The Daily Telegraph
August 18, 2007 12:00am

SHE’S being touted as “the next big thing” and who are we to argue – especially if this latest pic of Aussie model Catherine McNeil is anything to go by.

Hot off the press, it shows McNeil – who dazzled alongside Megan Gale and Shire girl Cheyenne Tozzi on the David Jones catwalk in Sydney last week – in the latest Versace campaign with Kate Moss.

The ads were snapped by Princess Diana’s favourite photographer Mario Testino.

The 18-year-old beauty is taking a well-deserved break in Bali before hitting the catwalks of New York, Milan and Paris.

Herald Sun
August 17, 2007 12:00am

BRISBANE model Catherine McNeil has joined supermodel Kate Moss as one of the faces of designer boutique Versace in Italy.

The two models appear in a magazine ad campaign that runs over three months.

Winning the highly sought-after spot further boosts McNeil’s credentials as the next big Australian model on the international scene.

Fresh from hitting the catwalk in Melbourne this week at the David Jones fashion launch, McNeil, at 18, was picked by Donatella Versace and famed celebrity fashion photographer Mario Testino, who was Princess Diana’s favourite snapper.

Testino was so taken with the girl from the Brisbane suburbs he offered her a six-month contract.

Fashion magazines say that McNeil was the biggest find at this year’s ready-to-wear parades in New York, Milan and Paris.

She was on the catwalk for 35 designers, including Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Fendi, Stella McCartney and Jean Paul Gaultier.

McNeil has also shot campaigns for D&G, Hugo Boss and Donna Karan.

As for Moss, the Versace campaign is further evidence that she has put the drug scandals behind her.

The Brit is the world’s second richest model, behind Brazilian glamazon Gisele Bundchen.

The Courier Mail
August 09, 2007 12:00am

THE world’s best fashion houses may be clamouring for Logan model Catherine McNeil’s exotic looks, but US immigration officials are apparently much harder to please.

The self-proclaimed “Bogan from Logan”, says she was returning from a Versace fashion shoot (where she shared the limelight with Kate Moss ) when a NY official asked to verify her occupation. “They had dyed my hair at Versace and it went orange, so they tried to fix it and it went purple . . . eventually we ended up with blonde,” she told Qconfidential.

“Anyway, all the dyeing caused a rash down both sides of my face so when a guy from immigration asked my profession and I told him model, he looked me up and down and wrote, ‘claims to be a model’.”

The down-to-earth 17-year-old, who’s opened shows in Paris fashion week from Louis Vuitton to YSL and Lanvin and has snaffled the cover of top NY fashion rag V Magazine along with French Vogue, was more amused than dismayed by the gaffe.

Fortunately on Tuesday there was no mistaking Catherine’s star power, nor that of Kristy Hinze, at the launch of the David Jones spring summer collection in Sydney.

She shared the limelight with other top international catwalk strutters Megan Gale, Cheyenne Tozzi, Nicole Trunfio and fellow Queenslander Hinze.

Catherine says after finishing her DJs commitments she’ll be heading home to Shailer Park for a family visit. “I hope I’ll be able to go to the Ekka, I love the Ekka,” she says.

Sky News
Wednesday August 8, 2007

The first shots have been fired in Australia’s annual department store fashion war.

David Jones has launched its 2007 summer collection in Sydney, led by model Megan Gale.

Gale spent her birthday with fellow models Catherine McNeil, Kristy Hinze, Cheyenne Tozzi and Nicole Trunfio on the catwalk.

A who’s who crowd of Sydney fashionistas and celebrities attended the launch, to see what the department store will stock in coming months.

Bright blue gowns by label Willow were the highlight of the show.

Shorter tunic shifts for day and evening, along with streamlined shirt dresses, were also a standout, as were chunky high heels.

The colour for summer will be white.

Myer will return fire tonight with its collection at a Sydney parade, with former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins taking centre stage.

Elizabeth Tilley
The Courier Mail
August 08, 2007 12:00am

SUPERMODEL Megan Gale was forced to share the limelight with four of the world’s most sought-after mannequins in Sydney last night when David Jones launched its spring-summer collection.

In a late move, the department store flew in New York-based beauties Cheyenne Tozzi, Nicole Trunfio and former Queensland models Kristy Hinze and Catherine McNeil to increase the wow factor. And wow it was.

With a Summer d’Azur theme inspired by the French Riviera, last night’s parade was described by creative director Mike Mizrahi as David Jones’ sexiest yet. But the retail giant knew it had to impress, considering it chose to hold one national collection launch parade in Sydney instead of one in each state as in previous years.

More than 600 of the industry’s elite attended. The spectacular runway was made from marble and surrounded by lush green hedges featuring a water fountain as a centrepiece.

Gale opened the show in a strapless, printed Zimmermann dress revealing a black bikini underneath. She and 45 models took to the catwalk in flirty summer dresses, colourful swimsuits and short 60s-inspired shifts as designers Kirrily Johnston, Collette Dinnigan and Alex Perry watched from the front row. Until now, the department store has relied solely on Gale to sell its wares, but the veteran model was not treating her new colleagues as competition.

“At the end of the day, I’ve got 12 seasons of them, so I’m not worried at all,” Gale said.

David Jones will hold in-store collection shows in Queens Plaza, Brisbane on September 7.

Mel Cornford
vogue.com.au

It was a sea of colour, sparkle and gorgeously- glowing skin on the runway at the Royal Hall of Industries last night as David Jones brought its spectacular Summer 2007 Cote D’Azur campaign alive in front of a star-studded crowd.

Celebrating her 32nd birthday in good company, Megan Gale lead a bevy of beauties including Catherine McNeil, Kristy Hinze, Cheyenne Tozzi, Nicole Trunfio, and David Jones Youth Ambassador Elyse Taylor, in showcasing the new-season creations from the department store’s impressive fashion family.

Zimmermann, Alice McCall, Kirrily Johnston, Trelise Cooper, Collette Dinnigan and new David Jones sign-ups Anna Thomas and Ginger & Smart, are just handful of Australian fashion labels whose stellar summer looks will be available in stores.

Some of the high-profile fashionistas spotted front row included Alex Perry, Sarah-Jane Clarke, Akira Isogawa, Napoleon Perdis and Kit Willow-Podgornik, who won the coveted finale spot with her label’s brilliant floor-length blue gown. (Aug 8, 2007)

By Jen Melocco
The Daily Telegraph
August 08, 2007 12:00am

SUMMER fashion will be all about the mini.

Yet there were no short cuts in showing off the new season style for David Jones at its summer launch at the Royal Hall of Industries at Moore Park last night.

In front of a who’s who of 600 of Sydney’s finest, the department store went into overdrive to show off their style credentials.

With a team of top models and leading designer names including Collette Dinnigan, Zimmerman and Willow, DJs fired the first shot in the store wars.

It was the first class fashion that David Jones were serious about showing last night, with new season shapes and colours hitting the catwalk.

Brilliant blue gowns by label Willow were the wow collection for the show.

“It’s a midnight blue,” said designer Kit Willow Podgornik.

“There was also a change in shape. “There is a definite change in the overall look,” said David Jones fashion boss Colette Garnsey.

And if there is one thing you can’t buy enough of this summer, it is the dress.

Shorter tunic shifts for day and evening along with streamlined shirt dresses, including a standout by designer label Willow shown last night, are the way to go.

“Absolutely essential is the white shirt dress, it’s light, easy and flattering,” said Podgornik.

Crisp, clean colours and shapes were a strong feel for daywear design. White silk dresses with bold colour prints were a hot summer pick from Alice McCall.

And when it comes to night, short is also right.

Designer Genevieve Smart of new David Jones label, Ginger and Smart, said short evening looks are best with a bit of sparkle.

The label showed a black sequin cocktail dress. Also shimmering away were brilliant sequin mini dresses in pewter and mango by label Scalan and Theodore.

Catwalk favourite, 18-year-old Catherine McNeil, showed her curves in Tigerlily swimwear.

“It’s simple and something you can actually wear,” she said.

David Jones has credited its designer brand stable with putting it ahead in the profit stakes.

By JANICE BREEN BURNS
The Age
Wednesday, 8 August 2007

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week is still a month away but already it has generated enough catty headlines to thrill its publicists and pump up unprecedented public interest in its 120-event schedule.

Two weeks ago its “face”, 15-going-on-16 model Claire Quirk, was jettisoned by Melbourne city councillor Fiona Sneddon for being “too young”.

Then, debate fizzed for a week before her replacement, Jacqui Alexander, apparently a more convincing representative of all women at 19 and with her own fashion brand bankrolled by her dad, was found.

“Get in quick” was the message at the event’s preview in Docklands nightclub Alumbra yesterday. Organisers said tickets were bound to sell fast after their release online from this morning.

“Find what you like on the catwalk,” said Lord Mayor John So, whose fashion tip appeared to be his purple silk tie with pink stripes. “Buy it in the stores, and then celebrate with champagne in the stylish laneway bars of Melbourne.”

He said the week attracted 21,000 extra people and $4 million into the CBD and was “Melbourne’s biggest” consumer fashion event. This could be news to organisers of the Melbourne Fashion Festival winter event in March, which regularly attracts more than 100,000 punters.

The event’s schedule will pivot around five themed fashion shows to be staged nightly in the Melbourne Town Hall. From this year’s “taster”, presented at yesterday’s preview, it is likely shows will feature spring’s micro-mini smock and empire frocks, dramatic, floor-sweeper day dresses, and casual menswear with a snappier, more tailored finish.

Tuesday’s launch also marked the start of frock season for the rest of Australia. David Jones had its lavish launch show in Sydney last night, flying in four of Australia’s top global supermodels to star on the catwalk with Megan Gale: Catherine McNeil, Nicole Trunfio, Kristy Hinze and Cheyenne Tozzi. Tonight, Myer will return fire with a promised spectacular launch of its spring collections in the Carriageworks venue in Sydney.

Next week, David Jones will repeat its Sydney show at a VIP event and public parades in Melbourne. Myer will reserve the “big guns” of spring for events scheduled during Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.

Rachel Syers
goldcoast.com.au
Tuesday August 7, 2007

YOU just can’t stop the Gold Coast invasion of beautiful girls taking the world by storm.

Tonight in Sydney, a national contingent of fashion identities, designers and media will gather at Fox Studios for the David Jones summer collections launch and who will they all be admiring on the catwalk?

Alongside DJ’s face Megan Gale will be a trio of models who’ve all got a soft spot for the Gold Coast.

Tweed teenager Samantha Harris, former Gold Coast and Beaudesert beauty Kristy Hinze and Logan’s Catherine McNeil have been flown in from around the world for the parade.

Bulletin fashion editor Rachel Syers will report from the red carpet.

The Daily Telegraph
August 06, 2007 12:00am

SHE left Sydney a shy schoolgirl, but Versace babe Catherine McNeil has returned the model most-likely, the guest of honour at a belated birthday lunch yesterday.

The 18-year-old joined New York model mate Elyse Taylor at a Woolloomooloo nosh spot, celebrating her coming of age – in more ways than one.

Returning to Sydney to walk in the David Jones collections show tomorrow, McNeil’s glamorous life is a far cry from the grease monkey she wanted to be growing up.

With Taylor, McNeil has been hailed part of the “fantastic four” with Shire model Cheyenne Tozzi and Nicole Trunfio – part of a new generation of fashion talent to parade alongside veteran Megan Gale.

The annual store wars have emerged a battle of the ages, with Myer’s Jennifer Hawkins teaming with Mosman teen Alexandra Agostan to take on the youthful faces on the DJs runway.

Meanwhile, Tozzi, who has hit the headlines recently for running with Hollywood’s young brat pack, was lunching a few tables away from McNeil and her party, overheard discussing the love life she’s become famous for.

The 20-year-old, rumoured to be dating US oil heir and bad boy Brandon Davis, announced to her table that she had called off her engagement to Aussie surfer Taj Burrows.

Despite the Sunday crowds, Tozzi is understood to have loudly declared to her friends that she was asked to choose between married life with Burrows or her rising fashion career.