pieces from www.dressedup.com.au and so I was already in love with her designs so I’m eager to see what’s in store for next season. Usually can expect some fun parties dresses and printed dresses you can add blazers and work for the office.
What I saw: I ended up being very very late to the show and had to stand. My feet were so saw so I could hardly concentrate to be truthfully honest. There were a few playsuit with lace detailing in navy and apricot which were quiet cute, but to be honest I spent the whole time trying to look over peoples heads. Not so fun.
Manning CartellManning Cartell
What I expected: I have never really been I big fan of Manning Cartell personally. I’ve always seen it as a little bit too commercial and not working well with the resource they have. I’m hoping to be surprised this year.
What I witnessed: Hands down the best show of the week so far. I’m going to say even better than Alex Perry. The way they worked with common fabrics and pulled out the individual elements and emphasied them was amazing. They took a lace fabric and turned it into a moth hole cloth and sent it down the runway in the form of an evening dress on ‘soon to be supermodel’ Samantha Harris. Hair by GHD was straight, slick ponytails fastened with clips that matched the oversized earrings. All so beautiful. Jennifer Hawkins was front row once again, this time wearing next season Manning Cartell, lucky woman.
Nookie
What I expected: Nookie was started by designer Nikita as a stall at Bondi markets and has now flourished into a thriving Australian household named for beach wear and summer fun. I’m looking forward to design suited to my lifestyle on the Gold Coast. Come on summer!
What I saw: My expectations were met! Nookie delivered bright oranges, mint greens, floral shorts, floral blazers, light cottons 70′s flairs, and a whole lot of summer lovin’. Hair by GHD was sexy beachy and long and healthy.
Konstantina Mittas
What I expected: Konstantina is at the high end of the spectrum of retail. We’re expectant because Konstantina eye for detail design and all things a little bit different.
What I saw: The show before Romance was Born, I expected it to be an empty show as alot of people were planning to go back to their hotels for a quick change before the big show for RAFW. Konstantina must have a pretty loyal following as the house was packed. She graced us with foil gold, bold tartan, big shoulder and feminine silhouette hugging designs. I was tired and grumpy at 8:30, but the beautiful show defiantly lifted my spirits.
RAFW: Day 2 – Updated
It’s 4pm on day two of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. The crowd has been enthusiastic, probably spurred by prospect of seeing something as amazing as yesterdays shows. For my first year reporting for Rosemount Australian Fashion Week I already feel at home. Lots of lovely bloggers to chat with and alot of interesting people to watch, meet and enjoy their presence. Stay tuned.
Zimmermann
What we expected: Being a Gold Coast girl Zimmermann is a wardrobe staple. The summertime wearability of the clothes is perfect for Gold Coast weather. Zimmermann was one of the first invites I received so I’ve been anticipating the show for a long time. Really excited to see what swimwear styles we can expect for the beach season!
What we saw: High waisted swimmers galore! I love it, a few designers played with high waisted swimmers last summer but nothing as beautiful as Zimmermann 10-11. A few maxi dresses which is a bit same same as last summer, but they made up for the old styles by providing a new colour palette. Lots of apricot, powder blue and ocean blue. I’m starting to see a trend with pastels, I defiantly approve.
Magdalena VelevskaLittle Joe Women
What we expected: A celebrity filled front row. Gail Elliott counts Helena Christensen, Yasmin Le Bon and Cindy Crawford as her closest friends. So hopefully one or two of the trio have made their way to the land of Aus to support Gail’s RAFW debut.
What we saw: If a cowboy married one of the women from Little House on the Prairie and they had a child who was a fashion designer, that’s what she would design. Gail Elliott is a supermodel turned designer so I guess thats pretty close. The collection was beautiful, maxi dresses again, a few pieces of signature Gail sleepwear and more apricot/salmon colours. The show opened with a khaki short and military jacket which was bold and very wearable loved it. Celebrity wise, nothing to report, apparently Tracey Grimshaw is a celebrity these days? Alyssa Sutherland did attend as the ambassador for RAFW.
Sabatini White
What we expected: More fashion innovation from our across the seas friends in New Zealand. The kiwi’s have delivered so far this week at RAFW with Zambesi and Stolen Girlfriends Club yesterday receiving excellent feedback. The kiwi’s are the underdogs this year so keep your eyes peeled.
What we saw: A really beautiful designed collection, asthetically pleasing and made merino wool wearable for summer. It was refreshing and just beautiful. A white, cream and black colour palette but managed to stay alive not drab.
Magdalena Velevska
What we expected: To be truthfully honest I know nothing about Magdalena so we will soon see!
What we saw: What a beautiful wearable collection. Beautiful bright reds which was a first for Spring/Summer 10-11 so far. Colour palette also included golds, blacks, khaki and lemon. I love design which is wearable from the word go. Favorite piece a pair of red viscose tapered trousers.
Nicola Finetti
What we expected: Nicola Finetti has earned itself one of the coveted titles of ‘must see’ shows during RAFW. It’s very easy to miss shows by opting to rest your feet and hit the Rosemount Diamond Bar but luckily for Nicola heels will be clacking as fashion buyers, editors and bloggers run to secure their seat at the anticipated show.
What we saw: We weren’t expecting the celebrities but they delivered. I happened to be sitting behind Jennifer Hawkins, yes you’d think this would be an exciting honor but now I’m blinding from all the camera flashes from the paps getting their A list pictures of her. She did look amazing though in a black body con dress with some major bling. Anyway Nicola Finetti was beautiful, lots of cocktail dresses, tulle detailing and champagne colors. What was terrible was a pair of bike shorts or spanx not sure which hanging out on purpose, please stop this trend. Spanx are secret women’s business, not ‘fashion week media world stage’ business!
Alex Perry
What we expected: Red carpet, paparazzi waiting for Jennifer Hawkins and Ruby Rose who are set to both make appearances. Alex Perry is a staple in the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week schedule and has been since his first showing in 1997.
What we saw: Alex Perry is what fashion week is all about. It’s the tiny bit of glamour that the world magnifys when they think about the fashion industry. The show was held offsite in order to accommodate the 1000+ guest Alex Perry invited. Inside sound studio 4 at Fox Studios they managed to accommodate well over the 1000 comfortably. More importantly though, the collection was amazing. It was everything you would expect Alex Perry to be, whether this is a good thing or not is a personal preference. Models bolted down the longest runway I’ve ever seen wearing tulle, zebra print, sequins and mesh. All things purring, pretty and perfect.
RAFW: Kooey Interview

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is a mere 3 days away. A whole bunch of emotions are swimming through my veins at the moment, fear and excitement to name a couple. Anyway to calm your nerves as well as mine, here’s another fantastic designer who will be showing at RAFW. We know the show will be amazing and there will be nothing to be nervous about! Director of Kooey, Nikki Silverthorne took a few minutes out of her busy prep schedule to let you the readers know what is about to go down!
We saw your show last year at Swim Fashion Week, does it feel like a huge step to be doing a solo show inside RAFW?
The whole past year feels like one huge step, it has been crazy for the Kooey team. After Swim Fashion Week we were the official sponsors of Miss Universe Australia, showcased at Miami Swim Show for the first time and presented at Fashion Expose NY which is run in conjunction with New York Fashion Week. A solo show at RAFW is like the icing on the cake.
Kooey Director – Nikki Silverthorne Your designs often have indigenous prints and elements, how did that come about?
Kooey stemmed from an idea of unique design and artistic origin; starting out making swimwear for family and friends. Promoting Australia’s Indigenous heritage is part of Kooey’s core values. We have so many talented Indigenous artists that each have a unique perspective on the diverse landscapes that Australia has to offer. While the designs make for exceptional swimwear prints, they also tell the story of the Australian landscape, branding the Kooey wearer – where ever they are – as belonging to the spirit of Australia.
We love that your swimwear is 100% Australian made, is this something your very passionate about?
We are extremely passionate about producing Australian Made garments, unfortunately as we expand it will eventually become impossible for us to keep everything we design produced in Australia, however our goal is to keep everything sold in Australia – made in Australia.
Can you talk us through your 2010/11 Ningaloo collection?
Kooey’s third collection, is inspired by the colours and shapes of the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia’s spectacular Northwest. The last collection was inspired by the red sands of the Kimberley region. This season we have focused on the coastline which is such an integral part of Australian culture.
The collection features modern Indigenous artwork from Anne Hanning Kngwarreye who picks up the vibrant greens, purples and blues of the landscape in her designs.
The collection’s campaign images were shot on location at the Novotel Ningaloo Resort in Exmouth, WA and feature the face of Kooey, Emily Cattermole.
We hear Rachael Finch will be modeling for Kooey?
Rachael will make a guest appearance at the beginning of the show to introduce the new collection.
We have worked with Rachael before through Miss Universe Australia and she has previously hosted a show for us in Perth. We are thrilled that she has come aboard again for RAFW
We love that your swimwear come in sizes XS-XL is catering for a range of sizes something your passionate about?
Not everyone can pull off the same suit as not everyone is the same shape. But everyone can find a suit that they are confident and comfortable in and that’s what we aim to provide with our suits. The right swimsuit will enhance your figure and show off all your best bits!
How will you be relaxing after the show is over?
We won’t be! We move straight into preparations for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim and SwimShow 2011 which are both in July in Miami. Kooey will be showcasing for the second time at SwimShow and debuting at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim with another solo show.
RAFW: Ae’lkemi Interview
I just want to stop and say how grateful I am to have had the chance to get an insight into these amazing designers minds and design plans. This week we caught up with Alvin from Ae’lkemi to talk to him about his home town of WA, showing in Milan and hanging out in the USA
So many talents fashion designers come out of WA, is there something in the water?
Haha …its fantastic to see many ‘West Aussies’ make it, we all have an individual voice and the industry is very supportive of new talent and gives them the confidence to do what they do best.
Why did you choose fashion design over any other career path?
To be honest I missed out on doing Marine Biology at university and deicided to do something completely different and submitted my portfolio to the ‘West Australia School of Art & Design’ and got accepted in the top 5% and to my parents horror decide to follow fashion and never looked back since.
What is the philosophy of your label?
The philosophy has always been about great cuts and playing with classic shapes but mixing it up with a modern twist.
You were a part of G’day USA, what was the program about?
It was a great opportunity to be introduced into the US market and taking part in a runway show and showroom appointments with the most influential industry personalities and representatives of the New York fashion industry, including buyers from Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Barneys New York, Barneys Co-op, Caravan, Searle and Bergdorf Goodman, among the numerous media meetings with fashion editors of Nylon Magazine, Instyle, Elle, Harpers Bazaar and Vanity Fair.
You’ve shown at Milan Fashion Week, how does that compare to showing on home soil?
Alvin hard at work
Its funny, no matter where you show the same things can always go wrong, be in New York or Perth. It makes the world feel a little smaller. RAFW will be my first solo on home soil and I am very excited and looking forward to the ride.
Do you plan to continue to work and live in WA?
I love travelling and visiting new places but WA is home. It’s where I feel most creative. I have an amazing team that I work with and that’s worth staying in Perth.
Finally, if you could have any international model walk for Ae’lkemi who would it be?
Carmen Kass
RAFW: Flannel Interview
Award winning Australian designer Kristy Lawrence really does live and breathe her natural and feminine brand Flannel. We had the chance to talk to her about her life and her label in the lead up to her show at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

How did you first become involved in fashion design?
From a very young age I always had a passion to recreate a mood whether it be an atmosphere of a room, an outfit or a feeling!
Why the name ‘Flannel’?
Looking for a name with soul, which was about softness, comfort and effortless femininity. When thinking about flannel, people picture the traditional flannel or “flannelette shirt” and yet the brand is about giving the word flannel a different feeling. It’s about washed silks, organic cottons and soft knits. Still raw and earthy but sensual. Something to talk about around the dinner table.
What is the philosophy of your label?
We are about different textures, same hues. My collections consist of effortless pieces for women with ease of
wear, that are subtly sexy and strong on simplicity.
What’s it like to live and design in WA outside of the fashion capitals of Australia?
I find it easier because I am not driven by trends but by lifestyle.
You’ve got 3 concept stores already, is there plans for opening any more in Australia?
Yes, we are in negotiations to open in Sydney, Melbourne and more in Perth.
How did it feel to win the V Australia New Generation Rock star award at RAFW last year?
Dream come true! It opened me up to the world.
Can you tell us about your collection for Spring/Summer 10/11?
From the beginning this collection was inspired by the artists and travellers of the last century. Women discovered their freedom, a loose button, a piece that has been washed too many times, their sensuality and style.
Have you named your collection for Spring/Summer 10/11?
“Catch My Drift”
The fabrics you use are so beautiful, where did you source fabrics from for Spring/Summer 10/11?
To give that lived in feeling, I create fabrics more often than source them. I work with mostly natural fabrics including cotton and silk as well as leathers and suede.
This will be your first solo show at RAFW, what are you most excited about?
I am so excited to be granted this amazing creative team (stylist, hair, make up etc) that have surrounded me for Flannel’s first solo show. I cant wait to watch it all come together.
Finally, what’s next for Flannel after RAFW?
Two weeks of bliss with one on one time with my family (and a few shops in the pipeline).
RAFW: Gail Sorronda Interview
Having spent a while away from Australia we are so excited to see what inspriration Gail Sorronda has brought home from her travels abroad. Gail Sorronda will be showing at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week during the 3-7 May 2010. Stay tuned.
Gail Sorronda A/W 10You’ve recently been living in Paris, how do you feel coming back to Australia for RAFW?
I’ve been back for a few months and designed my Spring/Summer collection here. It’s great to back with friends and family and I’m looking forward to showing my collection at RAFW.
Your black and white collections have become somewhat of a Gail Sorronda trademark, what drew you to using black and white?
I’ve always used black and white for its emphasis on silhouette, form and structure. I enjoy the clarity of the design process and not hiding behind pattern and colour.
We love your blog and follow your facebook, what makes you passionate about online media?
My partner primarily looks after the social media. I love how it documents a period in time and can help create a feeling. We try and arouse curiosity whilst maintaining the mystic of the label rather than using it as a promotional tool.
We know Susie Bubble is a fan of Gail Sorronda, will she be attending your RAFW show?
Yes we’ve been in contact with Susie. She’s confirmed her attendance and will be wearing Gail Sorronda to the show.
What was your inspiration for your Spring/Summer 2011 collection?
Gail Sorronda A/W 10
Without giving anything away I was inspired by distant voices, drones and the all-seeing eye.
Have you named your Spring/Summer 2011 collection?
Yes but you will have to wait until the show sorry!
What fabrics and patterns can we expect to see?
Silks, cotton, transparency and some handwork.
What makes you passionate about the Australia fashion industry?
I like how Australian fashion celebrates its own local industry.
What’s your favourite season to design for?
Spring/Summer but it’s becoming more Autumn/Winter
If you could choose any model to open your RAFW Spring/Summer 10/11 show whom would you choose?
Nanou Vandecruys from Silent.
Finally, are you an early riser or night owl?
Night owl. I don’t function before midday.
RAFW: Ginger & Smart Interview

Ginger & Smart is an Australian luxury label who have gone from strength to strength every year of operation. The sister duo Alexandra and Genevieve talk to us about their upcoming show at RAFW. We hope to be reporting live from the show for you in a few short weeks.
In just a few short years Ginger & Smart has become a ‘must see’ show for RAFW. Can you tell us about your first show? Is it what you expected?
The first show for RAFW was one our favourites. We made an enormous string art installation for the runway and the music was by an amazing Japanese electronic composer. We still listen to the music from that show and it makes our hearts beat faster. Our first show also opened the door to retailers like David Jones and Browns Focus UK which was amazing. You never know what to expect from doing a show. Every show pushes us further as designers and cements in our minds and everyone else just who we are. It’s very important to us to always stay true to ourselves and our brand values - for us this is the key to a successful show.
What makes you passionate about the Australian fashion industry?
Australians are incredibly loyal to Australian designers. And the industry is so diverse. We love that we can have our own fresh design perspective and customers respond so well. It’s very encouraging and helps keep the passion alive.
Where have you drawn inspiration from for this years Spring/Summer collection?
The collection is called The Transcendent which is the fourth state of consciousness that lies beyond waking, dreaming and sleeping. It is inspired by this blissful moment of wakefulness and of future beauty.
Designers Alexandra and Genevieve Smart We loved the bold colorful prints inspired by kites last Spring/Summer can we expect prints again this year?
The prints we design are mostly digital and are designed to illustrate a higher state of euphoria and energy through diffused angles and blurred perspective. The images you see when you close your eyes.
Your handcrafted accessories are a well-known part of the Ginger & Smart label will these be styled into the show?
We always develop the accessory line to work with the collection so the colours are modern neutrals in effortless shapes. Our accessories include shoes, bags, belts, and also small leather goods like wallets and diaries. We have also developed a new candle fragrance for the season.
RAFW is about a month away. What will you be doing in the next month to prepare?
The last month is about all the elements coming together. Styling, editing and finalising show pieces as well as working very closely on music, lighting and hair & beauty.
Internationally where would you love to show Ginger & Smart?
Paris or London. We have been selling to both these cities for a few years now and have some loyal customers so it makes sense to show there next.
What your personal tip for surviving RAFW in style?
Good shoes, lots of water and a great holiday planned afterwards.
What’s in your fashion week suitcase?
Comfort clothing mostly in black white and grey marle! It’s busy backstage and you need to be able to move. And a great heel for after the show.
RAFW: The Guest List So Far
Blogging this year is going to be insane at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. I will be attending RAFW as a delegate for An Australian Wintour and I am so excited! So make sure you keep tuned in during the week to see all the happenings!
Susie Bubble image from stylebubble.co.uk
Selling the idea to designers to show this year would have been a breeze. On record this year Rosemount Australian Fashion Week has the most international delegates registered to attend. In particular I think it’d have to be the biggest number of international bloggers to date! Here are some of the bloggers we can expect to see on Australian soil in just less than 3 weeks!
Susie Bubble: Style Bubble is an infectious blog has captured fashion hungry consumers all over the globe for years. Susie is now part of Dazed Digital but (luckily) still maintains her blog filled with fashion inspiration and amazing style photos. Cannot wait to bump into her at RAFW.
Garance Doré: Illustrator, turned blogger, turned street style blogger has been a favourite blog of mine for a while. She has a knack for taking beautiful photographs making you wish you were there in the most. Her blog is down to earth and very real, girl next door (who happens to be an international success!)
Scott Schuman: Garance Dore’s other half outside of the blogosphere. What a magical couple. Scott graced us with his presence at RAFW last year and created quiet a stir. There was a gaggle of fashionable people standing in the street waiting to be snapped by the international street style photographer. Australia blogger Matt Jordan from Imelda was lucky enough to make it on Scott’s blog The Sartorialist.
Tim Blanks: This is where it gets serious. Editor of the style.com will be heading down under to sit front row of RAFW and report back to the millions of people logging onto style.com, the online style bible. So exciting!
Tommy Ton: Another world-renowned street style blogger. Well known for hanging around fashion weeks and catching models off duty and delegates after the show.
Of course as well as all the international bloggers we have a fine calibre of Australian bloggers reporting from RAFW including: Sassybella.com, seaofghosts.com, Imelda.com, frockwriter.com so excited to be a part of such a quality blogging team!
RAFW: Sabatini Interview

New Zealand based label Sabatini will be showing their delicate, delightful and dawn till dusk ready collection at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week this year. We had the honor and the privilege of getting an in-depth look at the philosophy behind the label and what’s to come for Spring/Summer 10/11!
How did the Sabatini brand come about?
The Sabatini brand evolved from our family label Sonny, named after our mother Sonia. The Sonny brand started in the 50’s by the Milich family and 20 years ago the Sabatini label was introduced into Australia. The brand was established to offer a very international label designed specifically for the Australian market. The name Sabatini came about from Margi’s and my love for Italy and our strong European background.
What’s the day-to-day Sabatini philosophy?
It’s all about pushing the boundaries to create unique designer knit fashion that makes a woman feel luxurious and sexy. Quality pieces that she will keep and treasure for years.

Sabatini is Australia/New Zealand designer boutique knit dressing, where as Sabatini White is our international eport label, highly creative directed at an international market. It is also our catwalk couture label.
Can you tell us a bit about the eco sustainability of your products?
The epitome of eco friendly for us is our fine merino knit jersey, used prodominantly in winter. Merino wool is one of the most eco-friendly yarns available in the world. In summer we use natural fibres of Viscose, Cotton and Silk.
Sabatini is known for their exquisite knits. Where do you source your fabrics?
We source our yarns from Italy and all over the world. The key element of our creative resources come from our intricate fabrics designed and made at our knitting factory in Auckland. This along with distinctive colour pallets gives us “absolute originality”.
We’re so excited you’re showing at RAFW 10/11, what makes you passionate about the Australian/New Zealand fashion industry?
Showing Sabatini White at RAFW 2010 gives us licence to reveal for the first time a new creative direction, especially to the Australian and International audience.
Where did you draw your creative inspiration for the Spring/Summer 10/11 collection?
The Sabatini White collection has come about from remebering an old 60′s movie called the 3 faces of Eve, where this beautiful woman had three personalities.
Have you named your collection for Spring/Summer 10/11?
The 3 Faces of… Eve, Ella, Emanuelle.
If you had the opportunity to show your collection anywhere worldwide where would you choose?
Paris, which we have done in the past and was one of the most creatively rewarding experiences.
If you could have any model worldwide walk for your collection at RAFW who would it be?
Alessandra Ambrosio, Carmen Kass, Chanel Iman… the three faces of Eve!
RAFW: Nicky Zimmermann Interview
Spring/Summer 09/10
The designing duo Nicky & Simone will be showing their label Zimmermann for the 13th year in a row in 2010! What an achievement! Zimmermann is an Australian based label with a strong focus on luxury swimwear. It’s a label that has become a household name for dresses to dance the night away as well as swimwear. We had the privilege of catching up with Nicky Zimmermann to get the goss on their upcoming show at RAFW in just
The label has gone from the Paddington markets to becoming a household name for Australian design. Did you ever anticipate the journey you’ve had?
Of course not, but we have always had some big goals and wanted to make this label our life so we always hoped that it would be a great ride!
The news just landed that your opening another concept store in Soho, New York. How did you decide on Soho?
We have been searching for the perfect store location in New York for a while now and have looked at lots of different downtown options. But the site we have in Soho was just beautiful and felt right.
Are you planning to launch any other concept stores soon?
Yes. In Australia, we are opening a flagship in the Sydney CBD this year and in the US, we have a few other ideas that are in the pipeline.
Nicky and Simone ZimmermannZimmermann clothing is always perfect for the Australian climate, is this something you take into consideration when designing?
It has some influence over what we design but mostly we are just working to create something new and beautiful.
Where did you draw inspiration from for your Spring/Summer 10/11 collection?
The idea started with a simple progression of tonal colour, starting at black and white. We wanted the collection to be pure, fresh and ordered. Clean colour, uncomplicated prints but all together cohesive and beautiful. As the collection evolved we started to work with lines, geometric shapes and melded these with naturally beautiful elements to create something that we love and want to wear.
What fabrics and prints can we expect to see for Spring/Summer 10/11?
Linear prints, spirographs, perspective lines and vanishing points have been combined with mono-toned florals on white bases to create things which are all at one. Our prints feature a gradation of shapes and lines that grow as they run down the body. Fabrics were chosen for weight with an emphasis on the capacity of each to carry our new silhouettes, they include triple weight silk crepe, failles, waffle suiting.
How do you prepare yourself for the crazy week of RAFW?
We make sure we are organised early and work hard so we are ready.
Zimmermann has been showing at RAFW since 1996, that’s quiet an achievement! What’s your favourite memory from 13 years of shows?
After the last look has come out of any show we have an overwhelming sense of relief after months of work.
Who has been your favourite model to walk for Zimmermann at RAFW?
There have been some great girls - Sarah O’Hare, Emma Balfour, Catherine McNeill, Nicole Trunfio, Lilly Cole. They’re all great.
When traveling what are a few staple suitcase items?
A giant cashmere wrap and a well edited cosmetic bag.
Which do you prefer the beach or a swimming pool?
Beach
RAFW: Front Row Celebrity Fashion

left to right: Rachel Zoe @ Milan Fashion Week, Olivia Palermo @ London Fashion Week, Kate Hudson @ London Fashion Week, Alexa Chung @ New York Fashion Week
Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is 39 days and 15 hours away! I’m slightly excited if you cant tell from my previous posts. Every week I’ll be posting a Q&A interview with a designer showing at RAFW to get you in the mood and also have an idea of what to expect for Spring/Summer 2010/11.
On the RAFW facebook page a very special announcement was made yesterday. The organizers of RAFW have confirmed that Susie Bubble and Tommy of Jak&Jil will be blogging up a storm in Australia for RAFW. How exciting! I would just die if I got the chance to meet them. Susie Bubble’s blog Style Bubble was the first fashion blog I ever read and one of the reasons I started my own. Her unique style and interesting pieces have earned her a spot in front row’s of fashion weeks worldwide.
Make sure you have Jak&Jil and Style Bubble in your RSS feed for when RAFW comes around for an international perspective on our amazing Australian designers.
Anyway I had a slight wardrobe meltdown over the weekend while I was moving house. I have nothing planned to wear to RAFW as yet! 39 days really isn’t much time to put together roughly 10 amazing outfits (1 day outfit and 1 night outfit for 5 days of shows)
So to get some outfit inspiration I’ve collected a few pictures of my fav front row celebs looking uber cool at the big 3 fashion weeks just been – New York, London and Milan.
What do you think? I hope it will be cold enough in May in Sydney to sport tights like Zoe? I love Kate Hudson’s dress but I do think my legs will be ready for a mini that short in only 39 days!
What celebrity outfits did you love at the recent fashion weeks?
Pictures courtesy of: harpersbazaar.com, celebrity-gossip.net, theskinnywebsite.com, elle.com
RAFW: Sara Phillips

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010/2011 is only 46 days and 14 hours away! (what a mouthful!) Simon Lock was quoted last year saying that RAFW is one of the top ten fashion weeks in the world, I don’t doubt him one bit. The individual show schedule has yet to be announced but we’ve got somewhat of a sneak peak. Each week we’ll be posting a Q&A with a designer who will be showing at RAFW.
To kick off the series we’ve selected an amazing woman who has become a must see show during RAFW. Sara Phillips collections are known for feminine cuts, unique prints and ‘must have’ staple pieces each season. Find out a bit about Sara and her RAFW plans here.
When did you know fashion design was your calling?
I think I always knew I would end up in fashion. I grew up in the textile industry and it has always felt like the natural thing to do for me.
We loved your Spring/Summer 2010 collection “Ultrasound” and they story behind it. Can you reveal a bit about the story that will capture your Spring/Summer 2011 collection?
Our new SS 2011 collection has a few key influences. One of them being art deco… I don’t want to give too much away. You’ll see more of the key elements – print, interesting fabrication and youthful femininity.
On a scale of one to ten what’s your anxiety level in the lead up to RAFW?
Probably a 12, depending on the day!
Sara Phillips What kind of fabrics and prints can we expect to see in your Spring/Summer 2011 collection?
Exclusive prints are always a key feature, and this season is no different. We’re also expanding on trims and detailing this season, playing with texture and silhouette.
Your collections seem to embody a woman’s femininity perfectly. How do you consciously weave femininity into your pieces?
I really start from a point where I think of what I would like to wear and what is missing form my wardrobe.
What kind of fabrics and prints can we expect to see in your Spring/Summer 2011 collection?
There will be two exclusive prints this season, lot’s of lightweight natural fabrics and interesting texture.
Which celebrities would you love to dress in Sara Phillips?
I don’t have a certain celebrity in mind. I think the people that buy and wear Sara Phillips work it into their own individual style.
When you’re dreaming about the label where do you see it going?
I want the label to keeping steadily growing each season.
