FRIEND OF THE BRAND Last night Sydney hosted its very own Met Gala, aka the Carla Zampatti show

Ahh, Fashion Week. Every year I count down the days until it arrives. And when it does finally start, all I crave is more than five hours of sleep and the ability to not be perceived. The only way I can describe it is being sensorily overloaded with all your favourite things at once, only to weirdly resent it because you’re now overstimulated. Idk, maybe it’s time for that formal ADHD diagnosis.

Anyway, getting back on track. Last night, heritage brand Carla Zampatti celebrated their 60th anniversary with a show to end all shows. Set across the rolling lawns of the MCA, the iconic Australian label invited some of Australia’s most recognised media, industry members and talent to view the momentous collection. And while there’s a lot to unpack with the show itself, what we want to talk about is the people who attended.

First up on the cab rank is none other than…

Jamie Azzopardi led the arrivals for the evening. And let’s be real, anything that comes after Jamie at fashion week is always a hard act to follow. Because if it wasn’t their tulle extravaganza that stopped people in their tracks, it was their team of four assistants helping carry the train that graced behind.

In all seriousness, this look felt like it was genuinely fit for the Met Gala. And after speaking with Jamie today at the Apero showcase, it appears the custom Eternal Bridal gown also held quite a bit of sentimental significance to the evening, which makes us love it even more.

And yet, believe it or not, this was just the start…

Because shortly following Jamie’s arrival was another highlight of the evening, Carina Mirabile and her mother, Carmel. Both dressed in head-to-toe Carla Zampatti (like true friends of the brand), the two opted for matching neutral tones as they walked hand in hand to the runway.

We spent the day with these two yesterday, and let me tell you that there’s a lot of effort that goes into looking this effortless. Which we love, for the record, because if you’re getting invited to the hottest ticket in town, it’s nice to know that the people going actually love, honour and respect the brand. Shoutout also to Carmel, who is literally just as angelic as she appeared on MAFS this season. She even gave us a cute little wave from the pleb section when we ultimately weren’t let in (lol).

And of course, whenever you mention one MAFS cast member, you might as well be chanting Bloody Mary in the mirror three times. Because naturally, it took the best part of 30 seconds before Tony Mojanovski and Adrian Araouzou also joined the party. We chatted to Adrian about his fit (you can watch that here), and let’s be real, it’s clear this man is so sick of us by now. But alas, we will continue to mutually haunt each other probably until the next season of MAFS, or maybe once I’ve found a better hobby to take up.

Other notable mentions go to…

Honestly, where do I even start. Samantha Harris, Jane Lu, Pip Edwards, Jackie O, Bambi Northwood-Blythe and even a Danish prince rocked up. And that’s just to name a few. Many opted for the oh-so-fashionable black chic ensemble, and I must give these people credit – I think this might have been the first time I wasn’t confronted with some form of unforgivable fashion faux pas moment. Honestly, if people dressed like this all the time I’d be out of a job.

Okay, if you couldn’t already tell, there’s more coverage to come from this show. But while you wait for that, why now scroll down to check out some of our favourite faces and looks from the night.