Carla Zampatti: 50 Years Strong

Lovers of Australian fashion will be very familiar with the story of Italian born designer Carla Zampatti and her much-loved eponymous label, Carla Zampatti.

After emigrating to Australia as a child in 1950, Zampatti released her first collection in 1965. In the following 5 decades of celebrated design, Carla has consistently produced effortlessly elegant, streamlined collections in vivid hues that are perfect for the modern Australian woman - no matter her age. In her own words, Zampatti has noted that "from the beginning, I wanted to create haute couture pieces that women could  buy at an affordable price."

As she celebrates half a century of timeless design (and her 100th collection), Zampatti's latest collection is one of her strongest. Beautiful dresses in vivid hues of fuschia, sapphire and vibrant lemon, with plenty of spring's staple black + white and classic blacks, Zampatti's spring/summer collection (previewed at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Melbourne earlier this year) screams spring racing and champagne soaked soirees.

Carla Zampatti's latest collection was presented at Sydney's iconic Opera House, with the Harbour Bridge serving as a dramatic backdrop

Later this year, she will also publish a coffee table book celebrating her time in one of the more fickle industries in the country.

Zampatti's shades of pink are the perfect anti-dote to the gloomy winter's days I've been experiencing in Southern Australia:

I would like to own this in a somewhat wild-eyed, desperate kind of way

PS Great sneakers, front-row lady

The remainder of the collection is equally glamorous and deliciously upbeat:

If you weren't sure, Carla Z is the lady in the sunglasses

Source:http://www.buro247.com.au/fashion/insiders/carla-zampatti-celebrates-half-a-century-of-style.html 

Shoesday: Races

We are now knee deep in Spring racing season here in Australia, with the moment of climax very soon upon us. Yes, Melbourne Cup: the race that stops a nation, and sends the retail and millinery industry into overdrive as women feverishly search for the hat that will bring them Fashions on the Field glory - or at least win them a bottle of Moet in the hotly contested best dressed competition at their workplace Melbourne Cup lunch.

It is an iconic day in Australia's fashion calendar, and as such, should be treated with the deepest respect. 

Below we have a prime example of increasingly common race-day attire that is not respectful to either the Melbourne Cup or to shoes in general.

Way to destroy a perfectly lovely pair of shoes.

The shoe cap. I've seen them in action, and you are kidding yourself if you think these things are invisible due to their clear plastic properties. Like the "invisible bar strap" - also made of clear plastic yet somehow the only part of an outfit the eye is drawn to when worn - there is nothing discrete or classy about these little puppies. 

When attending a day at the races, simply resign yourself to the fact that your stiletto is going to sink into the grass somewhat (to be honest, great quality grass - often found at excellent race tracks - won't see you sinking that much). 

So aim for classic, elegant heels and embrace the great outdoors.

By Royal Decree: The Hemline

Ahead of their Australia/NZ trip, Kate Middleton was apparently told in no uncertain terms by her mummy-in-law that she will be required to wear skirts that cover the knee. The new hemline order was issued apparently to mark Kate's transition from High Street girl to regal woman who is married to and mother of future heirs to the Crown.

Some would simply say the longer hems are a tad "mumsy", which Kate most certainly is not (despite actually being a mum), however I must say, I do really like the slightly longer hem.

Here are some shots of her looking regal and gorgeous on her current tour of Australia and New Zealand:

She really is lovely. On a side note, in the moments where her dress has been caught in wind gusts, we've had the opportunity to see she has the slimmest legs EVER! (Apart from all those Victoria's Secret models). How on earth did she get them?? And post baby too? Mental note to get to the bottom of this slim leg business.

Anyway, back to the hemlines. They are longer, and far more demure, and I actually find them rather appropriate - although I hate to disagree with the Queen who is now apparently the last word in fashion, but I think below the knee is just a teensy bit homely. Above or grazing the knee is better... In my humble, lowly royal subject's opinion.

The subject of hemlines came up recently with a bunch of girls as we lamented the inability to buy work dresses that reached the knee. While we all love a good mini-skirt and short shorts, there are certain times that you just need a dress that covers more than just mid-thigh (i.e. EVERY DAY at work). Yet we frequently find that the lovely dresses we'd like to wear simply don't go below mid-thigh, and if you're even remotely tall or have a long-ish torso, you can forget about raising your hands above head for fear of flashing everyone your not-so-slim thighs and your knickers.



Don't adjust your ponytail!

So while I am sad that we will no longer see shots of Kate in hot pants, I am hoping the trend for the slightly longer hemline kicks in and I can comfortably attend meetings without worrying that I'm showing too much leg (or worse).

Too short for Queeny

The cruel irony is that Kate's legs are now totally hot pants-ready.

The Letter D

This evening I'm participating in one of my favourite activities: a costume party!

HOWEVER. The party is for someone I don't know, this person being a friend of the new boy's. So while I generally make it my philosophy to dress as outrageously and/or skankily as possible (hey! you have to unleash your inner vixen every now and again, right?! I have waxed lyrical on this topic before, in fact), I also understand that social convention may require that I behave myself somewhat in order to get to know these new people - without alienating them with too much sluttiness or, worse, just generally being completely inappropriately dressed for the event. This is actually my worst nightmare, and was beautifully illustrated in Bridget Jones' Diary.

She did rock out her outfit, and she did do it with as much dignity as possible... Yet we all know that she was socially ostracised for the duration of the party.


The party is themed "D". I abhor "letter of the alphabet" parties. They symbolise (in my mind) rather significant narcissim (you shall all come dressed as something beginning with the first letter of my name! Oh, ok... You may come along as me - in fact: that's exactly what I want! Show me how you see me) and a complete lack of creativity on the part of the person choosing the "theme". I much prefer a real theme, but I obviously had no involvement in the planning of this party, so I can merely sit judgmentally (and in silence). I do hope - after this rant - that none of you readers have had a "letter of the alphabet" party. If you have, I'm glad I wasn't invited. :o)

Back to the matter at hand. The letter D. Originally I had a million different ideas, but eventually settled on Dorothy of Oz - primarily because I already own red shoes.* It's like when you go racewear shopping: you're either trying to find a dress to match the hat you bought yonks ago which you love with all your heart and have waited patiently to wear, or you're trying to find a hat to match your awesome new dress. Rarely is it pulled off with much success because it's very hard to match trans-seasonal colours with each other. Amateur error.

As it was in the case of my costume hunt.

* Adorable gay man and style guru (for a while, anyway) Carson Kressley once memborably (in my mind) said: "My mother said that only little girls and whores wear red shoes". I say: "Carson, you (and your mother) are so wrong! Red shoes are delightful when done properly. And Dorothy was certainly one of the early pioneers.")


So I hunted down a blue & white check pinafore and puffy sleeved white shirt. And I came up with: (a) an obnoxiously expensive hire costume (no!); and (b) the porn star take on Dorothy. I also discovered that stores no longer sell blue and white checked aprons, so I can't even try to do the craft, DIY version of Dorothy.

I have been forced to move on from Dorothy, as I was reluctant to fork out $80 for an event that others may or may not dress up for (I judge people who don't wear costumes to costume parties), nor am I prepared to look completely slutty** for a bunch of people I don't yet know.

So I have come up with Darlene the Diner Girl, based loosely on True Blood's Sookie Stackhouse - the ultimate in modern-day diner girls.

It's lame, isn't it? Although to my credit, she is being loosely combined with Frenchie from Grease.

If you can imagine that...

**I will be showing some cleavage: it's not all demure and boring. I have a "Darlene" name tag, a tray, a pink scarf and pink apron, purple wig and some of those crazy pink glasses from the era. I really need some rollerskates, but don't like my chances of staying upright. I have a hot pink push-up bra and a skin-tight white t-shirt.

Seriously. The things we do for love: wasting an opportunity for flashy tackiness? Unbelievable!

Hat Fantasia

It's Paris couture fashion week, which means the designers get to display their creativity truly unleashed. You don't have to wear it, you just need to love it/hate it/REACT.

The Dior show was so frothy and bubble-gummy... It just reminded me of a bag of mixed lollies!

Will we be wearing geometric shapes on our heads at race days next year?

Off and Racing

Speaking of racewear, Alannah Hill is pretty much the Queen of it here in Oz.


In keeping with the black and white theme I'll probably be adopting, the first pic is my favourite. I adore those little gloves!

I Took My Baby On A Saturday Bang

Black and white is such an easy colour combination. It makes perfect sense, and you really can't go wrong when you accessorise. I'm meant to be hitting the race track tomorrow (despite freezing temperatures) and I think black and white is the only way to go - how else does one incorporate thick, black opaque stockings without looking as though you've only done it for warmth anyway? It must be done.

Kate Middleton

Has fantastic legs.

Alannah Hill is Forgiven

We all make mistakes. It's a new season... Spring racing is just around the corner, and who better than the ultimate go-to girl, but Alannah Hill. I am salivating!