One of Megan Costello's designs.
The the annual Adelaide Fashion Festival is quickly approaching, with the 2010 TAFE SA fashion design Graduate Parade on Saturday 6 November at Prince Alfred College. According to Sean Parsonage, Fashion Educational Manager, “Adelaide has a unique and vibrant fashion industry and TAFE SA is proud to nurture the skills and develop the fashion designers of tomorrow.”
Glam Adelaide spoke to Najree Lydiard, Lani de Beer and Megan Costello, three of the exciting young up-and-coming Adelaide designers whose work will be featured at the event. Their names, as well as those of their classmates, are surely ones to watch out for. Each of the three admitted to pre-show nervousness, but as Lani put it, “it’ll be great to see all the hard work pay off.”
Lani de Beer’s collection is entitled Garden Affair, a floral, “Victorian inspired” lingerie range.
“Picture a Victorian lady in the garden, having a high tea with delicate little cakes,” she said.
“It’s innocent, but promiscuous at the same time.”
Citing her love of lingerie as the driving force behind her becoming a designer, Lani said she eventually hopes to open her own boutique or create pieces for Victoria’s Secret.
From the Manhattan Winter collection.
Megan Costello, designer behind the label Miss Meg, is chiefly inspired by the clothes of the 1950s but with a contemporary edge. Her design muses are Marilyn Monroe and Christina Aguilera, who she called “the modern-day ’50s woman.”
“I love that era and the clothes,” she said. “I want everything quite tight and accentuating the body.”
Megan already has work experience with Hot Couture’s Joy Taylor lined up after graduation. Hot Couture’s similarly retro style matches Megan’s own and she said she was certain there was a “lot she could learn” from Taylor. She also has a trip to Asia planned for next year, where she intends to check out the local influences and locate fabrics.
Najree Lydiard’s collection, Manhattan Winters, was inspired by her love of winter fashion and the hit television show Gossip Girl. As well as women’s attire, her range includes the only menswear in the parade – something she was motivated to do after hearing that it was difficult for fashion-savvy men to find clothes that were “individual, but still wearable.”
“I wanted a sleek, sophisticated feel,” Najree said. “A very New York look.”
“They’re a little bit preppy, but still quite different.”
The collection’s main focus is on coats, made from locally sourced one hundred percent wool or cashmere. Najree said too many current designers were willing to purchase and manufacture everything from within China, but she was passionate about “promoting Australian wool and Australian-made clothes.”
“I want to bring back Australian-made,” she said.
The evening parade is already sold out, however some tickets to the matinee parade in the afternoon are still available. To book, call 8207 8480 or email [email protected].
Lingerie from Lani de Beer's Garden Affair range.
Lani’s blog: Lani’s Garden Affair
Megan’s blog: Miss Meg Graduation Collection
Najree’s blog: Najree Lydiard
Date: Saturday 6 November 2010.
Time: 8 for 8.30pm (sold out) and 3.30 for 4pm.
Where: Anzac Hall, Prince Alfred College, Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town.
Tickets: $30 or $25 concession
Lani – photography by Natalia Chippillo. Location & props: Canterbury Lace. Model: Ashleigh, Finesse. Hair & makeup by TAFE SA Hairdressing and Makeup students.
Najree – photography by Courtney Prettejohn. Models: Sarah and Alex, Finesse. Location: Osteria De Mesa. Hair & makeup by TAFE SA Hairdressing and Makeup students.
Meg – photography by Megan Mackenzie. Model: Lucy, Finesse. Hair & makeup by TAFE SA Hairdressing and Makeup students.
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