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MEDIA INFORMATION Tuesday 7 Oct 08

Essence – An Eye on Fashion Launched in Cairns

Picture: Cairns’ Make Me a Supermodel Finalist, Kassandra Zandt added a touch of glamour at his morning’s launch of Essence – An Eye on Fashion. Wearing Wayne Cooper from Myer with jewels adorning her ears and neck from Hardy Brothers Jewellers,
Kassandra is pictured in Hilton Cairns’ Six Degrees Bar and Lounge with her own flute of ‘diamond champagne’ that will welcome guests to the event on Friday 17 October.
Media and event partners gathered this morning to savour the taste of ‘diamond champagne’ while Hilton Cairns General Manager, David Kelly unveiled details of Tropical North Queensland’s social event of the year, Essence – An Eye on Fashion.
Presented by Hilton Cairns and Hardy Brothers Jewellers, in conjunction with Cairnseye magazine, Essence – An Eye on Fashion is now in its third year and when it takes place on Friday 17 October 2008, is set to be another diamond-studded affair described as a stylish and sensual blend of food, fashion, fundraising and top-drawer entertainment.
According to Mr Kelly, this year the event will take on a new twist when it is staged in the hotel’s newly completed event space that has been significantly upgraded over the past three months to the tune of a $1 million investment.
In keeping with other traditions, guests will once again be welcomed with the event’s signature cocktail – a flute of ‘diamond champagne’. After enjoying their glass of bubbles, guests are invited to take their gem, sitting at the bottom of the flute – to Hardy Brothers Jewellers’ resident gemologist to determine whether it’s the genuine article or not. One lucky winner will take home a Hardy Brothers diamond valued at $5000.
The evening will then proceed with the glamorous arrival of Leukaemia Foundation ambassador and former Miss Universe entrant, Queensland’s own, Kimberley Busteed – bearing Hardy Brothers Jewellers’ hand-crafted Melbourne Cup trophy. This 18 carat, solid gold trophy takes some 200 hours to make and is the very icon for the race that stops the nation.
A charity auction of valuable jewellery and sporting memorabilia will ensue as will the opportunity to feast on delicious fare from the award-winning kitchen brigade of Hilton Cairns and celebrity chef, Jimmy Shu of Hanuman Restaurants in Darwin.
In its third year, Essence – An Eye on Fashion, will continue its fundraising tradition to benefit Leukaemia Foundation. In its first and second years, Essence has helped raise a total of $50,500 ($22,500 in 2006 and $28,000 in 2007).
The event highlight is once again destined to be the runway show which in its new venue of Hilton Cairns’ grand ballroom, will provide guests with all the drama and spectacle they have come to expect. Lindsay Bennett will once again produce this show using the same formula adopted for Mercedes Benz Fashion Festivals in Brisbane to bring Cairns the latest Spring/Summer 08 collections from Australia’s a-list designers. While Wayne Cooper will once again be on hand to personally present his latest season, so too will Brisbane’s bespoke designer, Paul Hunt.
Add to this, the brand names of Alex Perry, Lisa Ho, Easton Pearson, Marnie Skillings, Myer, Pistols @ Dawn, Grbac, Jayson Brunsdon, Flamingo Sands and Cairns own’ Vivienne Francine.
Runner-up of Arena TV’s Project Runway, Queenslander, Leigh Buchanan will add a dash of avant-garde celebrity, as will fashion show emcee and well-known Australian entertainer, Holly Brisley.
In combination, this event has all the ingredients of a night to remember and one that will resonate among guests for another year to come.
Picture: The finale walk from last year’s Essence – An Eye on Fashion – runway show.

Ends

EVENT
INQUIRIES: Lisa Minikas, Marketing Executive, Hilton Cairns
Tel: 07 4052 6753 Email: lisa.minikas@hilton.com
MEDIA
INQUIRIES: Pip Miller PR Mob: 0419 681543 Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au