Gurd your loins, the 2016 Adelaide Fashion Festival is nearly here and just like Anna Wintour Miranda Priestly it will be fierce and fabulous.
The program launched on Tuesday night in front of a stylish crowd at an exclusive event in the new SAHMRI building on North Terrace.
The festival’s director Chris Kontos
The festival’s new Creative Director, Chris Kontos will present a jam-packed festival, running from 19th-23rd of October. After a warm and friendly introduction by friend, supporter and Channel 10 news anchor Rebecca Morse and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis, Chris gave guests a sneak preview of the 2016 Festival.
“It’s so exciting to be part of the South Australian fashion industry,” Chris said. “It’s all about fun this year”.
“We love celebrating all facets of fashion but we have also incorporated a component of food, wine and design”.
Front row guests at the AFF16 launch
The runway will be constructed in Victoria Square and will play host to ten shows over a five-day program along with twenty offsite events. A three-year presenting partnership between luxury automobile company Mercedes-Benz Adelaide and the Adelaide Fashion Festival has also been announced.
The program launch featured a fashion show by local label Acler, worn at the 2016 Logies by host Rebecca Morse and stocked in the MYER department stores.
Acler S/S17
Acler (‘clear’ jumbled up) is a young South Australian label and their Spring Summer 17 collection focuses on layering, draping and precision with many monochromatic pieces.
Hair stylists from Clip Joint created a slicked back wet look for the model’s hair and Media Makeup gave each model a natural, glowing complexion. Some models carried handbags, backpacks or purses from The Daily Edited, a Sydney company, which gained popularity for their personalised accessories and strong social media presence.
Accessories by the Daily Edited
Highlights of this year’s festival include the BNKR Runway, which will take place on Thursday the 20th of October and Ready to Wear featuring Simmone Standing the Label, Casper&Pearl and SIG the Label on the Friday the 21st of October. Vogue Australia’s Fashion Editor Pip Moroney, who styled the Acler parade, will also style several shows for this year’s festival.
A luncheon at the Mercedes-Benz Adelaide showroom with author, entrepreneur, media identity and founder of the popular Collective Hub, Lisa Messenger will open the 2016 Festival.
AFF16 Launch
The event, titled ‘Daring and Disruptive’ will take place on Wednesday the 19th of October. Guests will enjoy a special menu prepared by Tasting Australia’s Creative director Simon Bryant and will hear about Lisa’s journey to become one of Australia’s most respected and inspiring media mavens.
Lisa says she is excited to connect with the Adelaide audience and believes our state is an “untapped destination for entrepreneurs”.
AFF16 Launch
Sell-out events, A Night of Fashion on Saturday the 22nd of October and Variety on King William Road on Friday the 21st of October are also returning for the Adelaide Fashion Festival’s offsite program.
Paolo Sebastian will again close the Festival, presenting two shows on Sunday the 23rd of October. The festival will hold the international premiere of the label’s upcoming Spring/Summer 17 collection and show the spectacular Gilded Wings collection that launched in Paris in July earlier this year.
Acler Finale S/S17
The program for the 2016 Adelaide Fashion Festival presented by Mercedes-Benz Adelaide can be viewed here. With tickets selling fast, get in quickly to book your #frow seat and to be part of something truly wonderful.
Photos taken by NKM Images
