Stonnington Spring Fashion Runway Wrap Up

By Sarah Kempson

Spring is quite possibly my favourite time of year. Flowers bloom, the days get longer and the sun gets warmer. People are noticeably happier and birds chirp. And then, just when I think spring can’t possibly get any better, I remember that spring also means the start of the Spring Racing Carnival. Spring fashions, open toed sandals, the return of flowing dresses, bare skin and colour. Lots and lots of colour. Ahh, spring, how I have missed you!

Last week saw the City of Stonnington get in on the spring action, hosting the inaugural Stonnington Spring Fashion Runway at the Malvern Town Hall over two days. The festival included a fashion industry forum, parades featuring new collections from Stonnington retailers and a gala evening to induct two new names to the Hall of Fame.

Wednesday’s forum invited fashion industry heavyweights to share their knowledge and insight on retail with a group of eager students, up and coming designers and assorted fashion and business types. The panel featured Martin Ginnane; DIIRD, Laura Anderson; Chair of L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, John Cavill; designer, Bianca Wiegard; designer and Rick Molinsky; Melbourne Weekly Fashion Editor. This esteemed group shared their thoughts on the state of the retail market and the impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the fashion industry. Mediated by Jo Pearson, the forum posed such questions as how the Government can better support the industry, if the industry can rely only on innovation and originality in the future, and what the ramifications of social networking are for the retail sector. The panel members were generous with their knowledge, with all maintaining that the biggest threat to the fashion industry in Australia, and especially in Victoria, is the lack of onshore manufacturing. The final words from the experts encouraged young designers to stay unique, to challenge themselves and to believe they can.

Changing from business suits to cocktail frocks, the evening parade invited guests to preview spring fashions from Stonnington’s four fashion precincts; the stylish and sophisticated Toorak Road; edgy and diverse Chapel Street; European inspired Toorak Village and arty High Street, Armadale. Hosted by Channel 7’s Melissa Hetherington, the show invited ambassadors from each precinct to showcase four key looks for the coming Spring Racing Carnival. Each precincts unique flavour shone through with an older audience catered for by Toorak Road, Chapel Street just showing off, Toorak Village proving they are the elite and High Street, Armadale all elegance and statement pieces.

Many of the designers showed outfits in monochrome, the traditional colours for Derby Day and followed up with a kaleidoscope of colour. Every flavour of orange – tangerine, watermelon, ginger, carrot, terracotta and brick was covered this year, accompanied by lashings of purple – grape, eggplant, violet, plum, lavender and a generous helping of wine. Red, lemon, green and blue were frequent, but it was hot pink that gave me the biggest thrill, a perfect colour for spring/summer and especially the races. The headwear was amazing and, quite simply, stunning; a plain black dress becomes an outfit when paired with the right shoes and one of the creative and architectural achievements that we have come to expect from headwear.

As to my favourites for this season, Zapa Paris and John Cavill’s traditional and romantic feel struck a chord and had me planning my Oaks Day outfit, while Sa Dot Na presented the most amazing black strapless gown with a fitted bodice and layer upon layer of black tulle creating a very full skirt. Perhaps not race wear, but it was one of my top picks regardless. A special mention must go to Fool whose ‘circus feets fashionista bag lady’ (thanks to my companion for this spot on summary) was just too weird for words. Electric coloured paint splattered with highlighter green, orange veils and matching Doc Marten boots had the whole room abuzz – and surely thinking only the very drunk racegoers hoping to get their face on telly in the carpark at Flemington would wear it. I disapprove of anyone who wears wet look leggings to the races (actually I disapprove of them full stop), so Chocolate City was more suited to a nightclub than the Birdcage but if you are looking for the perfect outfit to ‘dress to impress’ this year, visit the stores listed here for inspiration and advice.

Toorak Road, South Yarra

• Saks Faye
• Officer Stile 220
• John Cavill
• David Medwin feat. Zapa Pari
• Lisa Barron

High Street, Armadale

• John Cavill
• DeCjuba
• Perri Cutten
• Bue Boutique
• Shirin Moore
• Lisa Barron
• Hemden
• Amaline Vitale
• Raffaele Ciuca
• Connie Simonetti

Chapel Street Precinct

• Stevie
• From Luka
• Chocolate City
• Fool
• Olrik Denmark
• Rajat K Tangri for Noir Desire
• Leona Edminston Vintage
• Jenny Bannister

Toorak Village

• Della Spiga
• Kondo Tricot
• Henry Bucks
• Ells Boutique
• Italy Direct
• Marino & Scott Menswear
• Irresistible
• Sa Dot Na

The following evening the fashion set again gathered to honour two new inductees to the Hall of Fame. Joining the likes of Jenny Bannister, Lisa Barron, Lillian Frank, Alannah Hill, Naomi Milgram and Joseph Saba, the fashion elite welcomed Joe Sillitto and Theresa Liano to the fold this year. Both Chapel Street through and through, Joe and Theresa actually worked together when Joe gave Theresa her first job at the age of 17. Many years later, Joe is recognised as one of the founding fathers of the Chapel Street precinct, while Theresa’s label TL Wood has achieved many successes in the fashion world.