The Joy

VoxFrock Rookie Crew mentor/photographer Theadora Violet shoots the MFF show pitched squarely at “une certain demographic“. Women whose standards are notoriously high and tolerance for fastnasty fashion, low; very low. Scroll down to meet Theadora and click back for last blasts of MFF news from our crew of future fashion journalists and photographers.

Photographs: Theadora Violet Words: Janice Breen Burns

Surfing legend Lane Beachley gave peak bliss on Melbourne Fashion Festival’s “Fuck The Invisible” Runway, laughing, wiggling, dancing to a full house of fans whooping, clapping, whistling for her attention.

Beachley is 53. The Lisa Barron exquisitry she modelled – sheer black float-frock with sparkled modesty shorts and breast patches – in a more conservative (more boring?) setting might read too young but, not here.

Not here at this third iteration of MFF’s “Fuck The Invisible”, a runway conjured to address that quaint, ostensibly patriarchal notion that women must “disappear” socially at “d’une certain age“.

Of course they don’t. Won’t. Au con-bloody-traire! Beachley’s joyous, energetic and very visible 53 self is emblematic among the designers, consumers, demi-legends and celebrities who now lean in to this runway like a shouty – albeit very fashionable – protest: “Me? Disappear? Get a load of THIS…”

Headline designers including Kara Baker, Julie Goodwin, Lisa Barron and Mariam Seddiq give them proper couture: softelegant tailoring, snakey-sleek lame evening gowns, flashy palette and shimmery fringed dresses, statement-maker separates and the odd fully-foofed gown, fetchingly clamped, waist to decollete, with excellent corsetry.

For all the divisive controversy around its coy-naughty name (MFF busts the Fuck to “F***” in its programme), this unique runway returns fashion to its original remits, evolved since the cradle decade of classic glamour, the 1950s. Beauty, femininity and flattery with a side of spiceysubtle sexiness. All that, minus the age limits required in less polite society.