The Brownlow Medal fashion gets bigger every year – even Kylie Jenner is taking notice

It seems not even mega social media star Kylie Jenner is immune from the “influence” of footy’s biggest pie night, the Brownlow Medal, and more specifically, the red carpet fashion blitz that is whipped up around it.

As CBD checked in on the fashion set over the weekend, we were reminded of the “Kylie moment” – Jenner not Minogue – that surprisingly emerged after the 2019 Brownlow.

That year, Jenner’s stylist spotted a gold cut away gown by Melbourne label J’Aton worn by Nadia Bartel in a pre-Brownlow promo pic on Instagram.

Calls were made and the dress was dispatched to Los Angeles where, days later, Jenner wore it to the celebrity wedding of the year, Justin Bieber tying the knot with Hailey Baldwin, and posted pics of herself in the knockout gown.

On Monday, all roads will once again lead to Crown for the glam parade of footy players and their partners, with CBD discovering masterminds of many of the under wraps red carpet looks have flown in from far-flung parts of the world to make fashion magic.

Top hair stylist Marie Uva has jetted home from Italy to look after the tresses of six Brownlow attendees including Elle Ray, Georgia Stirton, Gabrielle McRae and Emma Sicily.

Designer Alin Le’Kal was meeting with model Paris Bishop, the girlfriend of Essendon player Sam Durham, who arrived in Melbourne from the US late last week, when CBD called on Sunday. The meeting, we were told, was to ensure the heels she had selected were a perfect match for the gown he had created for her red carpet look.

Designer Sonia Cappallazzo was at a runway of her work in Bendigo before dashing back to her Hawthorn East atelier to put the finishing touches on gowns for Monique Cripps and Alexandra Merrett.

Oglia-loro Couture’s Sam Oglialoro was enjoying the calm before the storm with gowns ready for his WAG glam squad of Alex Pendlebury, Brooke Bailey and Chloe Wheatland.

One of Australia’s top stylists Lana Wilkinson said she had “come out of retirement” and flown back from New York Fashion Week to create three looks for Monday.

Wilkinson, who has a namesake shoe brand and is a media performer, said she was drawn back to the Brownlow as the event had played a key role in the creation of her reputation, brand and business.

“No question, I wouldn’t have the career I have, I wouldn’t have the personal branding I have, I would not have had the opportunities that I have had if it wasn’t for the Brownlow Medal and the people I have dressed,” Wilkinson said.

“It is by far the most influential red carpet, in my opinion, on the calendar because everybody looks at it; everybody. It blows up social media, it is real women wearing the dresses and the fashion takes centre stage.”

In-demand stylist Paul Versace was another with no time for jet lag, having just days ago returned from New York to style three attendees.

He would have had four Brownlow red carpet moments as he had been asked to style Alice Hughes, the partner of Sydney Swans player Chad Warner.

That, of course, was before Warner was one of the ‘Pullman five’ Swans players who were banned from the Brownlow after an in-season bender at a Melbourne hotel with exotic dancers brought disgrace on the players and the club.

Booby Tape boss in reality TV sights

The new faces of Melbourne’s celebrity social set look set to be anointed via the rebooted Real Housewives of Melbourne reality TV franchise.

The franchise might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but tea is certainly at the heart of the show particularly the spilling of tea … as in gossip and plenty of it.

CBD hears it is down to contract stage in the casting process for the show which has had the well-heeled and well-connected ladies of bayside, South Yarra and Toorak in a flutter for the past few months.

Booby Tape founder Bianca Roccisano, former Yummy Mummies star Lorinska Merrington, and style queen and premium brand influencer Rozalia Russian, wife of Bar Bambi owner Nick Russian, are understood to have been offered contracts to sign on to the Binge series which would start filming in Melbourne in early 2027.

Original Real Housewives of Melbourne cast member Gina Liano has already been announced as being part of the reboot.

Fellow OG housewife Lydia Schiavello is also expected to have a role on the show which is known for creating stars and for creating drama. Speaking of drama, you would imagine the claws might already be out given the number of people who auditioned but missed out on a role.

Wins keep coming for McKenna

CBD brought news last week that the $365 million estate of racing rich lister Colin McKenna was being challenged by his widow, with court action launched earlier this month by Janice McKenna.

McKenna, who died in October 2024 aged 74, built his fortune through The Midfield Group, a meat processing company he founded in 1975.

McKenna shared a great passion for horse racing with Janice, his second wife. The couple, who were together for more than two decades before McKenna’s death, enjoyed significant success on the racetrack with horses including Caulfield Cup winner Jameka and Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Merchant Navy.

On Saturday, McKenna, or specifically, his racing colours and his Halo Racing name, was back in the winner’s circle at Caulfield.

Point Barrow, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman and part-owned by Halo Racing Services, won the How Now Stakes. For good measure, Attrition, trained by Mitchell Freedman and part owned by Halo Racing Services, ran third in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at big odds.

Following his passing, Janice said in late 2024 that the family was keen to continue McKenna’s racing legacy. That legacy of winners continues.