the four covers, source: the australian
Vogue Australia, that magazine of a thousand complaints (too many reprints, not enough creativity, same models over and over again) has just turned 50, and despite the frustration that the magazine sometimes breeds in me, i can't help but feeling proud and happy for them. It must be a patriotism thing, i can't help but love it because it's from australia, just like me. And, when i stop being such a judgmental teenager i can see that although it may not be groundbreaking or innovative i don't particularly want it to be. When i pick up my vogue the first wednesday of every month i know that the next couple of hours will be of relaxed bliss, with pages filled with interesting articles, cute editorials (some better than others) and wonderful shopping and news pages. Nothing too strenuous for the mind, and hours well spent indulging in hopes, dreams and a gloriously frivolous fashion.
The best thing about birthdays, though, is the party. And when you're arguably the most important fashion magazine in the country, if not the hemisphere, then you are perfectly entitled to one blowout bash in celebration. According to industry insiders this party was supposed to be the most anticipated night of the calendar, with designers, models, actresses, actors, make up artists, hairdressers, socialites and various (australian) fashion luminaries fighting it out to be best dressed and most improved. And certainly as i was trawling through the pictures from the show i was pleasantly surprised, along with the usual suspects there were also some lovely surprises, abbey-lee kershaw turned up, as did miranda kerr (unfortunately no pictures as of yet), the stunning actress miranda otto (eowin in lord of the rings, also in the cashmere mafia), cover star cate blanchett, who features on all 4 covers of the magazine in fashion illustrations by david downton, socialite kate waterhouse (who went to school with me), self-proclaimed supermodel megan gale, alex perry and joh bailey, colette dinnigan, the zimmerman sisters, joel and nash edgerton..
But then i was surprised, but pleasantly so, to see some unusual, but still important fashion faces attending. Maggie and Amanda Tabberah, icons of the plus size industry in Australia, Maggie herself an ex-model and now designer of seminal plus size label Maggie T were there in all their splendour, resplendent in a dove grey suit, michelle jank necklace and a turban. Model Anneliese Suebert, arguably one of Australia's most successful models of the 90s was also there. As was Gillian Armstrong, director of Little Women and icon in the film industry. Jenny Kee, rebel artist and pattern maker attended in brash, clashing colours, and who would have wanted it any other way?
I think that's my favourite thing about Vogue Australia, actually, that it manages to span the generations so well. Editor in Chief Kirsty Clements knows that a lot of her demographic is older, and thus the magazine has focusses on both aspirational and achievable fashion, some shoots with out there, impossible to wear clothing and others with simple, chic everyday looks. But as much as the magazine can cater to an older market at the same time Vogue Australia manages to still be youthful, featuring the newest models on the scene (Myf Shepherd and Holly Tompson, for example) and, best of all, championing up and coming australian designers. So they may be slow on the uptake, but they're certainly faster than harper's bazaar, and ultimately the exposure that Vogue can give to their favourites of each season: Dion Lee, Therese Rawsthorne, Gary Bigeni et al, is great for them because they are being exposed to a whole new market of wealthy, fashion/style-conscious older women, as well as the 'a la mode' obsessed bright young thing, i'm loathe to say hipster because i don't think they actually read Vogue, Russh or Oyster are probably more their thing, but young nonetheless, and looking for something very different in a magazine. They want fabulous-ness, and imaginative editorials and creativity, beauty, love...
At least that's what i want out of Vogue Australia, and more often than not, i get it. Which is why this coming Wednesday is going to be the best day of the week, although i have a fully booked uni timetable i know at least my bus ride there and back will be blissfully spent thumbing the beautifully scented pages (what is it about vogue and lovely smelling paper?) of the september issue.
Until then, many happy returns Vogue Australia, Happy 50th birthday, and here's to the next 50!
model abbey lee kershaw
cover star Cate Blanchett
actress Rachael Taylor
model Nicole Trunfio
designer Therese Rawsthorne
socialites Alexandra and Katherine Keating
Model Anneliese Seubert
designer Colette Dinnigan
socialite Kate Waterhouse
designers Maggie and Amanda Tabberah
actress Miranda Otto
artist Jenny Kee
designers Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke of Sass and Bide
first three photos celebutopia, rest gettyimages/wireimages
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