The L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival is all about glamour, but unlike most red- carpet fashion events, this one isn't just for the style police.

A front-row seat at a festival show costs A$95 (about NZ$130) and tickets are available to anyone willing to pay for them.



The festival, now in its 15th year, may be for the people, but it's still taken seriously. The celebrities are in attendance, wearing their sponsored frocks and smiling for the cameras, and the shows are extremely polished.

The only real difference between something like this festival and the preview shows of most major fashion  models weeks is that what you see at the festival is what has just been delivered to stores. If you see something you like, you can go out and buy it.

The only exceptions at last week's extravaganza were the opening event, Fashion Full Stop, and a parade featuring the festival designer award finalists.

This year, the prize went to new menswear label Song for the Mute, whose mostly black, mostly wool collection beat off competition from well-known Australian designers Arnsdorf, Bassike and Ellery.