It’s hard to describe the allure of a fashion event called Head Babes In Charge. Actually, no it isn’t. Natural selection kicks in – the strongest of the style set clap eyes on the show’s name and are instantly attracted.
On Sunday, Melbourne’s most flamboyant stylists will flock together like a congregation of eagles, raining sartorial grandeur on an otherwise bleak Docklands. Fiercely independent designers Alice Edgeley, Kathryn Jamieson of Gun Shy Design and Nikita Margarita of Doodad and Fandango will host their first group runway show as part of VAMFF’s Offsite Runway program, and it promises to be an eye searing fashion fest, with a cacophony of faux fur, exaggerated everything, and a colour explosion, to boot.
In possibly one of the busiest weeks of their lives, each designer shared some insights with us, but of course, none was keen to reveal too much, ahead of the show.
Alice Edgeley | Edgeley
‘All the HBIC have vocal fry’
1/ What has the lead time been for your runway show Head Babes In Charge this Sunday with Gun Shy Design and Doodad and Fandango
2/ The show is described as ‘a celebration of the power of glamour, women in rock and the joyful irreverence of pop art.’ – how did the show (& participants) come about?
Kathryn and I were just brainstorming ideas for a show, we knew we wanted to work with Nikita and it just snow balled from there. We kind of just asked all the coolest girls we know to be involved.
We weren’t given a brief, we made it up. I mentioned having vocal fry and Kim Boekbinder said “all the HBIC have vocal fry” I didn’t know what HBIC stood for and when she told me, well, I thought, what a compliment. I totally wanna be a HBIC. Now Kim has made us a special HBIC song which we are premiering at the show! Actually VAMFF didn’t want us to call it Head Bitches In Charge so we compromised with Head Babes. It’s perfect for us because we are all Bs running our own businesses.
4/ What are you most excited about for this year?
Kathryn Jamieson | Gun Shy
‘This weekend will be strictly all about my show’.
2/ The show is described as ‘a celebration of the power of glamour, women in rock and the joyful irreverence of pop art.’ I knew right away that The Garb Wire had to be present at such an occasion – how did your inclusion come about?
‘I guess Birds of a Feather Flock together.’
3/ What sort of brief were you given, if any?
4/ How long does it take you to produce a collection for a runway show?
5/ What can we expect to see from you on Sunday?
‘My collection – PIMP IT BITCH – is eye popping madness.’
RLP Rubber City Rebels from a previous Gun Shy collection. Photo credit: Rupert Laycock
Nikita Margarita | Doodad + Fandango
1/ What has the lead time been for your runway show Head Babes In Charge this Sunday with Gun Shy Design, Edgeley?
I am trying to remember back to when we first starting talking about this event and it was about a year ago. However things got real a couple of months ago when we were accepted by VAMFF to be part of their Offsite Runway program.
2/ The show is described as ‘a celebration of the power of glamour, women in rock and the joyful irreverence of pop art.’ – how did your inclusion come about?
About a year ago I came down to Melbourne (from Sydney where I am based) to meet Alice Edgeley and attend a launch of her collection at her boutique on Gertrude St. I had been making jewellery for her shop Edgeley for a few months and had made some pieces for her show. I had so much fun and met lots of Alice’s friends, including Kathyrn – Head Babe at GUNSHY. Kathyrn ended up borrowing some of my doodads for a look-book shoot and a collaboration between the 3 of us just seemed like the natural conclusion!
‘We are all similar in that we are basically one woman operations who design and hand make everything ourselves. I think we all love each other’s aesthetic and I for one am just in LOVE with them, and the passion and energy they have for their craft.’
3/ What sort of brief were you given, if any?
Alice is the best curator of inspirational images and has the most incredible Pinterest boards I have ever seen! These images teamed with Kathyrn’s sketches and fabrics and photos of works in progress were the brief I was working with.
4/ How long does it take you to produce one pair of your iconic earrings?
It depends on the complexity of design and the urgency of the request! I can design, cut out and assemble a pair of earrings in one day if I have a clear idea of what I want and a stylist breathing down my neck. Other times it takes weeks to tweak a design and a couple of re-makes until I’m happy with it.
5/ What are you most excited about for this year?
Well last year was so amazing for my little label with the Gorman co-lab, and a couple of really fun things are in store for this year as well. I have just made some cute emoji tampon earrings that Cottons Australia will be selling to raise money for Share the Dignity, an organisation that provides free sanitary products to homeless and at risk women.
I am working on a new collection that is a collaboration of sorts with a stylist friend Bettina McIlwraith, we have been talking about it for ages and once the HBIC show is over I am itching to start work on that.
Need to Know:
- Catch the 86, 35 or 70 tram all the way to the last stop (D11) at Harbour Town
- Sunday, 28 February 2016 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Food Court – 427 Docklands Drive, Waterfront City, near the grass amphitheatre. (In front of Harbour Town). Docklands. Melbourne
- Head Babes In Charge – VAMFF 2016 – Offsite Runway
- RSVP on Eventbrite
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