(^61)
ONDERS FROM DOWN UNDER From top:
Zimmermann, Ellery, Dion Lee and Maticevski are some
f he leading Australian fashion brands
There are few cities where the body beautiful is
worshipped with quite so much cultish fervour
as Sydney. On the sand, in the sea or in many of
the sumptuous restaurants, the perfectly honed
abs and glossy limbs are a constant distraction
from the dazzling scenery.
However inthe past few years those toned
legs have been covered by delicate mid-
calf lace skirts and the sculptured arms
a e ow ensconced in silk shirts or
beautifully cut blazers. This is because
y y s transformed itself into the
most fashionable city in the southern
hemisphere, with a unique aesthetic
that is both innovative
and fl attering.
“Australian style is best
refl ected in an amalgamation
of our most celebrated current
crop of designers,” says Simon
L ck, the founder of Mercedes-
Benz Fashion Week Australia. “We
have Zimmermann, Ellery and
Dion Lee. And they all have
an informal elegance of
body-conscious silhouettes
that defi ne a certain way of life that is the envy
of the world.”
For the past 20 years, Sydney’s fashion week
has been instrumental in projecting designers
from this geographically remote country onto
the world stage. “MBFWA continues to shine
a spotlight on local talent and has provided a
stepping stone into international marketplaces,”
says Lock. “The event is deemed a success when
a designer like Zimmermann grows through
the event and leaves it to show in New York or
elsewhere. The basic strategy behind the event
has remained unchanged in 20 years, with the
exception that it is increasingly diffi cult to get
international buyers to attend.”
However, with the advent of online streaming
for shows, brands such as Christopher Esber,
Michael Lo Sordo, Maticevski, Albus Lumen,
Strateas Carlucci and Romance Was Born are
making major international waves, shining a bit
of that sparkling Sydney sunshine into all four
corners of the globe.
SLEEP
A favourite with the fashion
set, the Merivale group’s
Establishment Hotel is set
in a former warehouse
and its 31 sleek,
contemporary rooms all
boast high ceilings and
period bluestone baths.
merivale.com.au
SYDNEY
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK (PREVIOUS SPREAD)
EAT
Restaurant Hubert feels like a more affordable and definitely
more approachable version of dining in Paris, serving all the
classics from snails to côte de boeuf in an intimate environment
in the heart of Sydney. restauranthubert.com
SHOP
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop with all of
your favourite designers, then David Jones is the
place to go, stocking Australia’s most innovative
collections at its five-storey flagship on Market
Street. davidjones.com.au
john hannent
(John Hannent)
#1