It is the much anticipated event that heralds the start of the Melbourne social year, and this year’s Jeep Portsea Polo shows that the event has come into full maturity. Locals talk of time when sandals, thongs, simple tees, linen shifts and simple picnics served from the boot of one’s Rolls or Benz was the order of the day but that all seems to have dissipated as a long gone memory. Jeep Portsea Polo is now a playground of the society set, where towering edifices rather than simple marquees line the polo field and and the fashionable ‘Beau Monde’ congregate laden in designer apparel and accessories arriving stylishly in a calvacade of limousines, boats and even for the ultra glamourous, helicopters.
This year marked an important milestone for TheTrendSpotter team as our own Dasha and Colin Gold were named the very first Official Bloggers for the Jeep Portsea Polo. A role Dasha and Colin were honoured to fulfill and which they did in their inimitable style. As always, TheTrendSpotter team, in 2015, renews its commitment to our loyal following to bring you the latest in trends, fashion and lifestyle news and the hot happenings of the social calendar both here and internationally.
Much of the social activity as well as the round of important networking centered around the exclusive enclaves of the Jeep and Peroni Marquees. Those not invited into either marquees hovered for a chance entree or a glimpse of the endless parade of sartorial style that progressed in both.
Jeep, the naming sponsors of Portsea Polo entertained their guests in a Hamptons styled setting with their marquee featuring a second storey viewing deck. Guests sipped on endless cocktails and Laurent Perrier whilst nourishing themselves from an abundant selection of tasty morsels overseen by renowned food connoisseur and Masterchef judge, Matt Preston.
Judy Romano, whose publicity and events firm, Romano Beck, oversaw proceedings, confided with TheTrendSpotter of how happy she was with the day’s proceedings. “We have gathered the best guests, the best food and and everyone is having the best time and the weather has been kind. The best of the best,” beamed Romano before being kidnapped by a flood of air-kissing acquaintances.
Amongst Jeeps guests, was Lady Susan Renouf making a much welcome return to the social scene. Renouf was accompanied by friends and her much admired daughter, Anne Peacock. Star soccer player Harry Kewell was seen in tete-a-tete with Neighbours starlet, Olympia Valance. Garnering much excitement were part of the cast of hit reality show, The Real Housewives of Melbourne. Gossiping and chattering with fellow Jeep guests were Lydia Schiavello, Janet Roach and newcomers for the second season, Gamble Breaux and Pettifleur Berenger.
The Peroni Marquee was brimful with bright young things with many traversing between the two storeys of the Italianate garden compete with terrace balcony and sweeping grand staircase. Frenziedly socialising and catching up on post-holiday news were, Nick Smith of NewsLifeMedia, model Emily Baker wowing the fashion pundits in the latest season Gucci, Dene Heath of men’s accessories distributors Ransal, Nine Network’s Catriona Rowntree, Lindy Klim, Brent de Boer from the Dandy Warhols and Immigrant Union publicists Kate Keane and Kate Bensimon of Kate & Co. Peroni’s guest list of social luminary sorts was created by marketing agency, 3 Degrees.
Much festivity was also witnessed in the VRC Young Members Moroccan inspired marquee whose guests included Bachelorette to be Laurina Fleure, Liz Cambage, Rhys Urlich, Rebecca Judd in a lace playsuit, Rebeccah Panozza and the VRC’s PR and Social Media Executive Matthew Ongarello. Also at the social forefront, the Genovese Shots enclosure hosted by the effervescent Eleonora Genovese and the Amuk Marquee where the fashions were bright, the guest spiritedly ebullient and the music thumping.
As for the fashions, though the weather forecast had been ominous, nothing could dampen the spirits of attendees to look their best. Sensible dressing ruled over ostentation and many attempted to allay the grey of the skies by attending in colour. For the lasses these included an array of summer pastels, though many favoured the crispness of white-on-white or the sharpness of white-on-black. Full skirts or wide legged tailored pants seemed much favoured worn with cropped tops, casual unstructured jackets or light capes. In keeping with the need to traverse fields, wedges, smart ballerina flats and even a steady stream of designer Wellington boots made their appearance.
The lads arrived looking satirically splendid in summer wight jackets, light summer knits, smart cotton shirts and coloured or patterned chinos or shorts. Our dapper lads opting for boating shoes and smart loafers as their chosen shoes. With panache, many of the lads bravely mixed textures and patterns showing an increasing trend for experimenting rather than safe options when it comes to menswear.
Alexandra Feiam is an experienced fashion writer who holds a degree in journalism. She has an impressive portfolio and expertise working as the Editor at Power Retail and Commercial Content Editor at Newscorp. Ally has been writing for The TrendSpotter since 2018, and her work has been featured in notable publications such as The Herald Sun, Arirang TV South Korea, Kidspot, The House of Wellness, and The Daily Telegraph.
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