New Model Army Style

Sun Herald

Sunday March 2, 2008

Glynis Traill-Nash

AS Gemma Ward was walking the red carpet for the premiere of The Black Balloon in Sydney last week, fellow Australian models were continuing to flood onto the catwalks of Paris.

This international season has seen a massive influx of Australians in high-profile shows. Catherine McNeil is continuing her year-long reign in the limelight but it's Abbey Lee who is the talk of the fashion world. The now 20-year-old made a splash in the Lisa Ho show in Sydney some three years ago and then went quiet but she is now making very big waves indeed. During Milan Fashion Week, Gucci bought her out to walk for them exclusively. Following this coup she's been clocking up plenty of weighty credits to her name in Paris, including Givenchy, Valentino and Viktor & Rolf.

Alice Burdeu has gone from Australia's Next Top Model to world player, beloved of the Belgians in the past week when she walked for both Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten. Stephanie Carta was the only Australian in the Balenciaga show and is becoming a muse for the label, while Alexandra Agoston continues her elegant work for the likes of Emanuel Ungaro and Christian Dior. Heading to the European catwalks for the first time was Tallulah Morton, fresh from the David Jones show in Sydney and now appearing for labels including Jean Paul Gaultier, Hussein Chalayan and Ungaro. For Kathy Ward of Chic Model Management, which looks after four of these six models, these are exciting times. "For this whole group of girls to get the Balenciagas and Diors, the big shows, is extraordinary," said Ward. "It's never happened like this before."

Clutch a hot accessory

FROM the catwalk to the red carpet, the Oscars provided plenty of water-cooler fodder this week. And for the record, Tilda Swinton: fabulous. The most notable accessory at the Oscars, however (aside from a tuxedo-ed gent), was the clutch, with versions by Roger Vivier and Judith Leiber the most conspicuous of all. This continues the reign of the clutch as the hottest accessory of the moment.

When heading out for a night of glamour and indulgence, opt for a brightly coloured clutch in luxurious fabrics such as satin or one that sparkles in crystal or glitter. Shapes can be anything from a tiny box-like purse to an oddly long, skinny shape that looks as if it could house a woodwind instrument.

For daylight hours, look for large envelope-shaped styles in leather and other heavy-duty fabrics. Reptilian styles do well at any hour of the day or night, no need for hibernation.

Big noise in women's wear

THE name Farage might conjure up images of men's suiting - a fair call given the origins of the business - but its women's wear is currently making the most noise for the brand. Designer Joe Farage, who started the label 10 years ago this month, introduced women's wear only five years ago but it has already become 50percent of the business.

"Definitely we forecast [that women's wear] will grow above and beyond that this year," the Sydney designer said from Milan last week. "We're trying to capture the corporate wardrobe [and then] take the girl outside of work to drinks after work and evening occasions, hence the tuxedos and silks. Farage still stands for luxury tailoring but we are putting more effort into giving a fashionable twist to the corporate wardrobe."

Feature pieces include a red double-breasted cashmere and wool coat with short-sleeves (very chic), sexy tuxedos (a personal favourite) and silk shirt dresses (the perfect meeting of form and function). Which makes dressing for the office all the more bearable in the morning.

Beauty pair talk skin and hair

LAST week Sydney hosted two international beauty experts and their particular anti-ageing remedies. Los Angeles skin specialist Rand Rusher, the second half of the Leaf & Rusher range of skin treats (the other half is Dr Norman Leaf), was discussing their range of botanic-scientific products beloved of celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt (a big fan of Tx Lips scrub, apparently) and Madonna. The range is suitable for people suffering from rosacea and for those in their 40s and 50s and is available at Mecca Cosmetica.

Renowned for his collagen and Botox expertise in the clinic, Rusher says finally clients are realising that the fully Botoxed frozen look is on the way out. "There's a resurgence of movement," said Rusher. "More people are using [Botox] but they're using less of it."

Another guest, British Hairdresser of the Year Andrew Barton, was showing off L'Oreal's new Colour Supreme range for women who have between 80 and 100percent white hair. The stylist said women are still keen to cover up grey, with the exception of "the individualistic woman who wants to make a statement".

On the subject of how wedded women are to their hair and their hairdresser, Barton said that one of his clients at his salons in Britain made him sign a contract saying that "when she died I would do her hair in the coffin".

Well, if you've spent a lifetime making sure you look fabulous, you wouldn't want to make your exit looking like death.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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