Though physically a small and cleanly laid out exhibition, The Spirit of the Black Dress was the result of bucket-loads of talent. 10 uber-impressive black dresses, each with their own unique twists, lined the room; while behind them, wall mounted, a dark and sensual portrait of each dress gave another perspective to the concept. The photographer was Christian Blanchard; a dapper young man with cheeky eyes, dishevelled hair, and a very bright future. Blanchard’s folio of ad campaigns and magazine editorials is impressive; his work on the exhibition striking, aided by superb hair and make-up by Ashleigh Richards and Carl Reeves.

Each of the 10 black dresses was created especially for the exhibit by a different designer. Airdrie Makim of Joolz added vintage playing-card butterflies on long pearl strands to Claire Djuve’s little draping black number in a winning partnership. Project Runway phenomena Leigh Alexander Buchanan used asymmetrical tiers of tulle to create a voluminous and eye-catching gown. Rachael Cassar’s glints of gold were a magical touch, Nikolina Kucan’s floor-sweeping number elegant yet modern.

Alyana Eau, Andy Tsang, Kristy Barber, Michelle Czech, Noelle Kan, and Sonya Kraan rounded out the rest of the exhibition with equally beautiful work. If you have a chance to visit The Spirit of the Black Dress this week, do so; you can find it at Georges Building off Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

Giang Cao of Through The Looking Glass was our social photographer for the opening gala of the exhibition. To see the social shots, as well as some of the exhibition itself, click on the gallery below.

Failing to understand that their dwindling margins and relevance to Australian shoppers has more to do with a lack of culture, terrible service and worse stock, Australian retailer Myer have succeeded in pushing for the demolition of Lonsdale House, one of Melbourne’s heritage Art Deco landmarks, and the neighbouring Caledonian Lane.

While architectural news is seldom a feature of Fashionising.com, the decision beggars belief. Yes, the Victorian government’s contemptuous disregard for Melbourne’s heritage is hardly a secret, but Myer’s failure to understand their irrelevance to consumers can only raise questions about why they’re still in business.

A glass box come shopping centre, the replacement of Lonsdale House shows that corporate greed knows few bounds, nor has much sense about it.

Take the consumer angle: shoppers looking to spend serious cash don’t need or want another shopping centre; one only need to look at the falling sales at Victoria’s suburban shopping centres, such as Chadstone, to ascertain that fact. And looking to the glass wasteland that is Melbourne’s Docklands highlights that mid-90s glass boxes aren’t for the fashionable either.

Or your could look at the shopping experience itself: while anyone who has attempted to find service at Myer of late can tell you the experience is a lacklustre one, the demolition of a heritage building highlights that those behind the development don’t understand the cultural element of shopping. It’s not the purchased item that makes up the experience of shopping, it’s the cultural elements of service and surrounds that do. And those same elements are what bring shoppers back time and time again. Take the away and the shops that will occupy this new building will all join the rat race to the bottom of the pile.

Most ludicrous, though, is the cringe worthy attempt to build cultural value into the dated box soon to be named Emporium Melbourne. Though unseasoned shoppers who might decide to migrate from QV or Melbourne Central (other glass box shopping centres in Melbourne with little distinction) to the new development won’t realise it, the Emporium in the title is a reference to Myer’s glory days when it was called Myer Emporium. Back then the stock was good and the service better.

Now instead Myer places themselves, and 240 other stores, at the mercy of an already dated design while the truly fashionable will stick to heritage high streets where the truly cultured side of shopping is to be found.

Almost a year ago, a platinum blonde Kate Moss was revealed on the cover of i-D magazine and Tania tipped it as one of 2008’s hair colour trends for women. Well the hypermodel has done it again: will Kate Moss’ peroxide blonde hair for her Interview photo shoot see peroxide blonde rank amongst other 2009 hair trends?

In the i-D magazine shoot (below) Moss channelled other 2008 hair trends, including the bob and the fringe. This time she’s a little more ‘rock star’, a little more Debbie Harry.

Peroxide Blonde Hair Colour Trend Updates

Drew Barrymore gets a new blonde hairstyle

Taylor Momsen’s new hairstyle: fringed peroxide

Kate Moss with platinum blonde bob

You can view photos from Kate Moss’ Interview photo shoot in the forums, and find out more about 2009 fashion trends by following that link.

One of the MSFW (Melbourne Spring Fashion Week) retail program events worth visiting tonight is the Spring/Summer 2009/2010 collection launch of Alexi Freeman. Held at the beautiful Comme, guests will not only get to view the collection in person, but will also have the opportunity to pre-order pieces at 25% off.

The event will take place from 6pm-9pm tonight; Wednesday, 2nd September. You can view the collection lookbook by clicking the gallery below; or visit http://www.alexifreeman.com/ for more info.

There’s little point in wearing clothes from 2009’s fashion trends unless you have the one other major element just right: hair.

Taking their cues from 2008, in 2009 women’s hair trends will play to the extremes. They might be extremely short, extremely girly, extremely sexual or extremely slick. It’ll only be the bob hair cut which will sit somewhere to the left of extreme; and you’re going to be hard pressed to find that hair style on fashion forward women.

If you’re looking for men’s 2009 hair trends, including styles, cuts, and colors click the link to read more. If you’d like to receive all the hair trend updates, subscribe to our free fashion newsletter.

Pick a 2009 women’s hair trend

2009 Hair Cut Trends for Women

• The Cropped Bob
• The Pixie Crop
• Long Hair
• The Bob

2009 Hair Style Trends for Women

• Flowing Hair
• Straight and Sleek
• 1940’s / Mermaid Wave
• Milkmaid Braids

2009 Hair Colour Trends for Women

• Peroxide Blonde

Women’s Hair Cut Trends 2009

Throughout 2008, women’s hair cuts did one thing: they got shorter. There was the bob hair trend, the pixie-crop hair trend, and a plethora of others in between.

And unlike the length of women’s hair, their popularity grew.

Which leaves us with an interesting predicament for 2009’s hair trends: the fashion forward, short hair styles of 2008 are no longer fashion forward. They’re no longer unique. Every woman and her chuiauia got one.

So in 2009, fashion forward girls have a choice to make: keep the bobs and blend into the crowd or, to stand out, cut their hair shorter or let it grow.

The Cropped Bob