C&G Presents: The Best of VAMFF
2016 marks the twentieth annual Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, which celebrates the fashion and beauty industries, supports emerging Australian talent and draws creatives, epicureans and culture vultures from around the world. It’s a stylish affair – one week filled with class-act runway shows and glamourous side events. Here, C&G brings you the must-see festival highlights, which include some of the best cultural events the City of Melbourne will host this year.
200 Years of Australian Fashion at the NGV
Staged across four galleries at the National Gallery of Victoria’s Ian Potter Centre, this large scale exhibition is set to host over 120 works from more than 90 different designers. Ever wanted to learn more about the early dressmakers of Collins Street, or discover the evolution of swimwear and beach fashion from Black Rock to Bondi? The exhibition runs through to July, so now you can. More here.
Snapshots, Prue Acton at the Gallery (Bayside Arts & Cultural Centre)
Prue Acton is an internationally recognised fashion designer who was raised in Brighton. She started her label at the age of 19 and took over the global fashion scene, contributing to the mod style in a big way, and providing signature designs right through to the eighties. The exhibition runs through to May, and is free to the public. More here.
The Festival Plaza at Melbourne Museum Precinct
VAMFF describes the Festival Plaza as ‘a purpose-built citadel of bespoke retail, enhancing the Festival’s bricks and mortar drive to connect fashion and beauty enthusiasts to all things new season.’ Essentially, the Festival Plaza will act as a hub for networking, showcasing talent and learning more about the festival. With pop up bars, catering, DJs and a booth to buy runway tickets, hit the Festival Plaza to be entertained and find out more about what VAMFF has to offer.
International Women’s Day Forum at Crown
The event on March 8 is part of the Business Events program supported by NAB, and will be presented by Marie Claire and Mimco in the River Room at Crown Towers. It’s a morning panel presentation, and an opportunity for business women in the industry to share ideas and chat with keynote speakers, including Natasha Stott Despoja (Australian ambassador for Women and Girls) and ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson. Get tickets here, or view more of the VAMFF Business Events program here.
The VAMFF Cultural Program is a big part of the Festival, and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is hosting some of the key events. ‘Fashion on Film’ is the name of the exhibition, and consists of a selection of short films from Australian and international filmmakers. Screenings run from February 25 to March 14 at ACMI in Federation Square. More here.
There you have it! With many of the events situated in the vicinity of Federation Square, C&G recommend utilising the underground parking onsite or catching public transport to Flinders Street Station, where both trams and trains stop regularly. And don’t forget to download the festival planner, which can be found here.