fashion

With whimsical designs and expert tailoring his calling card, young Adelaide designer Paolo Sebastian is taking the fashion world by storm.

Folkloric gowns by Adelaide-based label Paolo Sebastian.

Aperfectionist with a penchant for classic beauty, Paul Vasileff’s dreamy label Paolo Sebastian has emerged from humble Adelaide beginnings to grace star-studded red carpets, fashion runways, magazine covers and a growing international clientele.

Just 26 years old, Vasileff has already been in the business for 10 years; he launched the Paolo Sebastian label at age 16. his designer roots stem further back than that, however. Vasileff’s grandmother taught him to sew as a child, and he designed his first gown at age 11 based on his fascination with disney films and theatrical costumes.

his whimsical evening gowns and luxurious wedding dresses continue to be inspired by fables, folklore and fairy princesses, along with the hope that every woman will feel like Cinderella whenever she wears one of his enchanting creations.

his autumn/winter 2016 collection, The Snow Maiden, is inspired by Slavic folktales of a winter empress rediscovering her true identity as the spirit of winter. To this end, the ethereal gowns feature hand-sewn snowflakes, opulent folk embroideries and delicate crystal embellishment coupled with unexpected texture and detail evoking old-world glamour: velvet, fur and embroidered cashmere.

dramatic in design but infinitely feminine, tones of soft gold, ruby, ice blue and snow white permeate his 12th collection. each exacting creation is a labour-intensive endeavour; Vasileff says each gown is as much a work of art behind the seams as it is on its façade.

Following local training in dressmaking and tailoring, he won a scholarship to study at the prestigious istituto europeo di design in Milan in 2010. he says the Paolo Sebastian head office will always be in Adelaide, even as his international reputation grows. he now has stockists in Kuwait, new York and Singapore and his designs are being worn on the oscars red carpet as well as by brides across the globe wanting a beautiful bespoke wedding dress for their special day. www.paolosebastian.com