1. Manning Cartell the road not taken dress 2. Karen Millen marble print kaftan 3. Mimco berkeley lace up 4. Karen Millen photographic print clutch bag 5. Zimmermann fragment chiffon jumper

Final reductions on A/W 2010 are now in store at Zimmermann. 50% off or more!

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*Update 25th June*

Wayne Cooper has now reduced everything – up to 75% off!

Future melbourne brides this is your chance to find “the dress” for as little as $100! For two days only, this Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June, Brides of Melbourne are having their clearance sale. Up to 80% off gowns (and even 10% off new season pieces). Find them in a new space on level 2.

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*Update 23rd June*

The Alpha60 shoe sale is on! Enjoy 30% off Opening Ceremony, gram, Marais labels and more for 10 days only.

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*Update 17th June*

Leona Edmiston’s sale will soon come to an end. Now is your last chance to take advantage of final reductions. Find 50% off all handbags and up to 50% of frocks. All Italian handmade heels are only $150!

Need shoes? Camper has 30% off current season designs starting today.

Zimmermann now has further reductions in-store with up to 50% off Autumn/Winter 2010.

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*Update 16th June*

Take an extra 20% off already reduced items at Mimco.

You’ll now find the ABC Shop has gone on sale! Time to stock up on goodies and gifts for the heart and mind.

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*Update 11th June*

Hussy’s up to 50% off sale continues…

Enjoy 30% off when you mention this offer at Alexi Freeman until his end of lease sale runs out on June 20.

In need of a fabulous frock for a special occasion (or one to save for a rainy day when you need to knock someone’s sock off)? Your destination should be nicolangela where they have 50 up to 75% off on now.

Fat has also just started their Winter sale. Check in store for markdowns.

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*Update 9th June*

30% off all denim at Alpha60’s Alphaville store starts tomorrow for ten days only.

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*Update 7th June*

Lisa Taranto is celebrating their opening week with a 20% off sale until 17th June.

Arabella Ramsay now has a up to 40% off winter sale now on in her Temporary Pleasure pop-up store.

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*Update 3rd June 2010*

Starting today Gorman has up to 60% off in a mid year fashion sale also featuring shoes and accessories.

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*Update 2nd June 2010*

The lovely Leona Edmiston now has 25-50% off (almost) everything in store. Stock up on frocks, heel and bags. Plus they also have some new Leona by Leona Edmiston dress arrivals in that are a bargain in and of themselves at $129. Coveting the versatile navy Nicola dress.

Until June 30th Ben Sherman has a massive 30 – 70% off storewide.

Discover up to 75% off Autumn/Winter pieces at Manning Cartell from this Friday 4th to Sunday 6th of June.

Baccini & Hill is holding their annual clearance. Some dresses start at $100 while you’ll fine 15% off new season pieces. Up to 80% off the rest for two days ONLY this weekend.

New season Autumn Winter designs at Karen Millen are up to 50% off.

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*Update 1st June 2010*

Arthur Galan AG is offering up to 50% off starting today.

Starting tomorrow, the made-for-any-season Metalicus will have from 30 – 50% off.

Mimco has also just started their up to 50% off sale on selected gorgeous pieces.

Lovers of lingerie should rejoice as im boutique now has – you guessed it – up to 50% off selected lingerie, swimwear, sleepwear and accessories.

From tomorrow for two weeks only Willow will also be on sale at up to 50% off!

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On now at Belinda you’ll find 30% off luxurious designer labels including Stella McCartney and Marni. Visit the store for more details.

Also on now at Wayne Cooper is their Winter sale. Find up to 50% off his gorgeous range. We’re almost running tempted to run out the door this instant.

While stocks last, Hussy has a buy two pieces and get the second item half price promotion.

LIFEwithBIRD also has further reductions with up to 50% off winter pieces.

“We wanted the make up to be in tonal hues of warm, coffee like colours. The skin is flawless and polished, highlighted in areas to reflect the summer sun. Eyebrows are strong and sculpted to give the make up a sophisticated sexiness,” Severino says of the look. We think the look is cooly exotic. See below for how to recreate these looks at home.

Images courtesy M.A.C.

Frockwriter’s Patty Huntington captured some stunning images from the show as you can see below.

As did Marie Claire magazine. Read their review here. They even persuaded M.A.C’s make-up artist to reveal how to recreate the presentation’s beauty looks.

We have fallen for the antique style porcelain print and vivid lips. Now onto the impending RAFW as we keep a keen eye on Hussy, Lisa Ho, Zimmermann and Manning Cartell as they present their latest wares.

Luxury and unexpected details abound; a zip here, a flash of citrus or the addition of leather there. Furs, textures and embellishments are bold.

This season’s emphasized shoulder is present, but is more subtly highlighted rather than exaggerated as in recent incarnations of the style. Plunging necklines throughout the collection are provocative.

The colour palatte, often metallic or mysteriously murky, draws you in. Yet angelic whites, pops of pink tending towards fuschia and splashy watercolour-style prints add levity to the range.

A selection of our favourite pieces are found below. We particularly covet their Watermark Dress and the Matte Lustre Top. Overall Manning Cartell’s Autumn Winter 2010 collection is intriguing – somewhat indefinable – but still very, very cool.

Visit Manning Cartell on level one (take the lift) or call 03 9639 2878.

MIMCO showcased long strings of chunky beads and pearls, glittering clutches (some with interesting decoration such as gold snakes) and leather handbags in every size imaginable. Large rings and flower shaped bracelets made an appearance along with belts with layers of black beads and chains across the hip.

Gorman teamed chunky coloured knits with sheer fabrics displaying polkadots, sequin star designs, stripes and leather mini skirts. Their accessories included bright pompom balls and scarves that resembled paper chains.

Manning Cartell blended tough with feminine with silk fabrics draping across the body, fuschia and black, fur coats, hard Balmain inspired shoulders on structured jackets, leather skirts, metallics, digital prints and tailored mini dresses.

Trends at the show

The military trend reared its head in the collections of Karen Walker and Lucette. Karen Walker with their double breasted coat with large gold button detail and Lucette with big buttons up the sleeves of theirs. Karen Walker also experimented with bold prints, some digital and other reminiscent of the 1970s. Lucette used fringing and sequins as embellishment as well as using leather in various forms (skirt, shorts and jackets).

Tartan was used to create a jacket with a fur collar for Arabella Ramsay who also touched on the use of polkadots which we saw in Gorman’s collection. Overall, Arabella’s theme evoked a feeling of ‘urban cowgirl’, mixing checks with earthy tones and leather bomber jackets.

Obus featured oversized knits with coloured stripes in greens, pinks and oranges with socks layered up the leg over ribbed tights, which gave the collection a slight South American flavour. Then, in contrast, we saw delicate pink silk tops, floral prints and tailored blazers with piping.

Yeojin Bae went for an elegant tailored collection with structured bustiers and dresses, often with lace panelling. Other than typical winter colours such as grey and black, this collection had splashes of orange, fuschia and pale pink. She also referenced a key trend in the trenchcoat, but made it unique by using wool and a waist tie to create a softer version of the classic coat.

Photo credit: Fashionising.com

We are proud to launch our theatrical event program as part of the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival, showcasing impressive new collections by our style savvy international and Australian designers. Sumptuous hair and beauty looks will be created for the shows by award winning Creative Director Caterina DiBiase from Heading Out Hair & Beauty, while exotic and opulent head pieces have been crafted by talented milliner Kerrie Stanley.

The Feast of Fashion shows will combine two of Melbourne’s greatest loves: food and fashion, tantalising the senses with a dash of elegant accessories, a pinch of delectable treats and a generous helping of baroque inspired glamour.

The highlight of the luncheon (apart from O’Connor’s energetic back up dancers naturally) was a race wear parade featuring the likes of Karen Millen, Arthur Galan AG, Lisa Ho, Hussy (with their sister label Madame Marie), nicolangela, Ben Sherman, Digby’s, Leona Edmiston, Veronika Maine, Max & Co., Manning Cartell, Wayne Cooper and Mimco. Ladies on the lawns please take note; this is how the races should be done – with style.

We hope to see you there next year!

Fashion Hayley’s winner Estelle took a liking to one of the most recent additions to our Australian designer fashion line-up; Manning Cartell. Estelle is a discerning client with a really directional aesthetic that the store matched well. There was much deliberation over whether to purchase some fabulously cut black pants (if you are going to break the sartorial rules for the Spring Carnival you should reach for some stunning slacks) or a black mini-dress here. Why not take both and decide what to wear to the races later?

Lady Melbourne and winner Claire took to the challenge with gusto managing to pull together a complete, chic look well under their given time limit. Claire chose a graphic black and white striped “Be a Good Girl” dress from Fat as her main piece. Staying in-store at Fat she set off the dress with a pop of colour courtesy bright yellow Vivienne Westwood for Melissa kitten heels. Shoe lovers may recognise those as the Lady Dragon ‘Bow’ shoe. Divine! More yellow was injected into the ensemble after a last minute visit to Metalicus to pick up a striped yellow top to ensure Claire will stay warm should the weather not reamin as sunny as her outfit.

Finally, Nadia and Alicia from Sea of Ghosts shopped up a storm. Like previous winner Estelle, Nadia gravitated towards a dramatic Manning Cartell maxi dress but it was a tough decision due to the lure of a similarly dramatic Sass & Bide number. After many a strutting catwalk through the stores they managed to settle on the black Manning Cartell maxi paired with a bejewelled, ruffled harness neck piece from Sass & Bide to make to look Nadia’s own.

Remember you can take a peek at all the competition entries by simply clicking here.

Click on any of the images below to browse through the entire set in our Flickr gallery.