VIRGINIA DOWZER VISUAL DIRECTOR
In the early 80’s I began to study sciences but I soon crossed over to an arts course at RMIT majoring in fashion and obtaining a BA in Fashion Design. By day I waitresses and by night I designed and printed swimwear at my studio in the Stalbridge Chambers building (Kate Durham, Fashion Design Council, Fiona Scanlan and Gavin Brown also had spaces there) in Melbourne before heading to the UK in the mid 80’s.
The first job I took in London was at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the textile and dress department, where I would occasionally escort John Galliano to the stores to view the Dior collection. It was an incredible introduction to the fashion design world in Europe and I loved it.
After work and into the early hours of the morning to pay my bills I worked on the door of the Soho night club ‘Bill Stickers’ frequented by the (late) incredible performance artist Leigh Bowery, dancer and choreographer Michael Clarke, musician Boy George…. my clothing was sponsored and once or twice I was dressed head to toe in a hot pink rubber suit with matching lace up boots.
From the museum I went to work at a company called Lynne Franks PR, who at the time had the account for London Fashion Week…..it was also the company on which the series absolutely fabulous was based. I lasted one whole year there, but during that short and crazy period I met many times with the (late) Isabella Blow who referred to me as ‘That Australian’ , worked on London Fashion week, and with independent designers such as Nick Coleman, John Richmond, Katherine Hamnett and Vivien Westwood.
I returned to Melbourne after an intoxicating stint at National Magazine House, styling fashion pages, engaging Russian photographers, shooting in swan sanctuaries and taking readers on Badger watches, to have my son Max who is now 21. In Melbourne and for the past 21 years I have worked as an advertising, editorial, fashion show and exhibition stylist, predominantly in the areas of fashion and food.
My main focus for the last few years has been on bigger productions, styling, set design (stills) and shows (fashion) and overseeing the visual communication whilst working alongside lighting, sound and production directors.
