Tuesday night saw the opening gala of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, and what a gala it was!
Featuring a line-up of Melbourne’s finest home-grown talent, the audience was treated to an hour-long show finished with a serenade from opera singer Sarah Sweeting.
Most impressive, for me, was the collaboration between Craig Braybrook and jewellery designer Jeanette Maree, that saw Braybrook’s designs adorned with Maree’s oversized earrings, necklaces and crowns.
Maree’s collection appeared a fusion of Indian and Middle Eastern influences, and reminded me of Kate Moss wearing Christian Dior Haute Couture crystal chandelier earrings, shot by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue US October 1999. Quite a brilliant first look, paired with Braybrook’s red carpet ensembles; expertly crafted and detailed.
Other highlights included Nevenka, a favourite here at Lady Melbourne, who this year collaborated with another Melbourne fave, Brett Morley Millinery. Nevenka showed their trademark ethnic-inspired lace dresses with Morley adding head and neckpieces in the palest pink silk that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a Chanel couture runway.
For me, this parade is always a joy to attend, because it showcases just how much incredible design talent we have in Melbourne. Any celebration of that is worth attending in my book.
The first parade of MSFW should always be a homage to home-grown creative talent; reminding us how fortunate we are to have an industry worth admiring. Long may they prosper.
