Website: www.collettedinnigan.com

Collette Dinnigan, shown on the left, was born in New Zealand in 1965. She studied at Wellington Polytechnic, and on graduation moved to Australia. She began her career in fashion by working for the Costume Department of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in Sydney.

Collette was married to Composer and Songwriter Bernie Lynch and had two daughters. She is currently in a relationship with entertainment journalist Richard Wilkins, with whom she had a baby daughter in August 2004, in Sydney, Australia where she lives. She has named her Estella Sophia.

In 1990 she launched her own label and her creative designs were snapped up by boutiques and department stores in New Zealand and Australia. Then Barneys in New York, Harvey Nichols in London and Joyce in Hong Kong started to retail her clothes.

Collette has been invited by the Chambre Syndicale de Haute Couture to be a member of the prêt-a-porter association. She now shows her collections every season in Paris. Here are two dresses from her recent collections, on the left from Spring/Summer 2003 and on the right from Autumn/Winter 2003.

Collette Dinnigan has accumulated many awards. She was chosen Australian Designer of the Year in 1996, won the 1997 Louis Vuitton Business Award, the 1998 Award for Excellence by the Fashion Group International and was inducted into the Businesswoman's Hall of Fame in May 1998. In 2001 she got Australia's Most Beautiful Exports award, and in Paris in 2002 was honoured with the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World award.

Her lingerie is marketed by Marks and Spencer in London under the name "Wild Hearts".

Her clients are numerous. Recently Angelina Jolie, Jade Jagger, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Charlize Theron and Anna Frei were all photographed wearing Dinnigan.

Spring/Summer 2004

In October 2003, Collette Dinnigan presented her collection for next Spring at the Paris Fashion Week. A dress from the show is on the right.

Her signature feminine and wispy dresses, either floor length or mini, were encrusted with Swarovski crystals and were masterpieces of draping.

Fall/Winter 2004 ready-to-wear

Colette Dinnigan presented her Fall collection in Paris during Fashion Week in March 2004. A satin dress with bows at the waist, from her collection is shown on the left.

She showed hemlines from mini-pleated to knee-length city wear, with plunging V necklines and side splits. She mixed textures and fabric, colours ranging from black and whites to silver silk velvet, mohair knits and great black leather coats.

Spring/Summer 2005

During Paris Fashion Week in October 2004, Collette Dinnigan showed her collection for next Spring. A beautiful dress from this collection is shown on the right.

Her theme was all about shimmer and light, featuring flowing gowns in wispy materials. There was an occasional dress in black, ice blue or canary yellow but she seemed to find green her favourite. A sea-foam spaghetti strap dress in deep emerald was covered in black tulle. She had a few hot pants, but mostly showed party frocks and is now the first choice among Australian designers for re-carpet occasion clothes. Fellow Australian Nicole Kidman wears many of her gowns.

Autumn/Winter 2005

Colette's Autumn/Winter collection was shown during Paris Fashion Week in March 2005. She sent out signature looks of lace layering, satin shine and Swarovski crystal sparkle embellishments. Her collection was contemporary and modern, with sixties and seventies silhouettes. Thick wool overcoats with large buttons shared the catwalkwith French lace baby dolls. Day dresses printed with dainty florals and her clothes had an old-worldly elegance. Ostrich feathers were soft and luxurious on little cardigans and there was lots of beaded detail on evening gowns.

Spring/Summer 2006
Paris Fashion Week

Collette Dinnigan presented her Spring/Summer 2006 collection during Paris Fashion Week in October 2005. A full length light brown satin gown, with a deep draped neckline and full swirling skirt, from the collection is shown on the right.

She was the only Australian designer showing during Paris Fashion Week. It was her 10th anniversary show, as well as her 40th birthday and the Louvre was jampacked with 700 of her ardent admirers. She never disappoints her clientele, her clothes are always beautiful and she manages to combine European elegance with Australian wearability. Her colours were beige, cream, gold and skin tones with plenty of her signature touches.

2005