This was one event VIP guests needed their designer shades for. On an open rooftop in Sydney’s inner city, afternoon sun blazing, Swarovski celebrated its new Spring/Summer 2019 jewellery collection.

The gathering was also the ideal chance to celebrate the brand’s continued partnership with the ARIA Awards, serving as the official red carpet launch ahead of the fast-approaching awards night.

As you’d expect then, given the dual party function, guests were an unusual mixture of music and fashion celebrities, hosted by Swarovski’s communications boss Anna Hua.

Guests included model Tahnee Atkinson and Amy Pejkovic, Romance Was Born designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, musicians Ali Simpson, Alison Fleming and Holly White, and social fixtures Christian Wilkins and Max May.

As entertainers on rollerskates weaved their way through guests and played ping pong on a customised Swarovski table, local DJ act Kayex (Tom Derickx and Palassi Kailis) kept the wheels moving, literally.

GALLERY: AS GUESTS ARRIVED…

 

There was even an ice-block cart filled with cocktail ‘Calipos’ to help guests fend off the rising heat. The Paramount Recreation Club setting in Surry Hills felt more akin to a New York member’s club rooftop – all that was missing was the pool and deck chairs.

Swarovski’s SS19 Follow the Light collection, dropping from January, includes four key lines all dropping early next year: Spring, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Summer. (Give the company’s European heritage, its products follow the northern seasons.)

Still, there was no question of the hot season having arrived for guests last night – after all, it’s never too hot to add some sizzle to your sparkle game.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE SWAROVSKI SS19 LAUNCH

Photography: Jack Henry