Dazza and Dazzler

Just back from a sojourn in Copenhagen with my good friend Bacchus No-Smoke, where the great Danes are shaking their heads over Our Mary — she’s too thin, spends too much on clothes and sadly lacks the Style of the Spanish Crown Princess.

And there, in today’s paper ((Mercury 31 May)) I spy an article on local fashionista Jo Le Grew. A landscape designer and former maths teacher, Le Grew came to Tasmania with her architect hubby, Darryl Le Grew, when he became vice chancellor of the University of Tasmania three and a half years ago. Daryl is always trendily attired while Jo is always fabulously turned out.

So much so, that Bacchus calls them Dazza and Dazzler.

Dazzler turned her attention to fashion design when she moved to Hobart. Her sights were on New York, but she was diverted for awhile, designing a wardrobe for Mary’s sisters to wear while in Copenhagen for the Royal Wedding. And when the Royal Couple were visiting Hobart, Dazzler outshone all others at a dinner hosted by the Guv at Government House.

Since then, she has had success in showing her collection in Paris and will feature in the September issue of Paris Vogue.< The timing is perfect: Australia will be in vogue after President Chirac opens the Musee du Quai Branly on June 20, in which vast works by eight Aboriginal artists are embedded in the walls, ceiling and glass frontages. Dazzler only made page 15 today, but Bacchus, who has an eye for class, is ready to bet designs created in the Apple Isle will make it in the Big Apple and then she'll really dazzle.