Designers and their muses

Muses are a mysterious species with a particular role of importance in the world of fashion designers – the role of inspiration.

The ‘Make a Statement’ event hosted by Australia’s largest department store, Myer, saw some of our top designers and their muses gather to make their own individual statements in Sydney. Not only did each one exhibit highly individual styles, the array of talent was simply overwhelming, and not just from the designers. This collection of muses ranged from actresses to editors, and singers to designers themselves – all successful, talented people with the title of ‘fashion muse’ to add to their own list of accolades.

Stereotypically, muses are often seen as rich fashionistas who enjoy the attention of fashion designers and seemingly don’t undertake much work to deserve their esteemed title. However, while some muses bask in the glory of their fame, there are also those who truly play an essential role in inspiring the creative process for some of the world’s greatest designers. And as this Myer event showed – these muses are not just famous by association, they are all celebrated in their own right!

These were just some of the designers and their muses who attened the star-studded evening along with the face of Myer Jennifer Hawkins and her partner Jake Wall.

Mad Cortes with muse, Maeve Dermody (All Saints actress)
Third Millennium with muse, Pia Miranda (multi award winning actress who made her break in Looking for Alibrandi)
Bianca Spender with muse, Anna Willy Highfield
Carla Zampatti with muse, Melissa Doyle (Sunrise co-host)
Charlie Brown with muse, Jordan Lucas
Manning Cartell with muse, Sonia K
Josh Goot with muse, Allegra
Wayne Cooper with muse, Terry Biviano (accessories designer)
Hugo Boss with muse, Grant Pearce (Editor of GQ Australia and fashion stylist)
Gorman with muse, Grace Clapham
Camilla & Marc with muse, Alexandra Keating (daughter of Ex Prime Minister Paul keating)
Kate Sylvester with muse, Emily Barclay (NZ actress)
Nicola Finetti with muse, Charlotte Dawson (Television presenter and host)
Nevenka with muse, Karen Gilbert (Jewelery desinger)
Yeojin Bae with muse, Sarah Blasko (singer)
Leona Edmiston with muse, Anna Maria

In Greek mythology, muses were a band of spirits who represented the arts and inspired designers and artists with their various graces and talents in singing, writing, music and dance. These days however, the title of muse is given to anyone who ignites that flame of creativity, inspires greatness, exudes style or exhibits any quality that generates great designs from the masters of the fashion world.

Other famous muses

Sofia Coppola is said to be Marc Jacobs’ muse. Chanel has adopted English rose, Keira Knightley as inspiration, and Many socialites are also thought to serve as muses, such as Brook de Ocampo for Galliano and Amanda Brooks for Tuleh.
Famed for her long white-blond hair, lanky body, gaunt features, and androgynous appearance, betty Catroux is a former Chanel model and fashion icon who has been referred to as a muse by both Yves Saint Laurent and Tom Ford. Saint Laurent was so taken by her that he has dubbed her both his twin sister and his female incarnation.
Marianne Faithfull, Musician, Rock Muse
Yoko Ono, muse to John Lennon
Zelda Fitzgerald, Author, Muse to Scott Fitzgerald
Kate Moss, model and muse to Pete Doherty
Sara Lowndes, Bob Dylan’s most influential muse
Edie Sedgwick, muse to Bob Dylan and rumoured to have inspired much of Blonde on Blonde
Amanda Lear, Singer, Muse to Salvador Dali
Cathérine Deneuve, Actress, Muse to Bunuel, André Téchiné and Yves Saint Laurent
Loulou de la Falaise, Designer, Muse to Yves Saint Laurent
Dora Maar, Writer, Muse to Picasso