I’ve just put up a quick notice of fashion events happening in March in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The founders of Refinery29 are guests at events run by Portable. Check out more details about times and tickets here:

http://fashionscene.com.au/events/refinery29-talking-about-fashion-online-in-australia/

Let me know if you’re going!

I’ve just uploaded the Swimwear photos I took from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival 2009. These were taken on Day 1 at Portside.

Click here to view and download the Swimwear Photos

Some of the photos took a little editing to remove some of the shadowing caused by the harsh sunlight directly above.

Looking for information and photos from the MSIT Fashion “Pressed” Parade from last night?

Fill in the form below and I’ll ensure you are the first to get access to them, you will also get regular updates about my new website fashionscene.com.au:

NRA Fashion Awards 2009 – Eva Huynh – Student Award Winner

For more details about the NRA Fashion Awards student winner click here

NRA Fashion Awards 2009 – Birikini – Rising Star Award Winner

Read more about the NRA Fashion Rising Star Award here

NRA Fashion Awards 2009 – Supreme Award Winner

Read more on the NRA Fashion Awards here

The fashion stakes are high and the competition fierce as some of Australia’s most talented designers vie for the nation’s top fashion honours in the National Final of the 28th NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards presented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres on Wednesday 8 April.

As Australia’s premier fashion competition, the Awards showcase the best of today’s designers and discover the talent of tomorrow, providing designers with an extraordinary platform to showcase their talents to the shopping public nationally.

27 designer finalist entries were selected from a field of almost 300 entries which all competed in the preliminary judging heats held on the Gold Coast and nationally from 31 March to 3 April 2009.

The most nominated finalists in this year’s Awards include two recent Supreme Award winners:
Lisa Brown (Lisa Brown)
Brad Webb (Darb Bridal Couture)

The finalists are:

Student Designs presented by Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Jessica Chatterton, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Indooroopilly, Queensland
Ben Garrett, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Dutton Park, Queensland
Nomiki Glynatsis, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Brookfield, Queensland
Prudence Grayson, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Boondall, Queensland
Nicola Hall, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Glebe, New South Wales
Ebony Harding, Swan Tafe, Winthrop, West Australia
Eva Huynh, RMIT Brunswick, North Balwyn, Victoria
Rebecca Timson, Curtin University of Technology, Kardinya, West Australia
Laura Zhu, University of Technology Sydney, Roseville, New South Wales

Ready to Wear presented by Conrad Jupiters
Lisa Brown, Lisa Brown, Clear Island Waters, Queensland – 2 finalist entries [LIFESTYLE]
Birikini, Kylie Pizzirani & Chelsea Hillbrick, Mooloolaba, Queensland [KIDS]
eeni meeni miini moh, Elizabeth O’Connor-Cowley, Milton, Queensland [KIDS]
Little Workers, Ivanka Belic, Paddington, Queensland [KIDS]
Tayla-Lu, Nerina Gugliemino, Carindale, Queensland [KIDS]

Daniel Alexander Couture, Daniel Alexander, Fortitude Valley, Queensland [SWIM]
White Sands, Leah Madden, Broadbeach, Queensland [SWIM]
Lisa Blue, Maree Elizabeth Coates, Tweed Heads, New South Wales [SWIM]

SIGNATURE DESIGNS presented by Sony Centre
Brides Desire by Airs & Graces, Wendy Sullivan, West End, Queensland [BRIDAL]
Darb Bridal Couture, Brad Webb, Brisbane, Queensland – 2 finalist entries [BRIDAL]
Lisa Brown, Lisa Brown, Clear Island Waters, Queensland [BRIDAL]
Strictly Bridal, Ann Wilson, Mudgeeraba, Queensland [BRIDAL]

Darb Bridal Couture, Brad Webb, Brisbane, Queensland [COUTURE]
Dimitria Bridal Couture, Dimitria Kal & Christina Kal, Albert Park, Queensland [COUTURE]

Darb Bridal Couture, Brad Webb, Brisbane, Queensland [FASHIONS ON THE FIELD]
Taree Birse, Taree Birse, Southport, Queensland [FASHIONS ON THE FIELD]

VIEWERS CHOICE presented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres

Forever New, Knox Shopping Centre, Victoria
Peter Alexander, Warringah Mall, New South Wales
Sussan, Macquarie Centre, New South Wales
Veronika Maine, Garden City Booragoon, West Australia
Venus and Apollon, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Queensland
Witchery, Karrinyup Shopping Centre, West Australia

Finalists from the Ready to Wear and Signature Designs categories will be competing for the Rising Star Award and the ultimate accolade – the AMP Capital Shopping Centres Supreme Award.

Australia’s best student designer will also be announced on the night, as well as the winner of the NEXT New York National Model Search.

The Supreme Award winner will receive a Sony Centre Entertainment Package valued at $5,000 and the Supreme Award trophy.

FOR PHOTOS AND LATEST RESULTS REGISTER AT http://www.fashionscene.com.au

Project Runway Australia is searching for the ‘next big thing’ in fashion and Australia’s most talented designers! Applications are now open for the 2009 series of the incredibly successful program.

Project Runway is looking for raw talent and untapped potential. Design must be your passion and your skills up to the task. Project Runway is an unprecedented opportunity to launch your fashion career. The 2008 winner, Julie Grbac, went from her backyard operation in Brisbane to a household name and will launch her own line this year at Melbourne Fashion Week. In 2009 this could be you!

GO TO: www.arenatv.com.au to apply- applications close on March 6

Ben Garret the winner of the Modaitalia 2008 – MSIT Fashion Design Scholarship reveals thoughts about his award winning collection, including his inspiration. See exclusive footage from the final fashion parade in Brisbane.

Christian Bowman and Bowman Digital is the Online Media Partner for Modaitalia 2008. Sign up now to “Keep in the Loop” on the top right hand side of this website for more exclusive Australian Fashion Videos.