1.Acne Studios have just the thing to complete a woman’s look – this assymetrical belt with just enough edge.
2. The wonderful Akira has come up with these highly textural bags inspired by origami.
3. Alexi Freeman’s Infinity jewellery line tells mum you love her always.
4. Elegant yet quirky, this Alpha60 scarf is a must have winter accessory.
5. Most of us love chocolate…and shoes. SO this limited edition chocolate shoe by Cacao may be the perfect gift!
6. Gorman has these adorable runners for casual mums.
7. How about this chic and versatile pair of Full Moon Boots from Hussy?
8. Nothing like a pop of colour as with this tangerine robe available at im, to brighten mum’s day.
9. These shiny new drop earrings are made locally by Larsen.
10. Mimco is offering these pretty jewel studs as a free gift with purchase when you spend over $199
11. Perhaps you should take your mum to see the new flick Mother and Child? Perhaps we should send you both as our gift to you!
12. The Real Food Companian by Matthew Evans tells us how to source produce, cook and eat ethically. Available from the ABC Shop.

The amazing Akira Isogawa raised over $1400 with this mixed media work. The series of three pieces incorporates antique obi and kimono material and glass beads into watercolour fashion illustrations. We covet it to adorn our stylish office walls.

Lisa Gorman has created this king and queen sculpture from recycled materials which she says forces creativity. They could be very cute displayed on a mantle piece in a shabby chic styled room. Gorman’s work is still open for bidding.

Photographer: Hayley Hughes of Fashion Hayley

Alpha60 have collaborated with the Australian Ballet to create a limited edition unisex t-shirt. It is not the first time fashion and ballet have met so overtly; other renowned designers, including our own Akira Isogawa, have designed costumes with dance in mind in the past. Indeed, it is not even the first time Alpha60 has merged with the ballet; Alex Cleary, one half of the designer duo, used to work for the Australian Ballet in merchandising way back when. Of this new collaboration the ballet’s Artistic Director David McAllister says, “their image of Parisian businessmen, one inexplicably wearing pointe shoes and a tutu, is beautifully witty”.

This marks the start of the Ballet v. Fashion project which will run from now through to 2012. There are only 100 of these Alpha60 tees available and they are sold exclusively through the Australian ballet’s online shop for just $50.

The first design of the night was a structured black dress by Martin Grant with shapes reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House. The collection mixed black, grey and fuchsia in mini dresses and pencil skirts. Fernando Frisoni swayed between super short mini and ankle length dresses with thigh high splits, digital prints and rouching. Scanlan and Theodore accentuated the hips with their fierce collection. We saw lots of black with high waisted leather minis, oversized coats and tapered pants.

Sequins were abound at Easton Pearson bringing a little glitter to some tribal inspired prints. Delicate sheer fabrics mixed with velvet were set against bold geometric and floral prints. Prints were also big in Tina Kalivas’ designs creating clashing outfits that combined patterns with more eccentric patterns. Pieces included lime green slim fit pants, panelled wrap dresses and high waisted pants.

Timothy Godbold used navy, black and grey as the base for his collection. Highlights were a glistening silver fishtail print skirt paired with a brown suede jacket and a soft off the shoulder top with high sitting black pants with thick waistband detail. Rather futuristic, digital print heavy pieces came down the catwalk for Michael Angel. The runway finished with his structured jackets, laser cutout dresses layered with sheer fabrics, fur coats and fitted mini dresses in chaotic orange, blue and purple prints.

Photo courtesy of Akira

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.

Melbourne’s GPO is so excited to be a bronze partner at this year’s Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. We’ve already mentioned the special events we have in store for you like our two Fashion at Altitude parades, our exclusive VIP parade, Fashion Illustration classes for beginners and our special shopping day this Wednesday. Apart from our official in-house events many of our gorgeous designer labels can also be found elsewhere throughout the city during the week. Here’s a selection for the MSFW 2009 program;

Find Akira at the Designer Series Show 1 Tues Sep 1st 6.30pm & 8.30pm
See Gorman at the Designer Series Show 2 Wed Sep 2nd 6.30pm & 8.30pm
Arthur Galan AG and Wayne Cooper are in the Designer Series Show 3 Thurs 3rd Sep 6.30pm & 8.30pm
Nicolangela will be a part of Miss Green’s Garden Party Sun 6th Sep 12.30pm – 4pm
Hussy and im will be a part of Fashionising’s High Fashion, High Tea Sat 4th 3pm – 5pm
Leona Edmiston partners with Guy Grossi at Fine Food and Fine Frocks Tues Sep 1st 6pm – 10pm
Discover Fat at the Designer Series Show 4 Fri 4th Sep 6.30pm & 8.30pm

Fat are also running a series of ‘Fat Loves…’ mini-events in store and online over the week;

Fat Loves Music. On Wednesday you can collect a free mix cd from Fat stores.
Fat Loves Art. From the 1st to the 6th September Fat stores will have different artist exhibitions on display. At Melbourne’s GPO, road kill artist and jeweller Emily Valentine will be the star of the show.
Fat Loves Exhibitions. On Thursday Fat hosts a limited edition T-Shirt exhibition at the No Vacancy gallery from 6pm.
Fat Loves Literature. Finally, on Saturday, Fat’s online blog will have a series of guest bloggers writing for them.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook today as we give away free tickets to our booked out ‘Fashion at Altitude’ parades for Wednesday.