Paris Kyne in 2005
2005 was a year of major change. Firstly a new name “Paris Kyne – Master Milliner” , there are so many home frock makers calling themselves milliners these days, that a need to differentiate has arisen, Master Milliner is the obvious highly elevated answer. Along with the new name came the move next door to 6-501 Toorak Road Toorak. No move would be complete without a new colour scheme burgundy, gold and turquoise, a colour combination that would scare a small child, but as there are very few small children in Toorak Village, this will hardly present an issue. The logo has also changed from Art Deco to Art Nouveau; this coincides with my belief in continually flowing line, movement of vision and other wonderful turns of phases.
Most years a winter launch is staged, normally in the country, but this year it was Brisbane’s turn. Brisbane Turf Club sponsored the event with all the models being previous Queensland Fashions on the Field winners. I was the special fashion guest for Brisbane Cup in 2005, which meant loads of parties, endless champagne and a chance to do all the Gold Coast rollercoasters.
“Trust Me, Believe Me THRILL ME” was the name of the Spring/Summer 05 collection launch shown on the 16th of August at Mannequin Revolution in Richmond. The exquisite clothing was supplied by Cinema Haute Couture with the Hair and Makeup by Mal Bradley Hair and Beauty. The PR blurb read “300 naked mannequins, 5 live models and 11 specially created hats. Who is real, who is fake, what do we perceive is real beauty and the ideal body shape? Is perfection just an illusion?”
This year's Exhibition was titled “The Master Milliner’s Muse” and was shown at the Galleria, Cnr Elizabeth and Bourke Streets, Melbourne from the 5th till the 18th September 2005. The exhibition showed 15 pieces made over a 15 year period for one client, Mrs Gail Humphreys. It clearly illustrated how the style of both client and milliner have evolved.
The last 12 months have been full of their usual rather wonderful front pages of newspapers and endless photo shoots. Though the highlight must be the Brisbane News 22nd June 2005, social pages, imagine a picture of me at the Brisbane cup, in the Treasury Casino Brisbane Marquee, but let's photoshop the picture to make my teeth pure white and then attack my skin and give me a perfect tan, not reality but who cares!
Everybody in Australia knows who won the 2003 and 2004 Melbourne Cup, yes the incredible Makybe Diva, she of course went on to win the very big double of Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in 2005. The team at Paris Kyne made the three incredibly large Makybe Diva showstopper masks. They each had 16 large ostrich plumes, 12 handmade ostrich frond tassels, 5 swarovski crystal stars in the shape of the Southern Cross and more diamantes on the handle then you can poke a stick at. Each mask took five days to make but it was worth every second of the effort. The masks were used to promote the Divas Cox Plate run.
Late 2005 Gertie and I jumped on a plane again and headed off to the land of smiles – America. Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece Falling Water was the first stop. Then on to New York for the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, department sores, theatres, and a full day shopping for supplies in the millinery and bead district. Florida was next on the list for its rollercoasters and the Dali museum in St Petersburg. Las Vegas was the last stop to see the overly feathered showgirls and ride more rollercoasters.
