Prime Minister Julia Gillard has confirmed she is wearing Australian fashion to The Wedding but which designer ?

This would have been a perfect opportunity for Australia House in London and Julia to host a pre-wedding party for British fashion writers/editors trade/commerce delegates and ALL electronic and print media as well as fashion designers and representatives from places like Selfridges, Topshop, Liberty, Jigsaw ( think Kate ) and others to come along and watch a fashion parade of Austalian design, including bridal wear - and also featuring Australian wool of varying grades, including fine and worsted,and suitings. ( which have taken a battering given our mulesing and various boycotts and dumpings)
We have some fabulous designers in this country. Other countries know it, and various celebrities are often featured wearing our designs. But does our Government and the wool industry know it ?

What a wasted opportunity.Typical.

Is our GG wearing Australian ?

I believe so much in the amazing talents of our energetic and innovative designers.

Why didn't someone seize the opportunity of competition between retail giants Myer and David Jones and ask them to sponsor an event at Australia House?

This has got nothing to do with the 'good old days' of the Wool Corporation - more with wondering what happened to that level of self-confidence and creative courage our Government and various organisations seemed once to have.

Our designers have it - and we Australians know it. Our design institutions know it.

Once,Australia gave bolts of fine merino wool to visiting world leaders. They loved these precious and clever gifts.

It's not that I want us all to again clamber upon the sheep's back, but we should acknowledge our fashion industry and the
artistic and economic contribution it makes.

We sadly broke that poor sheep's back some years ago.

Tess Lawrence

* The writer is a former fashion editor and provided publicity/media strategy services to the wool industry - and assisted the visit to Australia of Royal Milliner, Mr John Boyd.

Thanks Tess, nothing like a bit of a giggle. I had thought your article was intended to be “Two” weddings and resurrection. After all, Jules was recently asked if she and Tim had set a date.

This would have given us the Will/Kate wedding, closely followed by the Jules/Timmy event. If Jules timed it right, we Ozzies could give them an extended honeymoon in a very far away place, say 50 years in Brutopia?

I’m not much into fashion but I fail to understand how Julia’s wardrobe and fashion could be uttered in the same breath? She is an unfortunate shape and looks more like her cartoon caricature each day. I have noticed the brass “eyelets” around the hem of her skirts though. I’m informed on good authority that these are for the tie down ropes.

As for the designer of Julia’s wedding outfit. BCF? Anaconda? Army Disposals? Ships Chandlery? Equestrian Supplies (for the bridal)? Surely no self respecting fashion designer would volunteer?

Either way, Australia has played foreign policy and international visits with a straight bat for the last 15 years. This has resulted in a steady increase in respect for our nation and its people.

That said, I’ve solicited input and comment from family and friends overseas recently. Sadly, since KRudd and Juliar launched themselves onto an unsuspecting international audience we seem to have gone backwards.

It looks like we have to start all over again and “resurrect” our international image.

Funny article Tess and I see you couldn't contain yourself but had to be spilling over into the comments section.

More!

Dear SPINDOC, now that's a bit cruel,what you said about the eyelets.

First I have to admit I was the world's worst dressed fashion editor - but I do love fashion and textiles and design and all of that.

Also, there's no getting away from the fact that Julia has a large b.u.m. So do I. So do millions of women. It's how we generally are if unphotoshopped. In the long run, who cares - it's what the Prime Minister thinks and does that should be our real concern - and is - but this visit to London is without doubt a lost opportunity. Every year we do a ' G'day USA campaign ' Fine. If we'd had a showcase pre-wedding party fashion extravaganza at Oz House in London - we could have invited reps and designers from the European Community as well. And we could have invited Kate and her Mum and Family - as well as the Windsors. And we could have invited Warnie and that other Liz.

Dear Peter Hume. You've got my number. It's true - and I just wanted to update the story after I heard Julia on the ABC earlier this morning.
I think I'm pretty close to the 4 posts per article limit Pierre!

Did Julia Gillard attend the wedding?

I hadn't noticed she and Timmy had left the country.