Editor’s letter
The legendary Carla Zampatti (in the first blush of her career in 1971, left) created the beautiful dress modelled by Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark (below) in 2013 and 2015, as well as the gorgeous frock destined for Sarah Harris on our Christmas cover
The news of Aussie icon Carla Zampatti’s sudden passing came as a terrible shock to us at The Weekly. It seems like just yesterday she was making last-minute adjustments to a custom gown for our Christmas cover, running a perfectionist’s eye over the red satin as she fastidiously hand-pinned the hem. The look she created was spectacular, the perfect marriage of contemporary and classic – much like the woman herself.
Carla had a special and long-running association with The Weekly. Our Style Director Mattie fondly recalls how the designer created a bespoke pale pink gown for Crown Princess Mary to wear on a shoot at her place in Denmark for our 80th birthday issue. Princess Mary was as enamoured of the look as we were, wearing it on several occasions since, including for an of cial portrait in 2015. When Dame Joan Collins spontaneously insisted Mattie take her shopping in Sydney after a 2016 photo shoot, they went straight to Carla’s Double Bay boutique, where Joan picked up many treasured pieces. On another occasion Carla generously allowed The Weekly to shoot Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, at her Woollahra home. A fan of Carla’s designs, the Duchess has worn several of her pieces over the years.
And I will always remember Carla’s presence at our Women of the Future Awards, where she would encourage our inspiring young female nalists. In a room full of Australia’s most accomplished and recognisable women, it was always remarkable to me how many wore Carla’s designs, a nod not only to her fashion credibility but her own trailblazing career. For Carla, however, she derived just as much pleasure seeing her clothes feature in The Weekly’s fashion pages as she did seeing them on royalty or celebrities. In her own words, it made her proud to feel like she was dressing the women of Australia. Carla, you will be missed.