This years shows will feature many established and emerging labels. Our old favourites; Akira, Easton Pearson and Scanlan and Theodore and the new and fresh talent of the Design and Innovation Group will show up and comers like; Jaquiline Buck, Saralli Designs and Benjamin Ringuet.

I personally will be seated front and centre at the QUT “Fashion After Hours” Event – featuring a panel discussion on “Couture – Is it still relevant?” – being an avid follower of Couture and Couturiers alike, I am fascinated by how this discussion will go. I have very strong opinions of what is and isn’t couture and therefore am interested what panellists such as Paul Hunt (Designer), Jonathan Ward (Designer) Margot Riley (Dress historian & curator), amongst the others, have to say on the subject.

It’s sure to be a liberating week on the Fashion Scene of Brisbane. I am looking forward to seeing the new collections of our Brisbane/QLD designers. Having been blown away by the many amazing collections shown at Rosemount Fashion Week Sydney, I highly anticipate what is to be a great year for Brisbane’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

For more information go to: www.mbff.com.au
For Tickets go to: www.ticketek.com.au

Las Vegas inspired me with its bedazzlement and awe inspiring costumes – Glitter was born in Vegas. The glitz and glamour of the place is just like a legally blonde movie with the colour turned up 100% – Just crazy!

As it wasn’t my first trip to the City of Sin, I had seen most of what it has to offer before, but it never ceases to amaze me how much attention is paid to every detail of the Casinos. The Venetian for example – The Sistine Chapel like Lobby and a fully operable Venetian Canal, complete with Gondolas and beautiful a Capella singing paddlers… Just magnifique! Or the Treasure Island with its spectacular pirate show right on The Strip, though the show has now been “revamped” – I have to say it was quite disappointing that the abundance of humour the show used to have, has now been replaced by something I can only say as being “Pussycat Doll-esque”.
Then there is the ever gorgeous, never aging Caesars Palace which just brims with beautiful sculptures, carvings and paintings. The Excalibur that represents something out of a Disney movie and the New York New York casino with a rollercoaster that goes through the casino itself! – Its just astounding!

After all the glam and hype I ventured to the complete opposite of surroundings. The calm, cool (pun intended) and collected Colorado. Where the serenity itself is inspiring. I could walk for miles through the mountains, its just so peaceful!
2 weeks of Skiing in the beautiful mountains with my amazing family and 2 of my best friends was such an adventure and I loved every minute and every person we met along the way.

Then it was back to Los Angeles. for walk down Hollywood Blvd, to see the walk of fame, the famous Chinese Theatre and some amazing wax figures at the Madame Tussauds. The to Anaheim where we spent a good 12 hours at the amazing Disneyland – Which was very exciting as I hadn’t visited since I was allot younger and still managed to be completely ecstatic about every aspect. Another amazing sight in LA was the Getty Museum. I was lucky enough to be visiting whilst the Rembrandt exhibition was on, displaying some stunning works of art. There were also Monet’s and Pollock’s, just a few of my favourite artists and all in the same location! AMAZING!

And now, back to the beautiful sunshine of the Gold Coast! – Quite a difference from the minus 20 degrees of Colorado! Now its time to embrace the year of 2010 and what it has to bring with Events, Shows, Trends and most of all Fashion!!!

Madame Tussauds Wax Figure - Hollywood Walk of Fame

And now Christmas is upon us like a flash. The stores are overflowing with the jostle of shoppers trying to get their gifts. Always those last minute items that you need to retrieve. No wonder they call it the silly season. It’s most certainly my favourite time of year, but somehow this year seemed to sneak up on us just that extra bit quicker. It seems to make it all so surreal. Possibly because I have been so busy with all the extra work going on. But it doesn’t seem just to be me. There’s been talk that fewer lights are being put up, Less money being spent in stores than the usual. Perhaps it’s because of our new spend-thrift ways after the economy crash. Either way, I feel it necessary to hike up the amp on this Christmas, being that it is mere days away. Here are MY TOP 5 FAVOURITE ways to spread Christmas cheer:

1. Put on a Christmas Hat – I prefer the really deluxe fluffy sort though in   Australia these can present alittle bit of a heat problem – Perhaps swap for some Reindeer ears!!!

2. Sing Carols (Or just play them and hum along)!!! – My Favourites: -Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -Santa Baby (For a Chic Christmas!) -Baby It’s Cold Outside (So Old Fashioned and sweet) -Run Run Rudolph (Reminds me of “Home Alone”!)

3. Wrap Gifts!!! – It’s the season for giving. One of my favourite parts is wrapping gifts in beautiful colours and placing them under the tree. Some gorgeous wrapping ideas and purchases can be made on this gorgeous site The Wrapping Paper Company: www.wrapco.com.au/

4. Baking Christmas Cookies – Baking is so much fun and getting the family enticed by letting someone lick the bowl – So much fun! – Try some Christmas Tree Shapes, Or Regular round shapes and decorate them as Christmas Baubles!

5. Touring the Christmas lights displays – As a Christmas tradition, come Christmas eve, my entire family pile into the car with blankets, hot chocolate and Christmas carols for a tour of the gorgeous light displays around our area. You can usually find a list of participating streets on the website of your local newspaper. Nothing gets me in the spirit more than seeing the gorgeous lights and displays just knowing santa will be coming down the chimney in a matter of hours!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From the Entire Fashion Scene Team!!!

After seeing the gorgeous swim wear collections at Brisbane’s Mercedes Benz Fashion week, you are hard pressed to find a better selection, Summer is coming and one needs to start thinking about shedding the pasty skin and walking into a gorgeous summer glow.
Mia Connor @ the Make Up Bar On the Gold Coast offers amazing spray tans to some of the industries most gorgeous models. For $35 you can get an fabulous tan that will have you glowing all ‘THE RIGHT’ shades of brown – None of the shades that resemble a certain citrus fruit.
One also requires a gorgeous long flowing maxi dress that makes you feel like a bohemian beauty, a pair of bedazzled thongs and a wide brim hat to prevent the sun from ruining your gorgeous complexion!

Bring on that gorgeous summer lovin’ self!

For information and bookings for your gorgeous tan contact: 0404 079 034

Mia Connor Make Up Bar – Located at Robina Quays Shopping Centre.

The currency is in English Pounds. Delivery is by DHL International Express (£16.50) and you can expect your marvellous designer items to arrive 2-3 working days!

So get shopping ladies!

Zac Posen - Nationale pleated dress

Every year over 50,000 show goers flock to Brisbane to attend the ever fun and highly celebrated Royal Queensland Show- The Ekka. Throughout the 10-day show of animal attractions, rides, shows, displays, showbags and events, the highlight of the event for the fashion flock is the highly coveted Coffee Club Parades, Offering 53 fashion parades throughout the course of the show.

Over 20 Local established and emerging designers showcase their latest collections from stunning evening wear to gorgeous day wear and fabulous swimwear. Each collection showcased are garments created featuring predominantly cotton and wool the most versatile of natural fibres.

This year the show saw over 20 different amazing collections from designers such as George Wu, Brides Desire by Airs & Graces, MXM Couture, Bora and Paul Hunt – Just to name a few. Each collection shimmying down the catwalk to amazing choreography music and lights display that had the crowd on the edge of their seats wondering what would come next.

Pieces from emerging designers of QUT and MSIT showed an individual additive to the show amongst the stunning and elegant gowns of the evening wear. Standout collections were the gorgeous yet simple lines of Grbac in pastels and punch pink and the ever transforming Riot swimwear with its soft colouring and quirky styling aesthetic.

Not only were patrons treated to a brilliant array of hot designs, the Coffee Club Parade also featured a model search to find a fresh new face for the fashion scene, 10 Finalists vied for the top position in the New Faces Model Search.

All in all a great show, the lighting, stage and choreography was superb. I was impressed by the line-up of established designers and the event in itself was very impressive. If you haven’t seen the Coffee Club Parade before, it’s certainly a must on next years social calendar.

Coffee Club Parade – 2009
Designers
•    Paul Hunt
•    Bora
•    Wendy Makin
•    Brides Desire by Airs & Graces
•    MXM Couture
•    Daniel Alexander Couture
•    Dogstar
•    Maiocchi
•    Grbac
•    Tulipani
•    George Wu
•    Mother Maria
•    Kitten D’Amour
•    Dirtbox
•    Taree Birse
•    Pistols at Dawn
•    John Harris Menswear
•    Swimwear from Riot

Plus Student showcase by MSIT and QUT

The latest and the greatest in fashion – The Famous stylist and fashion icon of the Noughtys*, Rachel Zoe who has dressed the gorgeous and the glamorous ladies of the red carpet such as Jennifer Garner and Kate Hudson, has shared with the world 34 of her favourite things.

Why 34 I’m not sure?! But have a look at what you should be looking into investing in!

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20209564_20209587_20286086,00.html

Rachel Zoe - Andrew Durham for French Vogue

Bravo TV’s The Rachel Zoe Project (returning Aug. 25)

(***years of 2000 for those who aren’t up with the lingo!)

Dior has taken a very different approach to marketing their new handbag with their “The Lady Noire Affair” promotion. To build anticipation and demand amoung the market they have started a twitter account (twitter.com/lady_dior) with teasers everyday using twitters and gorgeous photographs by photographer Peter Lindbergh displaying the stunning Marion Cotillard with her Dior bag. Buyers are waiting with baited breath for the final release of the trailor inspired but the elegant heroines of the old Hitchcock movies. The mystery will be solved on the 20th. I know who i’ll be following Lady Noire!

Xxlove love

Don’t forget your biker leather jacket, It’s a little frosty out!

XxLoveLove

What I want…

The OVERSIZED CLUTCH

This Winters IT Bag at OROTON – “The Zabri”

Rhymes with Cadbury and it’s good enough to eat. Goes easily from day to night, with its gorgeous embossed floral print, and modelled on the arm of the stunning Emma Booth, its got me drooling.

XxLoveLove