Only a fortnight after dumping Claire Quirk, the Melbourne City Council have announced that model and fashion designer Jacqui Alexander is the new face of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW).
Alexander, who hit the press earlier this year after becoming the youngest fashion designer to be stocked at London’s Harvey Nichols, is naturally excited about her upcoming role. She’s also aware that MMSFW is one of the few fashion events truly open to the fashionistas who make the industry possible; “This show, unlike many others I’ve been involved in, really celebrates fashion and opens fashion up to the public, who normally get excluded from industry events,” she told the Herald Sun.
Jacqui Alexander and MMSFW’s former face Claire Quirk
Despite her success this year’s fashion week will always be marred by the unceremonious dumping of model Claire Quirk as it’s face. That act was decided by Councillor Fiona Snedden who says that Alexander “fits better with Melbourne and with a lot of the policies we have”.
Naturally we’re a little puzzled by what our council has in the way of policies that prevent a 16 year old (though not largely reported Quirk will turn 16 on the first day of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week) from fronting a fashion week. The council largely hinted that the change came after the British fashion industry’s Model Health Inquiry which made the nonsense recommendation of banning models aged under 16 from London Fashion Week. Strange, given that Quirk will be 16 and will still grace the fashion week’s catwalks. Frankly, we’re miffed.
