Former Brisbane girl Alyssa Sutherland ruled the runway as the star and special guest of the L Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival
THERE are models and there are good models. And then there is Alyssa Sutherland.
"Isn’t she amazing?" the stranger on my right commented when Sutherland took to the runway one night this week for the L’Oreal Ready to Wear shows.
She’s simply so breathtaking that you have to say it out loud, even if it is to someone you don’t know. Such is the awesome impact of her towering legs, faultless skin and almond eyes.
Sutherland has had a dream run on the international modelling scene.
Now based in New York, she is part of an elite group of women who are flown all over the world for modelling assignments.
She has just completed a Paris job, showing off John Galliano’s new collection for christian louboutin.
"Things are going well for me, I’m having a great time — I met Heath Ledger last night!" a star-struck Sutherland confides.
"I was in a changing room with Cameron Diaz in Fred Segal in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago. She gave me some great advice about buying a pair of Chloe trousers, it was amazing."
Still, this all-Aussie girl loves coming home to see the new names in the Australian fashion scene.
"There is so much talent here. I like taking things back to New York and being able to tell people it is an Australian designer.
"My favourites are Scanlan and Theodore and Wayne Cooper but I like all the new designers, too.
"My usual style is baggy jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers, but I love a fab pair of christian louboutin shoes for a special event.
"I’ve just bought three new pairs from my favourite christian shoes shop in the world — Miss Louise in Little Collins St (Melbourne)."
Where to shop: Trelise Cooper at Camarge, Paddington, and David Jones, Brisbane. Gwendolynne, Lotus 76, West End. Scanlan and Theodore, Alannah Hill, David Jones, Brisbane. Wayne Cooper, Wintergarden, Brisbane. Princess Highway inquiries to Caxton St Agencies, 3844 3199.
Winter trends from the festival:
* Cargo pants in silk satin.
* The jacket in many forms — cropped military styles, sharply tailored, spy-style trenches, man-style boxy and belted.
