Australia’s Next Top Stylist
October 1, 2009
In celebration of the opening of its flagship store in Chadstone, Sportsgirl has hosted the inaugural ‘Search for a Sportsgirl Superstylist’ Event. The event, which was advertised in stores and online, received more than four hundred and fifteen entries from across Australia. From these entries, five girls- Clare Byrne, Lauren Dietze, Hayley Hughes, Kate Stein and Lisa Twomey- were selected to showcase their skills in front of a select VIP audience on 9th September, 2009.
The task was relatively simple: the girls received ten frantic minutes to race around the store, collecting clothes and accessories to style two models and send them down a catwalk.
Contestant Hayley Hughes described the moment as a ‘supermarket’ dash.
“My game plane was to hit the accessories first, whilst everyone else ran to the clothes. We had to push past the audience. I just charged at them, apparently,” she said.
“What I was trying to do, [was create] fun and cute with a little bit of sex appeal.”
Image from fashionhayleyhome.blogspot
The crowd and judges. Image from fashionhayleyhome.blogspot
Designs on the catwalk. Image from fashionhayleyhome.blogspot
The four judges, including Australian designer Kym Ellery and Grazia magazine’s Anouk Colantoni, selected one winner in the style-off, Lisa Twomey.
Her winning creations showed an eclectic 80s-inspired look, heavily laced with Russian influences, and described by judges as highly ‘editorial’. Her entry photographs, too, demonstrated a strong sense of personal design aesthetic and creativity; a menagerie of print and textures, pulled together into a high-waisted, form-fitted look.
“All outfits in these photos have been made and designed by me with the intention of expressing my day to day dilemma of what to wear! What is appropriate? What is too outrageous? What isn’t exciting enough? And what is fashionable? With inspirations from Alice in Wonderland, music music music, dancing, books, artists, animals, the seasons, the weather, my grandmother and Ziggy Stardust lets see how we go…come have adventures and celebrate spring!” she stated in an interview with Sportsgirl.
Winner Lisa Twomey. Image from fashionhayleyhome.blogspot
Her prize? A fashion spread in the upcoming issue of Sportsgirl magazine.
Below are the creations of the five finalists.
Kate Stein:
Combined structural jackets with playful, yet simple separates. The use of layers of bangles and necklaces is very much a ‘Sportsgirl’ look and a hot trend this summer.
Image from Sportsgirl.com
Lauren Dietze:
Belly-bearing, casual and cool, epitomising this season’s obsession with the cropped tops.
Image from Sportsgirl.com
Clare Byrne:
Simple, chic and clean lines. Both are highly tailored looks, with a hint of rebellion in the accessories.
Image from Sportsgirl.com
Runner- up Hayley Hughes:
Image from Sportsgirl.com
And, finally, winner Lisa Twomey’s creations:
Image from Sportsgirl.com
