FASHION
Designing
WOMAN
From a rural upbringing on a sheep station near Geelong, Liz Clift moved to the Gold Coast as a young girl and became a fashion force in her new home town.
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST BIG FASHION MEMORY? My formal introduction to the world of fashion was at the age of 17 when I was accepted to enter the Gold Coast Fashion Awards. I won every section including the prestigious Gown of the Year award. Sir Bruce Small made the presentation and invited me to not only join the promotion team of the Gold Coast Visitors Bureau, but to design a collection of resort wear for his interstate promotional tours. This proved to be beneficial as one of the garments was “slightly” see through and made the front pages of major newspapers. Sir Bruce was ecstatic and invited me to open a boutique at his exclusive Isle of Capri shopping Centre. 36 GOLD COAST • PANACHE Magazine
YOU HAVE SPENT MOST OF YOUR LIFE ON THE GOLD COAST. WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE BACK THEN? I was born in Geelong and grew up on a sheep property in Lovely Banks. I moved to Surfers Paradise when I was 12. My parents Harry and Lorna Brough owned Surfside 6 Holiday Apartments on the beachfront in the heart of Surfers. I missed my tomboy lifestyle on the farm but soon adapted to throwing on a bikini and surfing. I finished my schooling at St Hilda’s and was a regular at Saturday morning detention….for a number of reasons but mostly playing hooky to be a bikini girl extra in all of the movies being shot in and around the Gold Coast at the time. Growing up on the Gold Coast in
the late 60’s early 70’s was heaven on a stick. We all knew each other and it was so safe. There were great venues, cabarets and home grown entertainers. The Bee Gees attended the Surfers Paradise State School for a short time. The town had a heart and there was a real sense of community. DID OUR LAID BACK, BEACH LIFESTYLE AFFECT YOUR DESIGN AND RETAIL PHILOSOPHY? I fell into design simply due to the climate. You needed very little fabric and could run up a bikini or dress and wear out to the beach or a party an hour later. My clothes were quite Avantgarde - Mary Quant meets Woodstock. I was inundated with orders and at the age of 19 was wholesaling to local boutiques. DID YOU HAVE ANY FASHION MENTORS? My mentors then were three wonderful women - Ivy Hassard, Helene Walder and Paula Stafford.
