His new collection full of drift and soft sculpture is called “Smoke and Mirrors” because “That’s what fashion is all about” explains Cooper. You can “look like plain Jane but whack your dress on or put your face on and then you are someone else”. He creates event driven clothes but is now adding more daywear as he feels fashion is becoming a lot more about separates. This range features crushed silk and hand tucked cottons in azure blues and metallics.

Up Close with Wayne Cooper

Tips for the season from Claudia Navone
-You can wear a short dress to the races as long as you are hidden up top.
-There’s a lot of ivory and beige in season. Flesh is the new black. When wearing nudes pay attention to your complexion as they can wash you out.
- Investing in dresses is easy as it’s one piece and you’re done dressing.
- Soft dressing a la Chloe is big.

Tips for headwear at the races by milliner Peter Jago
-This season his headwear is inspired by metallics of the Assyrians and ancient Egyptians.
-Headbands for the races can be a subtle rock and roll option.
-Jago is sick of “scraggy” looking hair, be polished with your ‘do to pay respect to your headwear.
-Show off your beautiful neck!

Your trackside look by Heading Out Hair and Beauty’s Caterina Di Biase
-As the Spring Carnival is an event you can feel free to play with your look. Remember the races are still a day event. Don’t go over the top with your makeup.
-For a fresh 60’s look try heavy eyeliner. But tone everything else down lest you look like a clown.
-The only ponytails we should see on the track are tucked under, polished and Viktor and Rolf inspired.

Akira, Belinda (presents Marni and Josh Goot), Karen Millen, Lisa Ho and nicolangela.

Up close with Arthur Galan AG

Styling tips for Spring Summer 2010/11 from Claudia Navone;

-Especially for men, if you wear shorts they don’t have to be long and you don’t have to look as if you are going to the beach. Think tailored and elegant if you are in an urban environment.

- The 90’s are back.

- Gold and black together are on-trend.

- Wear an extravagant hat if you are keeping your dress simple. However there are always exceptions; sometimes more is more, just be careful.

- Men must wear a hat or else pay some attention to their hair style when at the races.

Beauty Tips for the races from Caterina Di Biase of Heading Out Hair & Beauty;

- Keep blotting paper in your handbag.

- You can find mini dry hair shampoo or baby talcum powder which is great for soaking up sweat in the hair after a long day.

- If you are going to take your hat off to fix your hair make sure you do put it back on again; there’s nothing worse than hat hair.

- Suncreen: don’t get burnt!

- Hair shaped for boys this season is simply short length with a little something to play with. The short look is also popular for girls.

- Mad Men is having its influence.

Millinery tips from Paris Kyne for this racing season;

-Shapes are all loopy and curly this season. There are lots of flowing lines.

-Art Nouveau is back.

Digbys, Alpha60, Ben Sherman, Fleur Wood, Veronika Maine, Christopher Chronis and Leona Edmiston.

Up close with Manning Cartell

Styling tips for Spring Summer 2010/11 from Claudia Navone;

-With the new length of skirt hemline that fall to the calf, you must wear heels.

-Don’t forget to make sure you look as good from the back as the front; that way you can make a grand exit as well as a grand entrance.

-Try a suit for a modern look for the races; it’s not all about pretty dresses.

Beauty tips from Caterina Di Biase of Heading Out Hair & Beauty;

-50’s and 60’s have a strong influence on hair.

-Styles are big, glamourous, polished and “done” in contrast to past seasons that have been deconstructed. Think modern beehive as inspired by Karl Lagerfeld.

Millinery tips from Paris Kyne;

-Purple is an on-trend colour for fashion and headwear.

-Match purple with silver as the two colours really work together.

-Wear different tones of the same colour especially when it comes to accessories, it doesn’t all have to match perfectly.

Gorman, Tim O’Connor, Hussy, The Dressing Room, Metalicus and LIFEwithBIRD

Alice Euphemia drew from their range of labels to produce the epitome of a “wow factor”. We particularly liked the sparkly legging and jacket that hit the catwalk.

Alistair Trung presented paired back etheralism in soft grey with feathered accessories.

Arnsdorf had us lusting over their dusty colour scheme and new geometric yet somehow still soft lines.

Assin presented Lui Hon’s artfully draped pieces with the occasional hint of glitter underneath.

Dhini entranced with her innovative bejewelled print fit for a Rajah.

Flannel went with a minimalist take on country and western themes. We like their use of buttery tan leather.

Gary Bigeni presented a cool, calm and collected range in cream with a highlight hue of soft blue.

For Kuwaii, a strikingly sheer, trigonometric print set off the block neutral colours of classic forms with a twist.

MATERIALBYPRODUCT again put their craft on full display, taming fabric around the body in a way that seems effortless yet inspired.

Therese Rawsthorne gave us a pop of pink, our first hint of Spring floral and a kick-ass maxi-skirt in folded black fabric.

I have managed to save just a handful of tickets to our Melbourne Spring Fashion Week styling shows featuring Harper’s Bazaar contributing fashion editor Claudia Navone and the designers from Manning Cartell and Arthur Galan AG sharing tips, tricks and trends for the season ahead. Plus sparkling wine and chocolate!

The shows will be be showcasing looks from the collections of Gorman, Hussy, LIFEwithBIRD, Metalicus, The Dressing Room, Tim O’Connor, Alpha60, Ben Sherman, Christopher Chronis, Fleur Wood, Digbys, Leona Edmiston and Veronika Maine.

To win a pass for you and a friend to the 12.30 or 1.30pm shows on Thursday September 2 simply;

1. Email sarah@melbournesgpo.com with the name of your favourite MSFW designer as the subject line.

2. Please include your full name and mobile number and the time you would like to attend (12.30pm or 1.30pm).

3. Remember to check your email at 1pm tomorrow to see if you have won! Easy!

Thursday 2 September 2010 – Level 2 – Melbourne’s GPO

In celebration of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, join Harper’s BAZAAR Contributing Fashion Editor Claudia Navone and leading Melbourne’s GPO designers at the Designer Style Studio. Get up close and personal with Melbourne’s GPO designers Mimi Galan for Arthur Galan AG, Manning Cartell and Wayne Cooper, as they present their style directions and key looks from their Spring/Summer 10/11 Collections.

Enjoy a Piccolo of Deakin Estate sparkling wine and divine Cacao Fine Chocolates while viewing Claudia’s fashion picks from more of Melbourne’s GPO designer stores for the upcoming spring and racing seasons. Heading Out Hair & Beauty and leading Melbourne Milliners Kerrie Stanley, Paris Kyne and Peter Jago will complete Melbourne’s GPO designer collections with fabulous beauty and headwear directions.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW!

12:30pm Designer Style Studio Session

Up close with Manning Cartell

Also featuring key looks by:

Gorman

Hussy

LIFEwithBIRD

Metalicus

The Dressing Room

Tim O’Connor

1:30pm Designer Style Studio Session

Up close with Mimi Galan for Arthur Galan AG

Also featuring key looks by:

Alpha60

Ben Sherman

Christopher Chronis

Fleur Wood

Digbys

Leona Edmiston

Veronika Maine

6:30pm Designer Style Studio Session (booked out)

Up close with Wayne Cooper

Also featuring key looks by:

Akira

Belinda

Karen Millen England

Lisa Ho

Nicolangela

Accessories by Mimco, Georg Jensen and Pandora. Footwear by Camper, Mimco and Nude. Headwear by Kerrie Stanley, Paris Kyne Master Milliner and Peter Jago Exclusive Hats.

Stay on at the city’s finest shopping and meet some of Melbourne’s GPO designers in store, whilst enjoying a host of special offers valid until 8pm on the day.

Tickets are $20 + Booking Fee (incl. reserved seat, Deakin Estate Piccolo & Cacao Fine Chocolates). Seats are limited, so click here to book now.

This year our MSFW events will be more hands-on, showcasing the looks for the season and how to wear them in THREE different Designer Style Studio Sessions. We are proud to have lured Harper’s Bazaar contributing fashion editor Claudia Navone  to host each styling session along with designers the Manning Cartell sisters, Mimi Galan for Arthur Galan AG and Wayne Cooper. You’ll be presented with dozens of inspirational outfits for summer from a range of labels and get up close and personal with the designers. You can come over your lunch break or after work too! For full details and to book your tickets click here now.

On Thursday 2nd September we will also be holding our annual Melbourne Spring Fashion Week Shopping Day. This is your chance to personally meet some of your favourite designers in-store and a range of special offers will be available for you to take advantage of on that one day only. Stay tuned for further details coming soon!

Of course you can find our labels at other places around town during MSFW. You probably already know that Akira, Arthur Galan AG, Lisa Ho, Arabella Ramsay, Gorman, LIFEwithBIRD, Manning Cartell, nicolangela, Wayne Cooper, Alpha60, and Fat will be starring in the official Designer Series Shows. But did you know that Gorman has created three goodie bags to collect at these shows?

The Up Market will be held here at Alto on level two. Miss Money Penny Fashion Emporium and Take 2 Markets have combined their powers to bring you a glamorous market of new, almost new and vintage designer pieces with budget savvy pricetags.

Master milliner Paris Kyne will be presenting a free exhibition of his designs and their history at Melbourne’s GPO called ‘Silhouette, Line, Texture, Colour and Value’ across the entire fashion week.

The ‘Til you Drop: Shopping – A Melbourne History’ exhibition presents two special events over MSFW. The first is a panel discussion ‘The Shop is Dead, Long Live the Shop!’ and the second is an exhibition tour with curator Jane Rhodes called ‘Window Shopping: The Curator’s View’.

Twitchett & Tonge will hold their new season parade in store on Thursday 2nd September. Enjoy a glass of bubbles with them while watching the show! Bookings are free on sales@twitchettandtonge.com.

Fat presents a limited edition T-Shirt exhibition called ‘Apple of my Eye’ from 6pm on Thursday 2nd September at Block Projects gallery.

And don’t forget that LIFEwithBIRD and Alpha60 designers will be speaking at the Breakfast Series on collaboration also on Thursday 2nd September.

And remember, to cap it all off, will be the UP Market at Alto on level 3 from 2.30 to 5.30pm where you will find vintage and nearly new designer pieces at dramatically reduced prices.

Arabella Ramsay – 15% off new Spring/Summer range

Arthur Galan AG – 10% discount storewide

Baccini & Hill – 20% off all full priced gowns. Not valid with any other offer or on sale items

Ben Sherman – 15% off storewide

Brides of Melbourne – 15% off full priced bridal gowns for new orders placed on the day. Not valid with any other offer or on sale items

Christopher Chronis – 20% off storewide

Digbys – 15% off full priced merchandise

Fleur Wood -15% off all stock

Georg Jensen – Receive $50 off any full priced jewellery purchase over $300. Limit one per customer.

Gorman – 20% off storewide, excluding accessories and footwear

Hussy – 20% off new season’s styles

Karen Millen England – 15% off full priced Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

Larsen Jewellery – $200 off engagement and wedding rings

Leona Edmiston – 15% off storewide

Lisa Ho – 15% off new season, excluding eveningwear

Lisa Taranto – 20% off new season range

Manning Cartell – Spend $400 or more and receive a free Batwing Lace Tank valued at $159 for free

Metalicus – 20% off full priced merchandise

Mimco – 20% off full priced collection

Nicolangela – 20% off storewide

Pandora – Spend $150 or more and receive a complimentary Pandora tote bag and journal

Sass & Bide – 10% discount for all purchases over $500

The Dressing Room – 15% off storewide

Tim O’Connor – 20% off new season’s collection

Twitchett & Tonge – 15% off new season

Veronika Maine – Receive a gift with purchase to the value of $79 when you spend $300 or more in store

Wayne Cooper – 20% off new season

Willow – Spend $800 or more and receive a free hand woven Willow scarf valued at $200

Stay tuned as we will reveal how to get your tickets to our Designer Styling Salons with Harper’s Bazaar contributing fashion editor Claudia Navone very soon!

nicolangela kindly participated in Miss Green’s Garden Party. This inaugural event saw almost 20 designers donate an outfit to be auctioned off in aid of their chosen charities. The catches? The outfit must be suitable to wear to the Spring Racing Carnival and it had to be display eco-friendly design. nicolangela’s eco-chic contribution was their “Willow” frock with “Pricilla” bolero in a turquoise and chartreuse hand-painted silk combination. It was a ladylike afternoon filled with cupcakes, iced tea and guilt free fashion.

We were also lucky to be involved in Fashionising’s High Fashion, High Tea at the opulent Silk Road. Designs from Hussy and im strutted the inventively styled runway, while Hussy also dressed the elegant hostesses for the afternoon. Fashion topped off with scones and pastries? Heaven.

Many of our in-house labels also popped up in the official Designer Series parades at the Town Hall. Often the most anticipated events of the week, if you happened to be a lucky ticket holder, you may have watched as the amazing Akira, Gorman, Arthur Galan AG, Wayne Cooper and Fat graced the catwalk among Australia’s fashion design elite.

Simply click on one of the photos below to see our bumper Melbourne Spring Fashion Week gallery.

Images courtesy Fashionising, M&C media and SDP Photo.