Launch of the face of the 

Adelaide Fashion Festival 2012

Adelaide's fashion elite, VIP's, designers, models, sponsors and media gathered at the glamorous Hotel Richmond for the launch of the face of the festival, last night. 

We were treated to a range of nibbles from the Hotel Richmond, along with an array of drinks provided by Bickfords, 3 Oaks Cider,  Coopers,  Wick Wines and Vok Cocktails. The food was delicious!

Guests were stylish as ever, you could definitely tell that this was a fashionistas event!

Rebecca (Adelaide City Council) & Cristina Tridente (couture + love + madness)

Pastry Chef (left) & Owner (right) of The Avairy Dessert Kitchen

Channel 9's Kate Collins was the MC for the night, she stated that this years festival will be packed with amazing shows and events, she mentioned all the sponsors and then made a special announcement that this year the Festival has partnered with the Starlight Foundation and part proceeds from the Festivals events will go towards supporting Starlight’s great work with children.

Representative from the Starlight Foundation

                Kate then made the big announcement of who the face of this years festival will be............

This year's face of the festival is finesse model, Melissa Johannsen (MJ). MJ's hometown is Alice Springs, but she started her modelling career in Adelaide. Her success in modelling has been remarkable, having walked at Paris, London, and Milan fashion week.....she is definitely someone Adelaide can be proud of!

                                        Kate then announced the lucky door prize winners.......

MJ posing for Adelaide's media

Designer Paul Vasileff (left), MJ (middle), Designer Cristina Tridente (right)

This years festival is definitely something to look forward to. We will keep you updated on upcoming events...so watch this space!

‘A High Tea Affair'

Written By Viray Thach

On the night of August 10^th, Gracious Magazine were invited to attend the ‘High Tea by Candlelight’ fashion parade held by emerging Adelaide jewellery artist Melanie Joy Steadman.

Held at Candles on Walkerville Restaurant , the free community event was part of this years SALA Festival making history as one of the first fashion parades to be showcased apart of this popular festival!

Mayanthi, Hiranya and I were given to opportunity to work backstage in preparation for the show. Read on as I give you an insight on the highlights of our experience.

SAFM’s Amanda Blair played host and opened the show with her charismatic and humourous antics, reminiscing back to her first encounter with Melanie and her dazzling jewellery. This was followed by a quip in typical Amanda fashion about how hanging out in the back with the models was ‘great’ for the self esteem.

After the laughter had subsided from Amanda’s side-splitting introduction, Melanie, the talented woman behind the night’s masterpieces, popped out to say a few words of thanks for the immense amount of support everyone had given, including the sponsors who freely offered their services for the show.

The theme of Melanie’s current collection is a combination of her own interpretation of ‘High Tea’ and the eccentricities and outrageous setting of the ‘Mad Hatter‘s Tea Party’. Men’s silk ties were pulled apart and reconstructed into sculptural neck pieces adorned with semi-precious stones, fresh water pearls vintage beads, buttons, broches and trinkets. Both an eco-friendly and clever way of creating fashionable jewellery.

Around 8:45 pm it was the start of what the audience had long anticipated for. The fashion parade had finally begun with its first segment showcasing Melanies’ more demure neck pieces. The room was filled with music orchestrated by accordions and old school trumpets playing, taking them right back to the 1950’s. Before the models began to strut their stuff on the catwalk, they introduced the show in the most unique and adorable way, with a tea party!

The models looked elegant in wedding-like gowns - generously supplied by Tiger Xiu and Little Fuchsia- which was an emphatic contrast against the elaborate and intricately detailed neck pieces. After a short break, the second installment showcased more colourful and playful pieces ending the show on an exuberant note.

However, the exhibition didn’t stop there as there was another ‘stationary’ exhibition on the side which displayed Melanie’s past works that were available to purchase. Gems, beads and trinkets were more dominant in these past creations, but still as beautiful as her current collection.

Melanie’s jewellery is not dictated by trends or what you will find in current retail stores. Her works are one of a kind collectible pieces of finely crafted artwork, made to be exhibited within art galleries alongside grand paintings, sculptures and such. Overall, the night was a success, the food scrumptious - generously supplied by Candles Restaurant - and definitely showed off the great amount of talent that Adelaide has to offer.

Click on this link http://www.facebook.com/MelanieJoyCreations?sk=info to feast your eyes on more of her artworks!

For more photos from the night, click on this link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.270456036305629.71778.151032671581300&type=1

“High Tea by CandleLight”

Exhibition by Melanie-Joy Steadman

SALA Festival 2011 / Exhibition Aug 5-28 / Tues-Sat, 8am till late.

Candles On Walkerville, 119 Walkerville Terrace, Walkerville, SA, 5081

Proudly Sponsored By:

Celcius – Skin centre/ Tanning / Makeup

Ballast Stone Estate Wines

Supported By:

Little Fuchsia – “follow your bliss”

Tiger Xiu Fashion Design Studio

Melanie-Joy Steadman, SALA Awards Finalist 2010, is having an exhibition,

“High Tea by CandleLight”, at Candles On Walkerville, a fine dining restaurant, located at 119 Walkerville Terrace, Walkerville.

Join Melanie for Opening Night with FASHION PARADES on August 10th, from 8-10pm.

The first Fashion Parades to be held in conjunction with the SALA Festival.

Melanie creates exquisite pieces of wearable art jewellery, which over the past year, have appeared on National Television, at State-wide Exhibitions and Events – a recent collaborative work has been published in the UK.

“High Tea by CandleLight” is inspired by the eccentricities of the Mad Hatter, and the delightful formalities of a ‘High Tea’ – fall in love with the textures, colours and natty little details that make each piece of jewellery an ‘Artwork’ in its own right.

Men’s silk ties have been pulled apart, and reconstructed into sculptural neck-pieces adorned with semi-precious stones, fresh water pearls, vintage beads, buttons, brooches & trinkets. See a new range of feathered “Piccolo Hats”, and a show-stopping feathered head-dress!

Melanie-Joy Steadman / 0411 754 317 / melaniesteadman@hotmail.com

The Aviary Dessert Kitchen


The Parade, Norwood has a new kid on the block. A delectable and inspiring dessert kitchen that is eclectic, quirky and unique. An after hours haven that will have your senses melting and craving for more.

The Aviary Dessert Kitchen is home to a menu with a twist, offering luscious sweet treats and indulgent tastes for even the most picky of eaters. Owner and cook Natalie Thoo, planned, designed and hand made the quirky and welcoming designed dessert parlor only a few months ago and is already experiencing the benefits of word of mouth. Only advertising through their Facebook page and Twitter, the dessert kitchen was booked out on opening night and forced to turn away eager customers.

The up and coming cosmopolitan Parade Norwood was the perfect backdrop to pursuing The Aviary Dessert Kitchen, growing up in the area Natalie confessed finding the right location was the most consuming task. Being an avid and passionate cook from a young age, desserts have always been an obsession and it is understandable looking at the plated works of art, “with imaginative and unique twists on traditional desserts, as well as creative new offering that are sure to please and excite”.

Natalie loves the creative and artistic opportunities that planning, preparing and plating these delectable desserts hold. The presentation is sure to catch your eye not to mention the mouth watering tastes that emanate from the plate, a menu that would be sure to give any master chef a run for their money. The eclectic design including chicken wire lampshades and wooden moose heads adorn the many cozy rooms that make this place unique.


If you are a first timer to The Aviary Dessert Kitchen be sure to sink your teeth into the macaroon flower pot, layered with mousse, chocolate ganache and popping candy with your choice of macaroon – salted caramel is an adorned favorite – is something that is pleasing for all the senses. Opened from 8pm daily until well into the wee hours of the morning, this dessert kitchen is suitable for a romantic tasting plate for two or a sweet treat to share with friends, with prices that will have you going back for more and treats that will have you ooh-ing and ahh-ing with every bite.

Visit The Aviary Dessert Kitchen but be sure to leave enough room for all the tasty treats, who knows you might be going back for seconds.

www.facebook.com/aviarydessertkitchen

http://www.aviarydessertkitchen.com.au/

Story by: Alana Foster and Laura Wallis

'Adelaide Street Dreams'

The thought of pursuing through dirty alleyways is less than desirable, but Adelaide is becoming home to some of the most innovative art since Picasso. Rivalling Melbourne, Adelaide has street art popping up all over the city.

From graffiti, stencils, murals and posters the street art is everywhere, you just have to have a keen eye and look beyond the grimy backdrop of your local pub and you maybe lucky enough to find some street art.

Located on the corner of Magill Road and Ann Street, Stepney; this mural has the location and potential to grab the attention from pedestrians and drivers alike. Artists Kate Gagliardi, Sam Evans, Dan Withey and Peter Drew came together to form this evocative and intriguing street art mural, in early 2011. It stands strong today and is definitely worth a look, the four artists all have unique style and influence and can distinctly be seen in the four different segments.

Street art that appeared on the same wall late 2010, vastly different style and meaning, yet still intriguing and thought provoking, by artist Peter Drew.

The Adelaide Street Dreams festival for 2011 is over now but is sure to be back and better than ever in 2012. For more information, pictures and details on this years festival, have a look at their official website http://streetdreams.com.au/sloppy/.

If this has watered your taste buds for the idyllic street art Adelaide has to offer, then befriend ‘Adelaide Street Art’ on facebook for all of their masterworks across Adelaide, but for now here are a few of their snapshots to keep you going.

Written by: Alana Foster