Vogue Turns 50!

Text: Billy Bride


That’s right! Bust out the bubbly! VOGUE Australia passes the 5-0 milestone this week, and editor Kirstie Clements has coordinated a series of splendorous events to mark the occasion. Celebrations kicked off early this week with a red-carpet birthday bash at Fox Studios where guest of honor (and anniversary issue cover star) Cate Blanchett joined decorated Australian design darlings Dinnigan, Willow and Sass & Bide as well as fresh faces including Ellery & Romance Was Born.

The enormous birthday bonus issue hit news agencies yesterday, boasting a 10 page spread of Oz-inspired swimwear from fashion houses Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana & Gucci (to name a few!), accompanied by a stellar 28 page editorial shot by German photographer Greg Kadel, featuring the divine Catherine McNeil & Abbey Lee Kershaw, clad in exclusively Australian designs.

Clement’s enthuses the 50th birthday edition will be Vogue’s biggest issue yet, and hopes to mark the milestone with a store-wide sell-out of the collectible copy. These optimistic estimations may in part be aided by public response to the magnificent quadruple cover, featuring London-based illustrator David Downton’s timeless impressions of Blanchett wearing her most treasured pieces from Balenciaga, McQueen, Armani & Martin Grant.

The celebrations will be rounded off with the release of hardcover retrospective ‘In Vogue: 50 years of Australian Style’ from Harper Collins on September 1.

Check back each Thursday for more on the fashion world from Billy Bride