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.

An official part of the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week program, the display will see numerous original creations alongside their hat blocks and an explanation of how each is constructed. The exhibit includes the largest piece Paris has ever made; taking 32 hours to create. Paris is a renowned local milliner, often called upon to comment on fashion or judge fashions on the field competitions and has made headpieces and hats for Paris and Nicky Hilton, Tara Moss, Melissa George, Marcia Hines, Kate Cebrano and even Molly Meldrum.

So get inspired with headwear for the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival season, and take a look at this millinery exhibition…best of all it is free to peruse!

You can find Paris Kyne’s ‘Silhouette, Line, Texture, Colour & Value’ exhibition on Level 1 (take the lift) from now until Saturday 11 September.

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.

Two of our very own designers Akira Isogawa and Arthur Galan alongside six others – Bettina Liano, Camilla Franks, Gail Elliott, Jason Grech, Jayson Brunsdon and Rachel Gilbert – have designed yellow fashion pieces to raise funds for the Cancer Council and cancer research.

You can vote for your favourite design to win a $1000 Mimco voucher. Add a $10 donation along with your vote and you could find yourself the new owner of your favourite designer’s item!

We’ll all be celebrating with TWO days worth of parties and our lovely Lovers are of course invited! Manning Cartell is treating you to special in-store offers, gifts with purchase (receive a free Spring 2010 Batwing Top valid at $159 with any purchase over $300) and a lucky door prize of a $750 voucher to be used at the store. Of course there will be gift bags to take home (it wouldn’t be a real party without them!)

So join in the fun on Friday 27th August from 10am-8pm or Saturday 28th August from 10am-6pm.

Find Manning Cartell on level 1 (take the lift) or call 03 9639 2878.

Have you seen the book? Were you one of our lucky winners to enjoy Fleur’s hospitality at the launch? What did you think?

Find food fashion friends at Fleur Wood’s boutique on the ground floor or call 03 9662 2677

Here’s your sneak peek at the debauchery, the spectacle and the utter fabulousness of those rare, magical nights…

Pick up your copy of Acne Paper 10 in-store at Acne on the ground level at Melbourne’s GPO.

The special offer is available until August 31 at Cacao’s Melbourne stores.

Find Cacao on our ground floor or call 03 9662 4777.