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

The Brisbane Fashion Industry is in good hands with up and coming talent as seen at Tuesday’s Triumph Inspiration Awards held in Sydney on the Harbour @ WatersEdge Restaurant.  The three local MSIT Students represented QLD in the finals with Tovah Cottle winning the prestigious title and Anna Peng in third place.  The nine finalists were drawn from Fashion Schools from NSW, VIC and QLD fashion schools, with 3 from each state.

The  Awards now in its third year,  run internationally, with 27 countries participating this year. Every participating country holds a national event to decide which young designer will proceed to the international final, to be held in London in September. The design brief, to design a lingerie showpiece around the theme ‘Shape Sensation’, to be as creative and imaginative in the design of a showpiece. We wish Tovah our congratulations and best wishes in London and bringing this title back to Australia.

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.

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!!!

Winner of the 2009 MSIT Billabong Swimwear Fashion Award is Rhaman Donovan. This is the first time the MSIT has worked with Billabong to present students of fashion of the TAFE college with this highly sort after award.

The girls blogging at Designer’s Closet was told, “Exploded Wings” which was the name of her Swimwear collection, was inspired by the view of a butterfly wing through a microscope.

This was one of 5 finalists for the MSIT Billabong Swimwear Award, with other finalist’s included Amy Davidson, Alice Mala Rezende, Edwina Tait and Rachel Hedges with Rhaman Donovan being the inaugural winner.

It was a tough event to shoot, so have a little bit of editing to do for you. I’ll post in the next few days!