The 30 Days team reveals their pick of the top 10 most awe-inspiring moments of Australian fashion history. From fabulous to flop, we count down from 10 to one.
Australian Fashion Week: Year One
Fashion history was made with the launch of the first ever Mercedes Benz Australian Fashion Week in 1995, founded by CEO Simon Lock. The event featured runway shows by some of Australia's fashion veterans including Alex Perry, Akira Isogawa and Wayne Cooper and put Australia on the international fashion map.
Linda Evangelista for Alex Perry
What could be considered the greatest moment of 1997's Australian Fashion Week was when international supermodel Linda Evangelista paraded an Alex Perry wedding dress down the runway. Alex Perry is known as the king of Australian fashion and has dressed women by the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Nelly Furtado, Eva Longoria-Parker and Jennifer Lopez.
In a ward of her own
At only 16, baby-faced Australian model Gemma Ward was scouted while supporting her friends at the modelling competition 'Search for a Supermodel'. Since this moment, Ward has walked for some of the world's leading fashion houses, graced the covers of international fashion bibles and even stared in feature films alongside Liv Tyler and Toni Collette. After only a few years on the runway, Ward is sure to go down in history as one of Australia's most successful models. Pretty impressive for a country girl first scouted in a muddy, flannelette-shirt huh?
No romance for Galliano
Noted as one of the most infamous decisions of Australian history, Romance Was Born design-duo Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales turned down an offer by John Galliano to join the team at his world-renowned fashion house. After attending the fourth International Support Awards in Italy, they turned Galliano down and pursued their passion for kitch and creativity with their own label, Romance Was Born.
Elle Macpherson: catwalk cougar
After a 20-year catwalk hiatus, Elle Macpherson walked the Louis Vuitton Autumn/Winter '10-11 collection show in Paris. The show celebrated the 'return of the women' with a curvier group of models chosen to walk alongside Macpherson in the show. Could the casting of the 46-year--old Australian super-model signal a demand for a 'real woman'?
Nicole Kidman for Chanel
In 2003, Nicole Kidman was announced as the international face of Chanel No.5. The rumoured best-buddy of Lagerfeld scored the $12 million contract in conjunction with her success in the film industry. Kidman held the position over four years, which had once been held by some of the most beautiful women in the world, including Ali MacGraw, Candice Bergen, Lauren Hutton and Catherine Deneuve.
Eva Herzigova in a $500,000 pearl bikini
The launches Tigerlily's wet and wild first runway show in 2001, with Eva Herzigova in a $500,000 pearl bikini, having water dumped on her.
Miranda Kerr: an Australian angel
In 2006, Aussie model Miranda Kerr was offered a contract with the most glamorous lingerie brand, Victoria's Secret. Kerr was the first Aussie to walk the VS catwalk. Who knew that after her angel debut, she would not only be picked up by some of the world's top fashion houses but by her hubby-heartthrob Orlando Bloom!
Jennifer Hawkins our very own Miss Universe
Australia's favourite girl-next-door Jennifer Hawkins was crowned Miss Universe in 2004. The former Newcastle Knights NRL team cheerleader and Bondi-based model was the first Australian to be crowned Miss Universe since Kerry Ann Wells held the title in 1972. This moment launched the career for the model, who now holds a coveted contract with department-store giant Myer and became a guest presenter for Australian travel show, The Great Outdoors.
