Karen – ‘Behind The Scenes’ The Director’s Cut

Immersed in the whimsy of Romance Was Born for a day, you
are transported to a time, not so long ago…
Nanna’s crochet-covered teapot on the Formica kitchen table, the
hydrangeas growing against the low, front fence, the budgie chirping happily in
the cage in her living room and the shells and bits of cunjevoi you pick up as
you wander along the beach.

The clothes, from the “Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and
Shells” collection, are delightful, and the designers, Anna Plunkett and Luke
Sales have done themselves proud lending a quintessentially Australian feel to
many of the pieces.

As a location, Echelon studio, with its clean open space
flooded with natural light, provides the perfect backdrop for faux flowers and
bold splashes of colour. Sasha Leibowitz mixes a palette of textures from what
seemed like a Neptune’s cave of clothes and accessories. Then, there is the
shoes! Oh, the shoes! Shoe lover extraordinaire, Imelda Matt – with the
enviable job of footwear editor – can choose from a range of delightful (and
coveted) pieces of art.

Rachael Rutt is like a rare, fragile bird, teetering on
impossibly long legs. Matt as a puppet-master , controlling the fishing-line
that holds the tulle skirt just so. Rachael’s eyes are thick and luxuriant with Mac
white shadow , courtesy of Natasha Severino, who was also key make-up artist
for the SS09 Romance Was Born show at RAFW. Her weight of hair is piled into a gorgeous
top-knot by Travis.

Then, Sonny shoots….. and captures the bird.