Miss J and I just raised a toast to new friends and fashion, a fairly good summary of our week. On our last night in Sydney, Miss J is cooking up a storm, we are drinking sparkling grape juice and I am reflecting on day 4 of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (ironically Miss J just set off the smoke alarm, an apt summary of our day). In direct contrast to yesterday’s sleep in, today we had a 5.30am alarm to make the 7am volunteer call time. As a dresser, Miss J had to be there on the dot, while I had a little more time, starting at 8.30. I got up at 6am regardless to blog and catch up on emails, a much more productive time than 11pm.

By 8.30am when I turned up to work, Miss J was still cooling her heels by the harbour, with the other volunteers, waiting for the production managers to collect them. This has been the way of the week, extreme start and finish times for volunteers who were only required for a minimum of hours, or not at all. From over 1600 volunteers, only 300 were selected and it seems a large majority of the girls I have met are from interstate. Many volunteers have stopped turning up to shifts (apparently, we received a strongly worded email) because of the lack of coordination, although I imagine these are Sydney based vollies because I didn’t pay to come all this way and then miss out on the experience!

But back to day 4 at RAFW. The morning shift sent us back to the Cargo theatre where first on the schedule was Ae’lkemi, a Perth based label. The room had been laid out by us last night so renumbering was first up, then program and gift bag allocation. Pre-packaged gift bags were a god send for the front of house vollies who had not yet had a cup of coffee although the models who would have had a much earlier hair and make up call than us still seemed to be off in the land of nod while they learned the complicated choreography someone had dreamed up for them. A figure X style layout meant walking up and down aisles plus a circle motion when the girls met in the middle. After watching them parade and run into each other for several minutes, we did wonder if perhaps they would make it through the show without an error!

The show did go off without a hitch although the room wasn’t full and I managed a front row seat – I do wonder if having volunteers seated in the front row makes it a success? The label was eveningwear and as I overheard one punter say, it was quite ‘florida-esque’; bold prints in blues and greens, lot’s of nudes and a second part of the show in black. My awesome seat allowed for pretty good pics (as good as it gets on iphone) and for my tenth show of the week, I finally got to actually see the designer when he walked out on stage. As a sidenote, I love this about RAFW, at LMFF designers names are just brands, not people.

A room swap, new numbers, new gift bags and programs – starting to sound repetitive yet? My muscles are starting to remember the pattern and by the time I was allocated my job for Gary Bigeni – ‘paddle pop’ girl – I was starting to feel fatigue. My tiny breakfast wasn’t cutting it, it was hot and sitting in an office all day does nothing to prepare you for actual physical work. I sat on the stair for the Gary Bigeni show, pretty much over the whole experience but still alert enough to register Gary’s awesome jersey dresses, draping and pastels. The shoes the models wore were pretty awesome, nude platform wrap and strap heels with leather ties from G&L handmade. I am sure they cost a mint but I’ll be on the lookout for them when I get home.

Further room changing took place before our second last shift was over and we escaped to Bondi Junction for the afternoon for a spot of shopping. Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Bally; Jimmy Choo, Coach and Target(?!) – we ventured to them all. Miss J picked up a few bits and bobs, I tried on lot’s but couldn’t find anything to take my fancy. A final stop at Guess revealed an in-store event was taking place as part of a demin collaboration with Cleo magazine. We picked up an elderflower mocktail and tried on shoes, enjoying the atmosphere for a while before being told that the purchase Miss J had made at quarter to 6 wasn’t eligible for the gift bag – we hot footed it out of there and back to casa de fashion to rest up for day 5.

I have enjoyed hearing all the Sydney people complain about the cold today – 20 degrees in Melbourne is practically balmy but the Sydney folk were breaking out the scarves and gloves. Its disappointing we haven’t been able to break out anything remotely fashionable this week, besides wearing our high heels around our apartment, so I am looking forward to returning home where shoes reign supreme and I don’t have to wear the same thing for five days in a row (don’t worry, I washed it in between!)

Happy travels and sweet dreams fashionistas! Catch you at the airport tomorrow!

Image One: Blogging, Sparkling and Pad Thai at Casa de fashion
Image Two: Ae’lkemi
Image Three: Ae’lkemi
Image Four: Models prepping for Gary Bigeni
Image Five : Me at Bondi Junction station

Visit Ae’lkemi and Gary Bigeni to see the SS10 collections

Another day, another three nails broken – no one said fashion was glamorous, at least from my side of the fence. Rain and wind lashed Sydney this morning which I am sure caused lots of fashion disasters, and we elected to sleep in and rest up for another day on the fashion floor. But as per usual, dramas ensued and in our case occurred before we even got to work! Leaving Circular Quay train station, the ticket machine ate my weekly train pass and when the employee opened the machine, the ticket was gone. Miss J and I were quite sure the girl ahead of us had simply picked up my ticket (I like to believe this was an accident) and told the gentleman from the train network we were from Melbourne and just here for the week. Lovely guy went and spoke to a supervisor and badda bing badda boom, I had a replacement ticket. Many, many thanks to Mark and George at Metro, Circular Quay for making my week.

And so onto work, which of course we were now late for. Volunteers had already been allocated to Cargo and Opt so I was sent to Opt to make up numbers. It was organised chaos. Sort of. The Ready to Wear show was not far away and featured five designers, all of whom had gift bags in various states of packing. Then they needed to fit five gift bags on each chair. There were volunteers everywhere, photographers, PR people and people who generally just thought they were important. I felt like a three hundredth wheel. It wasn’t long before I got sent downstairs to Cargo to make up numbers there – a sigh of relief for me because it seemed the Opt was way beyond my level of comprehension!

Cargo was setting up for the first afternoon show, Phos Phoro, and there wasn’t too much to do to start off, some general bag packing and laying out. As the morning shift of volunteers filed out looking exhausted, Chip informed us that all three afternoon shows had major layout changes and who was excited? Phos Phoro had flowers on their seats and an impressive front row featuring blogger Susie Bubble but overall the show was actually quite empty compared to the sardine like squashing at other shows. The models wore peep toe brogue type shoes with fringing, an interesting change from sky high heels. Samantha Harris walked in the show, wearing an orange red pant suit, and looked amazing. She is also featured on the cover of this months Vogue.

As soon as the show was complete, we cleared the programs and prepared for the mammoth task of setting the room for Jayson Brunsdon. A snake like configuration was called for, requiring new lighting schemes and the addition of carpet through the walkways. The carpet was white so was then covered in black plastic (bringing back memories of the LMFF fittings) as we laid out hundreds of gift bags and programs. The programs featured an image drawn by the designer himself and I managed to snag one at the end of the show – it is gorgeous! While the gift bags, lighting and carpet laying went on around me, several volunteers spent nearly an hour standing against a wall. They should have the Survivor contestants do this – my legs and feet had had enough! Jayson Brunsdon was packed to the rafters and then some. People were in every nook and cranny – one of the only shows I actually wanted to see and I was going to be stationed near the entry! But not this fashionista. I snuck into the corporate area where the stairway was empty and watched from above, where no photos would work but at least I could see. Even after being told that the area was for corporates only, my desire to see the show won out and I stayed. Beautiful 50s dresses and soft pastel colours graced the runway, adorable frocks and MadMen inspired circle skirts. It was love at first sight.

Clearing the room after this one was epic and as the carpet was pulled up and chairs pushed and pulled into a new position, I had the moment I have most fashion weeks where I wonder if this is for me. More bag packing came after this, more standing around waiting for jobs to be handed out, more ’organised chaos’. Karla Spetic’s staff placed name cards on every seat, gift bags for VIPs and different bags for the rest, we renumbered the room and prepared for it all to start again – show number 9 for me for the week. The range (from my terrible vantage point sitting on the stair next to the screen) reinforced the country theme of the week and was very popular with the punters. By this time though I think I was over the day and my favourite part of this collection was actually the hair extensions – I definitely wish my hair was long again!

Another room swap, another broken nail and then it was over for day 3. My feet hurt worse than when I wear heels, my back is going to need physio for a month and I am seriously dehydrated. Two days to go girls and boys, let me know who your favourites are so far!     

Image One: Rain starts falling Sydney (from our balcony)
Image Two:  The Phos Phoro gift bag, program and flowers set on seats
Image Three: Fashionistas at Jayson Brunsdon
Image Four: Packing gift bags for Karla Spetic

Visit Phos Phoro, Jayson Brunsdon and Karla Spetic for all the SS10/11 collections

1. Not all fashion weeks are created equal
2. It doesn’t matter how much you pack for 5 days, it will never be enough, or the right thing
3. Sydney or Melbourne: rain is rain and its still wet and still a disaster for your hair
4. Sydney has the added bonus of humidity – also a disaster for your hair
5. Having a spa at 9am is not conducive to a productive day
6. Sydney shopping sucks
7. All the good volunteers are from Melbourne
8. In 2010, bloggers reign supreme
9. Blogging takes longer when being done in the middle of the night after a full day of volunteering
10. The ‘do not disturb’ sign should be on the door of the hotel all the time when you are in the room
11. The Ellen show should be screened in prime time
12.  There is no such thing as a working holiday

Three days in and this is what I know so far of Sydney and Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. Amusingly, I am currently sitting in my hotel room, watching Ellen while it rains outside and I’m blogging – proving that this working holiday is pretty much just work and the stuff that happens in between, like sleep.

(OMG – is that thunder? Or a plane? Actually I think its wind. Sounds scary on the 51st floor!!)

My observations of fashion week thus far are country influences; lot’s of colours that are traditionally Autumn such as browns, tans, creams and caramels; and that the shoe boot is here to stay. Following LMFF just 6 weeks ago that showcased AW10, it is hard to comprehend this transition to SS10/11 in such a short space of time but the smooth slide into the warmer seasons has been seamless. The colours and styles all seem to create a year round wardrobe that will work now and over the coming months. I know I want some of the things I have seen on the catwalks this minute even if the weather is not yet up to the challenge but will have to wait until the stores catch up and stock the most popular of items, those featured in the magazines as spotted by editor’s front row at this week’s RAFW.

Meanwhile, the volunteer uniform of a black tee shirt adorned with the RAFW logo on the front and some random branding (in orange!) on the back is miles ahead of the LMFF uniform in terms of shape and colour, but miles behind when talking prints and the overall effect. I imagine that in Melbourne, we are required to wear a white tee because Melbourne is black. Black is Melbourne. No one would ever be able to find the volunteers among the fashionistas. In Sydney, people wear colours. There is black, but not to the extent of Melbourne. Everything I packed for this week is black. I am Melbourne and am pleased the tee is black (so much more flattering!) but at the same time, hasn’t anyone ever heard of a V neck in the fashion industry!! Round neck tees only suit a handful of people and generally, they are GUYS! Given the majority of vollies are girls, who have boobs, a V neck would be a nice change for a volunteer tee shirt.  

Now Day 3 of RAFW is bearing down upon me and I am hoping to get into the Cargo theatre again, as much as most people hate the venue, because the chance of seeing the shows from a good vantage point is higher and because the production coordinator guy is a bit of alright. Fingers crossed the rain clears!

Image One: Magdalena Velevska finale
Image Two: Fellow vollie Miss Y and I in our uniforms

Welcome back to the land of gift bags and cries of ‘don’t you know who I am?!’ for day 2 of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. We were rudely awakened this morning in our hotel at 7.30am by housekeeping – clearly I don’t stay often in hotels and didn’t know about the ‘do not disturb’ sign – so decided to get up and check out the facilities on the recreation floor. A gym, pool, spa and sauna beckoned and after dipping our toes in the freezing pool, Miss J and I settled for the spa and rested our tired muscles after yesterday’s initiation to RAFW.

Blog and magazine catch ups followed before heading back to the Overseas Passenger Terminal for day 2. We had sussed out the schedule and decided we wanted back in at the Cargo Theatre for day 2, we would get to work three shows and felt that the three on offer were higher quality than the ones being held at the Opt. As soon as the call came out for Cargo, Miss J and I were at the front of the line.

The first show on the afternoon schedule was Magdalena Velevska and the first job of the day was to pack the gift bags. Unlike yesterday, none of today’s gift bags were prepared which created huge panics in the fifteen minutes prior to shows starting. MV bags contained hair and beauty products then needed a program tied to the handles with ribbon. Of course chaos ensued as the new shift of volunteers all scrambled to help – a too many cooks spoil the broth situation, but the bags got packed and laid out, all in good time for the show. A show I really enjoyed from my quietly brilliant vantage point at the end of the runway. Totally wearable clothes that would work from day to night, I was in love.

Show two of the afternoon was Flannel and we were lucky enough that the room layout was to remain the same for this show. No heavy lifting, just a quick break and just over an hour sitting outside taking in the Sydney breeze and watching fashionistas go by. Lo and behold, another designer hadn’t prepared the gift bags and a group of volunteers were selected to pack these – I wasn’t in this group and spent some more time sitting outside. The Flannel show was very overcrowded and I was in the unfortunate position of being down the front but standing towards the entrance – a vantage point with no view of the actual show. From all reports and what I did manage to see, the show was pretty good, not my personal style but impressive all the same.

Finally, Frederich Gray was the final show of the evening, and one that required a massive set change in the shortest period of time. Additional staging and seating was installed and moved (my muscles will feel that tomorrow!), seat numbers switched around and an impressive mirror construction at the entry point to the catwalk. We were told no gift bags, a huge relief on such a short turnaround, only to be given boxes of product 25 minutes before the show to make up 112 bags for the front row fashionistas. Um, crap. So 6 vollies worked their fingers to the bone (mine included) to pack bags that included a Woolmark notepad, a nail polish, MAC cosmetics, an oil product, gift vouchers and a smaller gift bag. We made our 7.20pm deadline and at 7.30pm (what was meant to be the official start time of the show), the doors opened and we filled the room. Over 500 people came out to the Frederich Gray show and were not disappointed with a palette of black and white that screamed simplicity.

Celebs and famous faces spotted tonight included Meg Gray and Ilona Hamer from Vogue, Jackie Frank from Marie Claire, Jennifer Hawkins, Fifi Box, Angela Bishop, Ruby Rose, Kate Waterhouse, Janice Breen Burns from the Age and Rick from Melbourne Weekly, among others whose names I simply can’t recall at this time of night. Up tomorrow are labels Jayson Brunsdon and Anna & Boy. Stay tuned to the Style Emporium to see which shows I get to work at!    

Image One: Models are taught the choreography at Magdalena Velevska
Image Two and Three: SS10/11 looks at Magdalena Velevska
Image Four: Flannel
Image Five: Designer Frederich Gray is interviewed after the show

Visit Magdalena Velevska, Flannel and Frederich Gray in coming weeks to see the SS10/11 collections.

Friends and fashionistas, day 1 of RAFW is done and dusted – what a day it was!

Miss J and I showed our dedication to the week by getting up at 6.30am (after talking half the night) and heading over to the RAFW venue to pick up our volunteer tee shirts. An email went around late last night saying there wasn’t going to be enough shirts for all volunteers (confirmed as 300 from a pool of over 1000) and we were committed to wearing our piece of history. So up and away we went. Tee shirt and volunteer pass in hand, we shopped for a while – couldn’t find anything of note – and headed back to our hotel to read the latest glossies (Harper’s Bazaar and Grazia) and prepare for our afternoon shift. Miss J got all domestic and baked amazing brownie-esque muffins and by 2pm we were ready to roll for our first RAFW shift.

Working front of house as an usher, I was allocated to the Cargo theatre at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. About 20 volunteers were working the afternoon shift and upon arrival we spent the best part of the first hour cooling our heels. The Zambesi show was first up and I got started by chatting to Brittany from elle.com, about the highs and lows of the day so far. Her personal faves of the morning had been Lucette and Ginger and Smart, also favourites of the critics. The Zambesi show was a great starter for my week, and I loved the pastel and nude interlude about three quarters of the way through the show. Jackie Frank from Marie Claire was front and centre for the unusually long show (compared to LMFF), although it still seemed to be over before as soon as it had began and it was then time to set up for Bassike.

A total reshuffle of the room was required, each label wanting to express their personal style though every available means. Lifting and shifting ensued before new giftbags were laid out and a new set of fashionistas crowded the entrance for the best seats in the house. Patty Huntington, Imelda Matt, Garance Dore and Lara Bingle lined the front rows for the most crowded show of the day and clearly one of the most popular. Simple elegance reined supreme for the boys and girls at this show which ran nearly an hour behind schedule. It was at this point that fatigue started to set in – RAFW has taken a leaf out of the LMFF book and forgotten air conditioning (and Sydney is HOT) – but we soldiered on as show two closed and we prepared for the last show of Day 1.

Furniture changes started again, we threw away litres of undrunk Perrier and set out hundreds more flyers and gift bags. The Bec and Bridge show was the one I had most anticipated for the day and was not disappointed. I spotted Meg Gray and Ilona Hamer, both from Vogue Australia, front row at the show – you might remember I was their assistant at LMFF?  Although the Bec and Bridge show filled the room with smoke and made it near impossible to see the clothes, the ethereal feel of the event was right up my alley and finally bought the fantastic feeling of adrenalin and excitement I crave from a fashion show. When the show was over and the punters barely out the door, the fun of moving the furniture started again in preparation for tomorrow mornings first show, Sara Phillips. 

Visit Zambesi, Bassike and Bec & Bridge in the coming weeks to view thier SS10/11 Collections!

Image One: Me in the volunteer uniform of RAFW 2010
Image Two: Setting up for Zambesi
Image Three: (L -R) Imelda Matt and Patty Huntington sit front row on the opposite side of the room, Lara Bingle sits second from left (in peach) on my side of the room
Image Four: Bec and Bridge show

Hello readers, coming to you live and uninterrupted from the bright lights, big city of Sydney town! I’ve headed to the ‘other’ capital of the east coast of Oz for Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, working as a volunteer, and arrived this morning after a very early flight (after a rather late night!)

Fellow volunteer Miss J and I took the early Jetstar flight – it was better from a cost perspective – and were welcomed to Sydney with sunshine, warmth and a FABULOUS apartment. We couldn’t be happier with our home for the week, set on the 51st floor of the Meriton Apartment complex in the Sydney CBD. Our view is spectacular!

Today we sussed out the rail system (waaaay more complex than Melbourne!) and ventured to the market at the Rocks to kill time before the volunteer briefing. Lunch was at The Orient hotel at the Rocks (Irish style nachos served on potato wedges – awesome start to fashion week diet) and this afternoon we went grocery shopping, after which Miss J cooked a spectacular pad thai for us.

The RAFW venue itself is looking pretty schmick. Held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, the place was buzzing with people this afternoon and the estimated 1000 volunteers involved in this years shows. (I have to confirm this – I found it very hard to believe, but this is what we were told!)

We toured the venue and got the lowdown on how the event will run and then were sent on our merry way to rest up before the event gets underway tomorrow. In terms of organisation, LMFF is still miles ahead of the 8 ball – our first shifts are tomorrow and we haven’t yet received our volunteer passes or uniforms and lot’s of questions went unanswered but the whole experience will be a learning curve for us all.

Image One: Me at Circular Quay
Image Two: Volunteers at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at the briefing
Image Three: A Sydney sunset from our apartment

Living in a fantastic city like Melbourne gives you the opportunity to experience fabulous things every day of the week. This past Thursday evening was no exception as I headed to Cocoon Bar on Swanston Street to try a bit of the Yarra Valley and a touch of the Mornington Peninsula in the heart of the city. Facilitated by the lovely Kim of Escapade Events, 8 ladies participated in a guided wine tasting, all from the comfort of the warm and cosy décor at Cocoon Bar.

Billed as ‘a great way to discover some cool new wines’, our personal wine waiter, James, led us through three white and three red wines, explaining the wine properties and flavours along the way. All the wines we tried were Victorian boutique wines and accompanied by a delicious bread and dip platter. In addition to the six tastings, you also receive a full glass of your favourite and at just $20 per person (minimum 8 people) the tastings are a great night out and a good excuse to try something new.

We started our tasting with a 2008 Chardonnay from Train Trak Winery in the Yarra Valley. Not normally a chardy drinker, I found this one to be particularly pleasant, which I was informed, was because the wine was an unwooded variety. With fruity flavours of apple and pear, this cool climate wine is best served with chicken.

Second up was a 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, also from the Yarra Valley, from Yarra Burns Wines. Noted as one of our wine waiters’ favourite wineries, the Sav Blanc would be well paired with seafood to match the sweetness of the lycee and jasmine flavours.

Rounding out our white wine experience – going from the lightest of whites to the heavier varieties – was a 2008 Pinot Gris from the Mornington Peninsula winery Ferryman, part of the Scotchman’s Hill wineries. A crisp, light and sweet wine with flavours of dried apple and spice, this wine would be excellent when accompanying spicy or Asian inspired foods.

After the three white varieties, we moved onto reds, enjoying lots of laughs, meeting new people and learning a little bit along the way. The 2008 Bellarine Peninsula Pinot Noir from Scotchman’s Hill winery is a medium bodied wine with flavours of plum and spices. Matched with pork, duck or salmon, this wine is a great starter for the non red drinker.

The 2007 Tatiarra Shiraz from the Heathcote region was my personal favourite for the evening and perhaps I was enjoying it so much that I neglected to really hear that much about the actual wine. Blackberry flavours and great with lamb was all I managed to note down but you can read more about this fabulous wine over at schitzengiggles, a blog about the finer points of alcohol.

Finally, a 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yarra Valley winery Wightwick finished off our evening on a high note. A wine that would match excellently with beef or any kind of aged meat had undertones of licorice and although too heavy for some, I still found that I enjoyed it.

James and the team at Cocoon and the Mercure are presented with over 150 wines each season to select just 10 for their wine list – a hard task when we had to pick just one from six as our favourite. Our evening continued long after the official event was over and this morning the dull ache at the back of my head is the sign of a brilliant evening.

All of these wines are available locally and at all good grog shops if you would like to to try them for yourself.

If you and your friends would like to book a wine tasting, contact cosy@cocoonbar.com.au or call 03 9663 4711.
Visit http://www.cocoonbar.com.au for more information. Images thanks to Cocoon.
  

There is a store near my house that I regularly walk past and wish I had more time to browse. Their window display shows jewellery, homewares and other bits and bobs, all unique and very cool. The store? Melbourne Style, South Melbourne. I googled it (seeming as I never seem to have the time to browse) and lo and behold – they have a website! www.melbournestyle.com.au should be your new one stop shop for gifts or even something (or lot’s of little somethings) for yourself. Here are my (current) three fave’s – fingers crossed I win tattslotto soon!!

Image One: Tutu Much Skirt. Divoooone!!
Image Two: CC Skye Bag. I want. A lot.
Image Three: CC Skye Pyramid Ring. True Love.

All images thanks to www.melbournestyle.com.au
Visit 155 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne 3205 or call 03 9696 8445

This time next week I will be in Sydney, about to attend the briefing for Volunteers, where I will hear about how backstage will run, how the seating plan is laid out and what shows I might get to see.

Currently, my roster has me working 2pm til 10pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 7am til 3pm Thursday and Friday – take alook below to see what shows I might get to peek at!

I also hope to meet up with some other Fashion Bloggers on the Friday before flying home, and visit the Frockstars exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum. Fingers crossed there will be time for shopping!