Von Teese to keep big Wheels turning
She’s internationally recognised for her work as a fashion designer but, come September, Melanie Greensmith of Wheels & Dollbaby fame will take on the role of Perth tour guide for burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese.
Since meeting in London almost 10 years ago, where they bonded over a mutual love of fashion, music and the golden age of cinema, Greensmith and Von Teese have become firm friends.
While the pin-up beauty has previously featured in Wheels & Dollbaby campaign imagery, she’s yet to step out on to the runway for the label.
But that will change when the raven-haired model makes a special appearance at the closing night of Telstra Perth Fashion Festival on September 20.
After a three-year absence from the Festival’s program, Wheels and Dollbaby will return to the catwalk with a lavish showcase at Ascot Racecourse starring Von Teese, who will fly into town for the highly anticipated event.
Following on from last year’s inaugural trackside shows, which accommodated the biggest audiences in the festival’s history, the Perth brand is poised to take centre stage for an unforgettable night of fashion.
“Dita is really excited to come here because she’s never been,” Greensmith toldAAA Weekend .
“I’m not sure about sightseeing but I want to take her to have some beautiful West Australian seafood somewhere because the food here is just amazing and I might show her some of our West Australian diamonds too. I’ll be giving her all of the best of Perth.”
In the wake of Wheels & Dollbaby's 25th anniversary presentation at His Majesty’s Theatre in 2011, which starred supermodel Nicole Trunfio, Greensmith is determined to deliver another unforgettable event.
Melanie Greensmith with Dita Von Teese. Picture: Supplied
“People were talking about the His Majesty’s show forever afterwards so I have to make it as good as, if not hopefully better,” Greensmith said.
“I don’t just want to do stuff for the sake of it, I want to do something really special. It’s going to be super high-end and luxurious and it’s going to be a lot of fun but I can’t give too much away.”
Though Wheels and Dollbaby’s King Street boutique closed its doors in late 2013, local fans of the brand will be given the opportunity to shop from the label’s latest collections when Greensmith opens the doors to a temporary retail destination in the lead-up to Telstra Perth Fashion Festival.
“We’re going to have a pop-up salon so that Perth clients can buy things leading up to the show; it’s going to be quite fancy and a lot of fun,” Greensmith explained.
“Since we closed our store in Perth we have so many of our customers that I want to reconnect with because they send us emails and letters saying they miss the store.
“Dita and I do a cardigan so that will be a big feature. We’re releasing a new one very soon and then Dita and I have chosen another one for the show.
“We’ll also release a couple of other pieces and extend the collaboration.”
