Melbourne
MYER SPRING FASHION LUNCH, FLEMINGTON
We don't want to force you to lay down spring racing fashion "rules," we said to Alex Perry at the Myer Spring Fashion Lunch at Flemington Racecourse on Wednesday, more like "guidelines".
Anja Nissen at Bestest Gala Dinner. Photo: Dominic Loneragan
Party people: Sept12
From charity launches to cocktail parties, here's a rundown of last week's events in and around Sydney and Melbourne. Photo: Shaney Balcombe
"I think there are rules," Perry demurred. "The spring racing carnival has a history and I think this is a time when you bring ladylike qualities out; beautiful ladylike dressing, a nod to what racing is all about, beautiful hats, coordinated bags and shoes. I think there are rules; you don't have to follow them slavishly but just a nod to them to show that you are doing the respectful thing when you are at the races."
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What looks would you like to see at the track this year? "Body conscious; ladylike nipped-in waists, long pencil skirts, super-high heels. I know sometimes if you're on the grass that can be a bit of a problem but I love that as a look. And I love small hats that go up very high, when they've got some beautiful feathers that go vertically up into the sky."
And we absolutely must not? "Wear sequins or strapless dresses," Perry said. "Not at the races."
And one more thing: "If you've made your fascinator from Spotlight and it's some stuff hanging off a comb, it's not right, it really isn't. And if you think that we don't know, we do know."
PACHA MAMA WINES LANEWAY FIESTA, BLENDER GALLERY
"Juicy, fresh and clean with a lovely textural palate balanced by grapefruit, lemongrass and a long satisfying finish." That was part of the tasting note for the Pacha Mama 2014 Riesling celebrated on Tuesday night, along with the 2014 Pinot Gris, at the inaugural Pacha Mama Laneway Fiesta. We wondered how a tasting note about you would read, one describing your personality, characteristics, your aroma of pencil shavings.
Pacha Mama winemakers Nina Stocker and Callie Jemmeson inhaled. "Can I do a tasting note for Nina?" Jemmeson said. "Nina is generous and delicate and elegant; they're good words for wine aren't they?" What's her aroma, her mouth-feel? "Complex with a hint of mystery, there's something intriguing, something you can't quite put your finger on."
Nina took her turn: "Callie is like a Pinot Gris, our Pinot Gris in particular; light and vibrant and bouncy."
Rachel Hayes was perplexed. "About me; am I a wine? OK. I think I've got a lot better with age, I'm very bubbly, I'm strong-tasting, I definitely linger on the palate. And I'll give you a hangover."
CHRISTIAAN GEORGIO SPRING CELEBRATION, GRAND HYATT
"Bouncy." That's the kind of hair Christiaan Georgio likes, the kind that he does, at his new salon at the Grand Hyatt. "Bouncy but not overly done," Georgio said, "I still want the girls to have that free look, but not overly messy."
On Wednesday night Georgio and James Razos hosted an exclusive spring celebration at the salon welcoming some of Melbourne's most beautiful faces, and heads of hair, though perhaps they were not always so. What is the worst haircut you've ever had?
The memory was vivid for Sarah Todd : "I decided when I was about 12 or 13 that it would be a good idea to cut my hair right off, but I've got really curly hair and it just went ��� pouf! ��� like an afro." It was so striking it was committed to song. "It was [she sings]: 'Sarah's got the mops, the biggest range of mops in town, Sarah's got the mops.' It was my cousin, he was in the same year as me and he let it loose to the whole school, I was called mop head!" she laughed. "Yeah, I'm scarred."
Sydney
BESTEST GALA DINNER
Thirty of Sydney's "bestest" chefs rattled their pans in front of 30 tables of corporate high-flyers for the Bestest Foundation's gala dinner. Chef Guillaume Brahimi rallied the Aria's Matt Moran, Quay's Peter Gilmore, the Apollo's Jonathan Barthelmess and Miguel Maestre for a very good cause. Napkins doubled as handkerchiefs when Bestest board member Gina Boon spoke of the children who would benefit from the generosity of the evening.
SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY DANCE NOIR DIVA
Some serious moves were busted on the dance floor by the professionals and the not-so professionals at Sydney Dance Company's annual fundraising dance party Dance Noir Diva. With the dress code "operatic opulence to divine disco", it was an eclectic mix of feathers, sequins and black tie to celebrate SDC's 45th anniversary.
INSTYLE AND HUGO BOSS MEN OF STYLE COCKTAIL PARTY
Sharply dressed men abounded at InStyle magazine's inaugural Men of Style cocktail party at Hilton Sydney's Marble Bar. Stylish chaps Michael Klim, Daniel MacPherson, Jordan and Zac Stenmark, Rodger Corser and Maurice Terzini were just some of those spotted at the iconic bar.
BELVOIR GOES OFF WITH A BANG
Ralph Myers announced he was hanging up his hat as artistic director at the Belvoir but not before going out with a bang, with seven new Australian plays and "re-imagined" classics starring luminaries Robyn Nevin, Leah Purcell and Colin Friels, alongside hot young talents such as Puberty Blues ' Ashleigh Cummings and Wonderland's Ewen Leslie. Geoffrey Rush worked the room until the wee small hours.
LOOK GOOD ... FEEL BETTER DREAM BALL
The Dream Ball ran with a big-top theme at Luna Park for the cosmetic and fragrance industry's annual gala event for the Cancer Patients Foundation Ltd and the Look Good ... Feel Better program, now in its 24th year. Look Good ... Feel Better has helped more than 115,000 cancer patients in Australia cope with the physical side-effects of cancer treatment.
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM EUREKA PRIZES 2014
The who's who of the science world gathered at Sydney's Town Hall for the 25th Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, which reward excellence in the fields of research and innovation, leadership, science communication and journalism and school science.
BRIGHT PINK LIPSTICK DAY
Sydney Harbour sparkled, making morning tea at Kirribilli House just that little bit more special for Pink Hope's Bright Pink Lipstick Day launch supporting breast and ovarian health. First lady Margie Abbott opened her home up for Pink Hope founder Krystal Barter and her guests.
HARDY WINES NEW VINTAGE RELEASE
The late Eileen Hardy's favourite family recipes provided the centrepiece at an intimate dinner to taste the new vintage release of the wine family's flagship Thomas and Eileen Hardy wines. Tales from Sir James Hardy and Bill Hardy attest the Hardy family matriarch was indeed a lively character.