INTERVIEW WITH PAUL HUNT.
Popular couture and wedding gown designer, Paul Hunt, has extended his talent for designing stunning dresses to styling a sophiscated fit-out for his New farm store, which opened in June. Recently, during our designer chat, he served me an elegant high tea in his beautiful store which has the feel of a French living room from last century – here’s a young man with a superb sense of style and award winning flair for gown design.
Question 1: Where did it all begin – formal fashion education or just great natural talent?
Answer: No real formal training apart from Home Ec’ for a few years in high school at Glen Innes.
Question 2: You have become famous for your beautiful gowns – what inspires you to create these gowns?
Answer: It starts with the fabric – through to the look of something – maybe in a particular movie. I have a good knowledge of fashion history and sometimes I will just see something current and I recognise a certain period, go research and come up with something special.
Question 3: Congrats on your new studio – how has your business grown in the past few years?
Answer: The move was precipitated by space. I had outgrown the last store – physically I mean. It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the demand – although it was a good first store, there on the corner of James and Ann Streets with its great window right there at the traffic lights. I think it helped launch my career.
Question 4: Spring/Summer is all about the dress – will you do a lot of the mini or will it be more about the ‘long gown’ for you this season?
Answer: A combination of both short and long. I love doing "red-carpet" gowns and it’s good to see that grey area where women are wearing the long informal/formal for entertaining poolside where there is an expected dress code. So yes, it’s a dressier version of a patio frock. (Erica Baxter, now Mrs James Packer, wore a divine version by Cavalli to their pre wedding beach party on the Riviera.)
Question 5: Do you make a range of ready-to-wear dresses for a client to walk in, try on and buy?
Answer: Yes, starting that right now – ready for Summer 07. More short dresses perfect for luncheons and dinners.
Question 6: Travel. Does it inspire you and do you buy fabrics when you’re overseas?
Answer: Yes it is so important. I buy my fabrics overseas. It is inspirational to be in a different environment and when I go to New York and Paris I get to see the best the world has to offer in fashion. I base my new collection on all of the above.
Question 7: What, in a perfect world, is your dream dress and who is it for?
Answer: An OSCAR dress, on Cate Blanchett.
Question 8. What is your favourite holiday destination, and why?
Answer: For a private holiday, Cassis in the south of France, and for work, it’s New York.
Question 9: What is your personal extravagance in clothes/accessories?
Answer: Shoes and glasses. I got these tortoiseshell glasses by LA Eyeworks at OPTICO in Tattersalls Arcade and there are my YSL leopard pony skin shoes I got in Florence.
Question 10: Your style tip for women and your style tip for men?
Answer: For women – Put in some effort. Don’t leave the house without at least a touch of lip gloss.
For men – Good personal grooming. The outfit may be cheap but everyone needs to put in a bit of effort. Think about where you are going. You never know whom you are going to meet.
Question 11: What goes in your suitcase for travelling?
Answer: As little as possible really – a change of clothes, toothbrush, passport. I can be ready to go anywhere in an hour – leave plenty of room in your case for shopping.
Question 12: Your dream job?
Answer: My dream job would be working for Chanel or Dior.
Paul Hunt has recently relocated to his divine new bunker which is both design studio and retail boutique at 164a Arthur Street, off James Street, New Farm Brisbane Phone 3358 4765
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Zimmermann
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