Department store decadence

Myer's newest recruit Third Millennium designer Claire Dickson-Smith was on the receiving end of an extraordinary welcome late last month.

Instead of having her work showcased on the runway with 500 or so guests as is traditional, the designer was part of an intimate group of just 16 brands invited to present their "muse" for a small group of influential fashion media and staff.

The list of brands and their muses included Mad Cortes (Maeve Dermody), Third Millennium (Pia Miranda), Bianca Spender (Anna Willy Highfield), Carla Zampatti (Melissa Doyle), Charlie Brown (Jordan Lucas), Manning Cartell (Sonia K), Josh Goot (Allegra), Wayne Cooper (Terry Biviano), Hugo Boss (Grant Pearce), Gorman (Grace Clapham),  Camilla & Marc (Alexandra Keating), Kate Sylvester (Emily Barclay), Nicola Finetti (Charlotte Dawson), Nevenka (Karen Gilbert), Yeojin Bae (Sarah Blasko) and  Leona Edmiston (Anna Maria).

The black tie do, staged at Sydney's Est. Restaurant and hosted by Myer director of apparel Judy Coomber, was used as a prelude to its national launch which took place on March 3 in Melbourne.