A vice-regal anointment

Michael Idato grabs his front-row seat for the Governor-General's fashion show.

A BIG DAY FOR GLAMOUR

IT WAS all for you, women of Melbourne; the gorgeous frocks and pretty women, the handsome dancers, French champagne, even the carefully picked VIPs. At yesterday's rehearsal for last night's Myer 100th anniversary party for 500 celebrities to launch the sparkling $300 million refurbishment of its Melbourne store, the chief executive, Bernie Brookes, described the grand plan ��� the real reason ��� behind the glamour. "It's for women," he said. "Women make the decisions about household expenditure, women have that aspiration for glamour and fashion and beauty. It's women who'll be watching. Fashion is the 'bird caller' for us. The sales of TVs and picture frames are the add-ons." Hours before last night's chic black carpet was unrolled, Myer's production crew was working flat out for that glamour, drilling a company of dancers and an orchestra for their parts in a spectacular "fashion moment" that would crown a night hosted by Bert Newton and starring a galaxy of Melbourne icons of stage, screen, TV and fashion. A steeply stepped black stage had been constructed in the legendary sixth-floor Myer Mural Hall and production staff were arranging Myer's stable of high-profile designers, including Wayne Cooper, Toni Maticevski, Jayson Brunsdon, Kim Ellery and Yeojin Bae into a kind of "class photo" tableau. Janice Breen Burns

Another blow for GST campaigners

THE Productivity Commission has questioned the foundation of a retailers' campaign against the GST exemption for consumers who buy from overseas using the internet.

Fast and famous

The Sun-Herald's fashion editor, Kate Waterhouse, suits up with some eager celebrities at Albert Park.

Retailers' offshore GST exemption claims queried

THE Productivity Commission has called into doubt the foundation of Big Retail's campaign against the GST exemption for consumers who buy from overseas using the internet.

Grand dame of retail uses feminine wiles

Myer's $300m glam makeover is all for women, says the CEO. Especially the 'very nice' loos.

SHAPE

KAREL Martens compares his varied cover designs for the architectural magazine Oase to inviting a guest to dinner: "I cannot prepare the same meal again. It is more respectful to the public to always prepare something unique. They look forward to the next issue." A retrospective feast of the influential Dutch designer's predominantly type-based covers for Oase (pictured) opens at Monash University next week. As its artist-in-residence, Martens will host student workshops and give a public lecture on April 12. Bookings essential (price includes a limited edition 25 Years of OASE poster). The exhibition will also stock Martens's monograph Printed Matter, which in 1998 was awarded a gold medal at the Leipzig Book Fair as the best-designed book in the world. Art & Design Building, Monash University, 900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East; for bookings: