From left: Amanda Shadforth, Carmen Hamilton, Yan Yan Chan, Sara Donaldson, Nicole Warne, Tanja Gacic, Candice Lake (Credit: Sonny Vandevelde)

“We’re the brides of Michael,” said one high-profile fashion magazine editor with a laugh. “But of course, he’s the only person in the room wearing black,” laughed an international boutique buyer.

Truth is, much like Michael Lo Sordo’s beautiful womenswear, his presentation on the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Resort 2019 schedule was an elegant, exclusive and visually striking affair.

Skipping the traditional runway show format, the exuberant designer – whose clothes are loved by Margot Robbie and Olivia Palermo – instead hosted a sit-down dinner at trendy inner-city wine bar and dinner bolt hole Bambini Trust, inviting models, influencers, international buyers and fashion editors to join him across the elaborately-set table.

Images: (1) GRAZIA’S Rachel Sharp with stylist Penny McCarthy (2) Net-a-Porter fashion director Lisa Aiken with Michael Lo Sordo (3) The Bambini Trust setting

Influencers Yan Yan Chan, Nicole Warne, Amanda Shadforth and Sara Crampton wore new season Michael Lo Sordo – an in situ showcase of his satin-heavy Resort 2019 collection, called Attaché. Other guests included model-turned-photographer Candice Lake, Albus Lumen designer Marina Afonina, Net-a-Porter fashion director Lisa Aiken, fashion influencer Carmen Hamilton, and yours truly.

While the head-to-toe white dress code posed a challenge for those (like myself) coming straight from a full day of shows (12 hours of white at fashion week is a recipe for disaster and hardly a conduit for street style self-expression), it certainly provided dream photo ops for the two guest photographers invited to be there: international backstage favourites Sonny Vandevelde and Myles Kalus.

Credit: Sonny Vandevelde

Monogram accessory brand The Daily Edited, founded by Alyce Tran who was present at the dinner, provided personalised clutches for each guest which served as name cards around the table – a memento of a beautiful experience, the touching gesture of thanks and decadent three-course meal.

GALLERY: MICHAEL LO SORDO’S DINNER ‘BRIDES’

Images: (1) Candice Lake (2) Carmen Hamilton (3) Nicole Warne (4) Marina Afonina (5) Kaitlyn Ham (6) Tanja Gacic (7) Sara Donaldson (8) Penny McCarthy (9) Rachel Sharp (10) Michael Lo Sordo (11) Justine Cullen (12) Rachel Wayman (13) Yan Yan Chan (14) Kellie Hush (15) Hush with Alyce and Caroline Tran (16) Emily Taylor (17) Katherine Green

Michael Lo Sordo is available internationally at Net-a-Porter, Browns, Farfetch and The Undone, and locally at The Iconic and Désordre.

Photo credits throughout: Sonny Vandevelde and Myles Kalus