What would happen if I had to run my own runway for Melbourne Fashion Week? The options are endless. After much contemplation, I have come up with a plan that I would like to share with you today.
The ambience of the space is really important and that is why I want to infuse my own personal tastes into the design. I would want to set up the runway in the centre of an old warehouse space, so that the bones of the building are very rustic and spacious. To decorate, I would add plenty of greenery. Hanging plants would be suspended from the roof and planter boxes would be along the walls. For seating we would also play on the rustic feel and have very cute wooden chairs.
As for the designers that would show on the runway, I was not sure where to begin. I'm not exactly an expert on the Australian fashion industry so I found it difficult to decide who I wanted. Eventually, I thought I would pick three designers that I had never heard of (but are probably über successful), so they may theoretically want to show on a smaller runway, and whose designs I like. In the end I settled on Toni Matičevski, Dion Lee and Michael Lo Sordo . Each of them offer sleek and inventive designs that really appeal to my personal tastes and I think would match well together, since they're all being shown in the same space.
Of course, the front row of my runway must be filled with Australia's fashion it-girls and guys. My top twelve invitees are as follows; obviously we will need the standard fashion editors so Vogue's Fashion Editor Christine Centenera and Harpers Bazaar Editor Kellie Hush. It would be amazing to get successful Aussie designers such as Alex Perry and Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton (owners of Sass and Bide, and counted as one for the purpose of this line) to see these smaller designers, and since it's a fictional fashion week we're presuming they aren't busy. To get the media paying attention to our little show, we will need some celebrities in attendance so the mix of actress Olympia Valance, a-list model Jessica Hart and singer Jessica Mauboy. Finally, we need plenty of the industry's new lifeblood, the fashion bloggers. Our two main ones will be my personal favourites, Zanita Whittington and Ashka Shen of Xssat.
Now, as the planner of this runway show, I will have to dress the part. So I have compiled outfits for two days of fashion week from my favourite high end clothing (and accessory) website, Farfetch*.
The outfit I chose for the first day consists of this gorgeous Giamba Floral Jacquard Dress with a matching Lanvin Belted Coat over the top. The dress is very appropriate for the day time, all be it for a fancy event, and the slouchy lines of the coat dresses it down slightly. To top off the outfit I added a pair of Casadel Stiletto Heel Pumps in a metallic shade.
For the second outfit, I went with something slightly more comfortable and built the outfit around this beautiful pair of printed Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Trousers. These are to be worn with a simple Adam Lippes Asymmetrical Back Slit Top and Alexander Wang 'Antonia' Sandals, both in a stark white. To keep warm and add a slightly androgynous feel, I chose the Numerootto Concealed Fastening Short Coat. In terms of accessories, I was simply picking up the orange shades in the pants with this Sophie Hulme Small Box Tote.
...and that was my plan for a runway show! I hope you enjoyed reading this, it was something a little different that let my indulge my creative side. If you have any advice or input for my imaginary fashion show, please feel free to put it in the comments below. I would love to hear!
Lots of Love,
Shannon
*This post was written as an entry for a competition being held by Farfetch but all ideas and opinions are my own.
