Scene @ *christopher Chronis Summer Of Love Launch *the Australian Ballet Destiny Opening Night * Lee Jeans Gallery Opening
The Sunday Age
Sunday September 2, 2007
ON THE cusp of a Fashion Week that will no doubt be attended by floods of black-clad Melburnians, it's refreshing to see one man in the industry embracing a colourful alternative. Dressed to thrill, designer Christopher Chronis celebrated the launch of his Summer of Love collection with 350 of his closest friends (delightfully including family, manufacturers, pattern and button makers) at Crown's Studio 3.
Featuring a catwalk parade and an abundance of pina coladas, the event was saturated with tanned young guns donning their shiniest CC pieces. Christopher Chronis, your collection and your own dress sense is quite flamboyant - is that a method of statement making? "Not at all and we own a lot of black clothing. It's just with summer coming on you want to get more colourful, have a bit more fun." Having fun with the two loves of his life, wife Christine - "Neither of us gets called Chris so it's OK" - and son Nikita, Chronis seemed genuinely down to earth, unfazed by the success of his label in the cut-throat fashion industry. As for his pre-teen son, decked out in tight jeans, fitted blazer, emblem T and rock'n'roll hair, is fashion something he'd like to pursue? "We would love that! But right now he's into wrestling. We'll support him whatever he dreams of doing."* ONE boy who had the good fortune to make good his childhood dream is the Australian Ballet's principal artist Robert Curran. "My grandmother was an amazing ballroom dancer and as her first grandson she really pushed for me to get into it but I chose ballet instead." Rebel. Did your childhood career choice result in any bullying in your younger years? "Yes indeed. I come from the country so you can imagine!" Playing the part of the artist in Thursday night's opening performance of Destiny, Curran's stand-out performance was viewed by a packed crowd of socialites, including the ever-present Klims, Daniel Goodfellow and Tatiana Leskova. Guests were chauffeured in Beamers after the performance to the grand after-party at Federation Square's BMW Edge. When questioned on whether ballet dancers would compete via post-performance dance moves, Curran laughed. "You would be incredibly hard pressed to find any ballet dancer dancing off-stage, at a bar or party - we'd rather just sit and relax."* MAKING up for the lack of after-party dancing by Curran was the crew at the opening of the Lee Gallery, who danced well past the midnight hour on Friday.Living up to the title of the "Gala Opening and General Debauchery Party" were the likes of Luke Wallace, Dan Whitfield, Amy Don, Michelle Legge, Jess Cook, Trevor King, Benn Jae and Stacey Korp, who joined a live alligator, mammoth spiders and bugs. Downing Sol Beer and Jamieson whiskey while watching performances from Muscles, Ajax and Sleater Brockman, the colourful eclectic fashion/art/music crowd elevated Chapel Street from its usual Friday night laps-on-chaps activity. When questioned on defining debauchery, Lee Jeans' Richard Bell answered in G-rated fashion. "Well it's definitely not picnics in the park." And, the art part? "The plan is to provide the space free to budding artists, giving something back to the arts/graphic/creative community." Stacey Korp, who manages Scene Models, laughed at the idea of originality."Here I was thinking I'll wear a leather dress and everyone is wearing leather! This place is crazy! Melbourne is too small!"sundayage.scene@gmail.com
© 2007 The Sunday Age