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Patty Huntington

Patty Huntington

Patty Huntington is a Sydney-based journalist, producer and commentator with a special interest in fashion, design and pop culture.

With male celebrities such as Harry Styles and Pete Davidson confidently wearing skirts, is the stigma attached to men in dresses finally coming to an end?

When a writer blogged about Rosmah Mansor buying 61 custom-altered garments from a Sydney-based designer, little did she know the backlash she would cause.

‘The issue with Made in China is not necessarily in the quality but in the quality control,’ says Lisa Qu, the only Australian to make it to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for 2020.

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New York Fashion Week’s long schedule and high number of events – up to 600 in a season – undermines its credibility. Tom Ford, chairman of the fashion designers’ council that runs the week, is cutting the number of catwalk shows and their duration.

David Bowie, Lauren Bacall and Sophia Loren were fans of her Flamingo Park boutique in Sydney, and she partied with rock stars in the 1960s. A pregnant Princess Diana famously wore Kee’s Blinky jumper.

Sudanese refugees from civil war, many of them resettled in Australia, are in the vanguard of a cadre of supermodels whose rise to international prominence reflects fashion’s growing diversity.

We talk to key figures of catwalk, backstage and street-style photography on how they got into fashion week photography and what it takes to stand out in a scene that is getting ever more competitive.

Fashion Week Australia begins on Sunday and hot newcomers to look out for include surf line Double Rainbouu, swimwear brand Bondi Born and several recent fashion-school graduates.

Melbourne Fashion Festival, which runs until March 10, will showcase the work of 147 fashion designers. Here’s our quick guide to international and local fashion, beauty, and homewares stores around the city.

After InStyle is accused of covering up curvy comedian Melissa McCarthy on its cover, and Cosmopolitan magazine is slammed for ‘normalising’ obesity, there is still a long way to go before plus-size women are recognised and represented by the industry

Their A-list clients include Meghan Markle, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie and the Kardashians. From Ralph & Russo to Alex Perry, glamorous gowns by these designers will be seen on every awards season red carpet.

Japanese-Australian Akira Isogawa, for whom actress Cate Blanchett was an early advocate, runs his business himself, has no online store, and shows little outside Australia. His work is the subject of a new Sydney exhibition.

City had a taste of luxury during last mining boom, and has seen money pour into new hotels and shopping centres; Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho’s daughter Laurinda Ho is among the investors to have opened upscale hotels.

Niece of the king of Denpasar and ex-wife of Australian Olympic swimmer Michael Klim gives her tips on Bali’s best spots, including the stunning Soori Bali hotel and Mama San restaurant.

New Zealand’s biggest city is booming, and so are its designer fashion and beauty boutiques –some of them destinations in themselves. With New Zealand Fashion Week under way, we’ve got the lowdown on five must-have shopping experiences.

Up-and-coming brands Georgia Alice, Wynn Hamlyn, Jarrad Godman, Rachel Mills and Ryan Turner are all run by young New Zealand-based designers who are looking to take the country, and the world, by storm.

Byron Bay, between Sydney and Brisbane, has long been a favourite with hippies and surfers, and now a new generation of fashion entrepreneurs are moving in, leaving behind the big cities and embracing beach town life.

Activewear is expected to outsell luxury fashion within two years, and Australian labels are expanding aggressively and gaining recognition around the world, impressing celebrities and influencers alike

With 85 per cent of the population living within 50km of the coast, Australians are in the perfect position to gauge what is the coolest thing to wear over the summer. Here are some of their most influential swimwear designers today.

Australia’s biggest city is experiencing a retail renaissance, and as its fashion week gets under way, we survey the best places to shop there, from established Castlereagh Street to ultra-modern Barangaroo

I.Am.Gia, Leo + Lin, Acler, Client Liaison and Chris Ran Lin will all make their catwalk debuts at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2018, which begins this Sunday

Independent retailers such as Sneakerboy and magazine Sneaker Freaker are contributing to Australia’s increasing relevance in the global sneaker business. Sales figures are also being boosted by big spending Chinese buyers

The Daily Edited went from sideline to full-time occupation for two fashion-mad lawyers, racking up annual sales of US$24 million within four years and expanding to three continents. Customisation and limited runs are keys to its success