Twenty-seven year old Adelaide designer Paul Vasileff launched his latest couture collection at three runway shows at the Adelaide Fashion Festival in the fall of 2017 in Australia.
Inspired by the essence of Disney, Once Upon a Dream – A Disney Inspired Collection by Paolo Sebastian is a homage to the stories and characters that have captured the heart and spirit of generations. The iconic fairy tales are re-envisioned and brought to life through expertly crafted couture.
“Disney has always been a source of inspiration for me. Growing up I was always enthralled by the magic of transformation that the stories offered,” said Vasileff. “To have Disney entrust me with telling their stories through couture is an absolute dream come true.”
Once Upon a Dream follows the timeless narrative of a heroine, who in the quest for happiness is challenged by a wicked evil. However, where there is darkness, there is also light. Through her strength and bravery, light prevails and in true Disney spirit, she lives happily ever after.
The iconic Disney scores that have ignited the imaginations of so many have been drawn upon as inspiration for delicate embroideries, featuring lyrics from the classic tales, illustrating designer Paul Vasileff’s dedication to detail in his sixteenth collection.
“It’s been a lot of fun translating the iconic songs into beautiful embroideries,” Vasileff said.
French tulle and silk chiffon in tones of petal pink, rose, iridescent starlight, raw umber and ebony are adorned with intricate hand-sewn embroideries of woodland scenes, sweet nightingales and floral motifs, evoking a sense of enchantment synonymous with Disney storytelling. Ethereal silhouettes featuring illusion necklines, signature petal skirts and sweeping ball gowns are finessed with sheer embellished slippers, celebrating the magical world of Disney in the quintessential Paolo Sebastian aesthetic.
With a whirlwind year coming to an end, including being named Young Australian of the Year and showing during Paris Couture Fashion Week for the second year in a row, designer Paul Vasileff is still working as hard as ever.
“To close the Adelaide Fashion Festival for the third year in a row with three runway shows is an honour, and I’m really looking forward to sharing Once Upon A Dream with the world,” Vasileff said.
Key facts
- Paolo Sebastian was established in 2007 by Adelaide designer Paul Vasileff. He was seventeen years old.
- He is largely self-taught but completed formal study at the European Institute of Design in Milan.
- Celebrities who have worn Paolo Sebastian include: Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Dannii Minogue, Indian actress Sonam Kapoor and Australian television identities Megan Gale and Carrie Bickmore.
- Paolo Sebastian is the first South Australian label to showcase in Paris.
- Career highlights include featuring at London Fashion Week 2010, Sydney’s 2012 Fashion Palette, closing the 2015 and 2016 Adelaide Fashion Festival with two soldout shows and showcasing in Paris 2016 and 2017.