For decades, the Logie Awards red carpet has been more reliable for laughs than the swing and miss punchlines delivered by the ceremony’s hosts.
Margot Robbie’s mullet dress from 2009, Chris Hemsworth’s limp paisley tie in 2006 and Susie Elelman’s attention-grabbing gowns are reminders of a time when network wardrobe departments outranked celebrity stylists and local celebrities failed to register on the radar of luxury labels.
Logie nominee Pallavi Sharda tries on a Zimmermann dress for this year’s ceremony, which returns to Sydney after 37 years.Credit: Louise Kennerley
After an attempted Gold Coast glow-up, following a long Melbourne residency, the Logies return to Sydney on Sunday for the first time in 37 years, giving hope that the dress-induced laughter will finally come to an end.
Sydney-based luxury public relations companies, which hold the holy grail of outfits from Zimmermann, Camilla and Marc, Alemais and Michael Lo Sordo, to be loaned to celebrities and influencers, have all received a dramatic increase in requests from past years.
“Moving the Logies to Sydney definitely elevates this to a gala event,” says Lo Sordo, who has five outfits on loan to guests. “Sydney really is the home of glamour and being here may help to draw more international television talent.”
“With a change of location, actors have the freedom to explore their fashion creativity in ways they haven’t before,” says designer Rebecca Vallance, who has dressed Today Extra co-host Sylvia Jeffreys at past Logies. “I expect to see sleek floor-length column dresses, which exude elegance, reminiscent of Sydney’s unique charm.”
The event has slowly been growing in style stature from Jeannie Little’s comic creations in the golden years of television, to sleek offerings from Toni Maticevski and Dolce & Gabbana. Last year, Sydney stylist Mikey Ayoubi dressed Love Me lead actor Bojana Novakovic in a sheer black dress with delicate embroidery from Steven Khalil,which offered an elevated example of Australian design.
“The Gold Coast slightly tarnishes it,” Ayoubi says. “In Sydney you have the on the ground creatives, from hair and make up to the stylists. Melbourne isn’t too bad, but Sydney is ideal.”
Nominee Pallavi Sharda, who appeared in The Twelve, a Foxtel and Binge drama miniseries, prefers Sydney’s weather to Melbourne’s winter conditions for red carpet expression.
“While I’m partial to my hometown – no one wants a coat check at the Logies,” Sharda says.
Having worn Zimmermann to events in Cannes, Hollywood and to The Twelve premiere, Sharda is tossing up between the internationally recognised Australian brand and other local labels.
“It always feels so good to wear a truly excellent Aussie brand at global events. Wearing Zimmermann feels like a beautiful representation of my dual heritage.”
“The new spaces being forged by Australian designers of non Anglo-European descent is also very exciting. The more diversity of influence on the red carpet the better.”
This year Elelman, who acquired a reputation as the antipodean Cher on the Logies red carpet, with show and tell gowns from Wollongong dressmaker Peter Bartlett and costume designer Christopher Essex, will miss the ceremony. She is hoping stylists and nominees will still have fun.
“You can’t take things too seriously,” says Elelman. “People used to worry whether I would get upset by the mixed comments I received. They don’t realise that people still stop me in the street to talk about those Logies dresses.”
5 Logie red carpet winners
Jesinta Franklin in Steven Khalil (2015), Janice Petersen in Helen O’Connor (2022); Asher Keddie in J’Aton (2012); Tony Armstrong in Reigner (2022); Mark Philippoussis in Boss and Delta Goodrem in Peter Morrisey (2004).Credit: Getty, Penny Stephens
Jesinta Franklin wearing Steven Khalil, 2014
White was the shade of the evening, with Franklin winning a red carpet showdown with Jennifer Hawkins in a two-piece Maticevski dress.
Janice Petersen in Helen O’Connor, 2022
A cheery farewell to the Gold Coast as the Logies host city from Petersen in a dress by Thurley founder Helen O’Connor.
Asher Keddie in J’Aton, 2012
Melbourne dressmakers J’Aton dominated the Logie Awards in Melbourne and the Brownlow Medal for years. This fitted lace dress with splashes of neon showcases the designers’ skills.
Tony Armstrong in a suit from Reigner, 2022
Let’s pretend it’s all about the shade of purple, but this win really comes down to the killer moustache.
Delta Goodrem in Peter Morrisey, 2004
Having emerged from seclusion, following treatment for Hodgkin’s disease, Goodrem graced the red carpet in a one-shoulder gown with diamante-encrusted tassels from Australian designer Peter Morrisey. It was the first public outing for Goodrem with then boyfriend, tennis player Mark Philippoussis.
5 Logie red carpet misses
Logies misses: Olympia Valance in Con Ilio (2018); Macy Gray (2000); Avril Lavingne (2007); Harry Styles (2012); Gina Riley as Kim (2006).Credit: Getty, Penny Stephens, Simon Schluter.
Olympia Valance in Con Ilio, 2018
The great doily shortage of 2019, finally explained.
Macy Gray, 2000
Rainbow Paddle Pop look-alike contest winner.
Avril Lavigne, 2007
The hit song Sk8r Boi became a way of dressing for Lavigne, regardless of the dress code.
Harry Styles, 2012
Before Gucci, Styles arrived at the Logies with bandmates One Direction, in a look best described as Year 10 Formal chic.
Gina Riley, 2006
In character as Kim, from the series Kath & Kim, Riley wore a recreation of Neighbours actor Stephanie McIntosh’s pilloried dress from the previous year.
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