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

Produced by Mihai Gal, MG Productions

Brisbane Racing Club held its annual Student Designers Fashion on the Fields event at Doomben. Last years winner Tovah Cottle took out this years title again and also third place with her two designs. Runner up was Gale Bishop, both contestants are Metro South Institute of Tafe students.The standard from the 30 strong entries shows Brisbane is well placed for future talent in the fashion Industry.

The Rosemount Australian Fashion Week started today with Lisa Ho opening off site at 9:00am.

On day 1 of the 5 day event showed Ginger & Smart, Seventh Wonderland, Camilla, Lucotto, the Women’s Ready-To-Wear #1 evemt with Carly Huynter, Guanabana Designs, Story by Tang and Uscari.

The afternoon saw Zambesi in The Cargo Theatre, Rachel Gilbert and the 30 minute MCA Group Collection and Art Installation Show.

The evening showed Bassike, Arelia Costarolla, Bec and Bridge, Christopher Esber and Stolen Girlfriends Club.

More information can be found at the official Rosemount Australian Fashion Week website.

Saturday 15 May 2010, Ipswich International Metro Hotel, 43 South Street Ipswich Queensland.   For more information please contact Caroline Cavanagh, 0432702286 or ipswichfashionparade@gmail.com

This is a fundraising event for Sameul’s House (www.samuelshouse.com), a child advocacy project. Caroline is one of the funders of this project and this event aims to raise awareness and inspire locals to engage in global community. Furthermore, it is a great opportunity for local people businesses and to participate and put together a collection that is fun, affordable and sustainable.

The founders of one of the most forward thinking websites Refinery29.com on the web are coming to Brisbane to talk about fashion and fashion online. In the last 5 years, Piera Gelardi and Phillipe Von Borries have innovated fashion reporting, retailing and promoting online.

During the month of March, they will be speaking in Australia on the following dates.

Tickets – $45 Full Price, $40 Concession

BOOK NOW Brisbane – Friday 12th of March, The Edge State Library of Queensland – 3pm

BOOK NOW Sydney – Wednesday 17th of March, Museum of Sydney Corner of Bridge and Phillip Street – 6pm

BOOK NOW Melbourne – Thursday 18th of March, Penthouse Mouse 27 Little Collins Street, enter via Coates Lane – 6pm

Presented by Portable, you will be able to purchase tickets from their website above.

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!!!

MILDRED Ellwood

The official winner of the 2009 Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Fashions on the Field is Mildred Ellwood.

Ellwood won, after a mix-up judges made during the official presentation event, at this years Melbourne Cup Day at Eagle Farm. Bethany Townsend was awarded first prize after being named a finalist. However it was too late when judges realised that none of them had chosen Townsend to be the winner.

The courier mail quoted that she was told by event organisers to not talk to the media, however Brisbane Racing Club has said this was not the case. Pru Harris the PR spokesperson for BRC told Courier Mail “In no way did I tell her not to speak to the media”.

It’s a big shame that Ellwood’s electric blue frock and intricate head piece was not given the recognition it deserved on the day. As you can see in the photo above, Ellwood is a worth winner and all aspects of her presentation was done with an exceptional amount of detail.

Ellwood will receive the same prize that Townsend was given, which is worth over $12,000.

Day 1 - Swimwear Show

I’ve just uploaded all the photos I took on Day 1 of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival. This was the swimwear show at Portside in Brisbane.

Click here to go to the Swimwear Fashion Photos

You’re welcome to download and share the photos, just click on the “”Download Photo” link on the bottom left of the image.

Kirsten Reynolds - MSIT Fashion Graduate

On day four of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival we were treated to the most innovative designs of the week, the top fashion graduates of the country from colleges Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE (MSIT), RMIT, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), The Fashion Design Studio TAFE NSW Sydney Institute (Sydney Institute TAFE) and the Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd (Whitehouse). Each college brought forward students of spectacular talent.

Soeli Pedrozo - Telstra Next-G Network Graduate Winner

The winning collection of the evening came from Sydney Institute TAFE, Soeli Pedrozo.

Miss Pedrozo’s astonishing collection of layered, gathered and cut-away garments won over the judges and made Soeli the winner of the $5000 price. Soeli said that she will spend the money creating her next collection that is in the works.

The final parade at in the grand Brisbane City Hall sponsored by the Queensland Government was the spectacular Design Innovation Group Show from stores around Brisbane – The Tribune Brisbane showed collections from Betty Valentine, Dolly Rockers, Francis Leon and Kate Elizabeth. Gorgeous bags from designer Kinin brought us cute quilted bags in tomato red, mustard and striking turquoise.

Store Upstairs on Wickham

Designs from Akko, Sarva, Tia Carrigan and Store Upstairs on Wickham showed collections from instore by labels Lubanci by Jess Chatterton, Benjamin Ringuet by Ben Cronin, Larlette by Angela Dill, Neon Heatache by Amelia Duncombe, Eva Q by Eva Q Huynh. It was a beautiful show to close the week of fashion at the Brisbane City Hall, with The Queensland Government donating $1 from every ticket sold to Autism Queensland.