Iridis Cosmetics - 'Makeup Made Simple'

A little flashback to last month’s incredible Zonta Club of Melbourne’s West Women of the West Charity Fashion Show. We are stilllll talking about it!

What a night! Together, our community raised an amazing $10,429 to help Zonta continue their incredible work advancing women and girls through practical support, education, advocacy and opportunities.

Vanessa and I were so proud to be part of it all, me as MC, Vanessa stepping bravely onto the runway as one of the models, and our amazing Iridis and extended team of incredible artists helping with the hair and makeup. (See tags for all of the talent!)

It took hundreds of generous hearts to make this happen, and we couldn’t be prouder to have played our part.

ZONTA CHARITY FASHION SHOW - CELEBRATING WOMEN IN THE WEST!
at Kindred Studios organised by Zonta Melbourne West, lead by Cassandra Fraser Kat Fraser

MAKEUP TEAM
Makeup Lessons Melbourne, lead by the irrepressible Peta-Gai McLaughlin, also MC of the event.
Hair & Makeup Team comprising: mua and Jennifer and Vanessa May (also Modelling!) assisted by the hardworking Erin Childs Erin Childs.

HAIR TEAM lead by the incredible
Sue of Melbourne Hair Salon | All your hair needs

CONTENT by the phenomenal Amy Nenos | Melbourne Content Creator

PRO PHOTOGRAPHY by

Fashion AUCTIONEERING by Charlotte Morison from Slate & Sage. And of Vicinity Centres.

DIGNITARIES: melissaforwilliamstown and Cr Mohamed Semra

FASHION Generously donated by:
KITH & KIN + THE TALES + NFD + HLM + AUGUSTE + CERES Elm Taking Shape .au
featuring: fashion from:
Motto | Womens Fashion Australia
Witchery CAMILLA AND MARC ZIMMERMANN

MODELS & STARS OF THE RUNWAY:
Katrina Nowell
Lizzie Mettam
DV Safe Phone
Vanessa May
saramitchell FB Sara Mitchell
Angie Weston
Lisa Thompson
Flora Blaik- Seremes
Karen Dunham
Pat Rayner
Leanne Given

One minute they’re sitting in your makeup chair getting ready for their school formal… and the next they’re popping back into the studio as confident, capable young women.

This beautiful human is Cady, and we’ve had the absolute joy of glamming her for several school formals over the years. Formal season has officially kicked off again and we are HERE FOR IT!

But here’s the thing…

Like everything we do at Iridis, school formals have never just been about gorgeous hair and makeup.

They’re about helping young women walk into one of the biggest nights of their teenage years feeling like the very best version of themselves.

We don’t do “make me look older.” We don’t do overdone. We don’t make you look like someone you’re not.

We make you look like YOU… just with a little Iridis magic.

We’ll pore over your Pinterest boards, TikToks and inspiration pics. We’ll study your dress, jewellery and dream look. But most importantly, we’ll study you—your features, your colouring, your personality and everything that already makes you beautiful. Then we enhance the heck out of it.

Because in twenty years, we want you to look back at your formal photos and think…

“I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Not…

“What on earth was I thinking?” 😂

One of my favourite parts of this job is when clients come back years later. Maybe it’s for a Uni Ball, a makeup lesson before their first professional job, their wedding… or they’re bringing in their little sister. Watching these gorgeous young women grow into incredible adults is one of the greatest privileges of what I do.

Seeing Cady pop into the studio recently absolutely made my day. Thank you for trusting us with so many special milestones. And yes… we’ve also looked after your sister twice and your beautiful mum too! Your family are definitely part of the Iridis family.

Here’s to another formal season…

We’ll bring the hair and makeup. You bring that gorgeous smile. Together, we’ll take care of the confidence.

🎤 PG CONFESSION: I think I may have found one of my new favourite things… (no surprise to anyone who knows me!)

It’s…..🥁.. being a Mistress of Ceremonies.

(Yes, yes, I know. The jokes write themselves.)

Last month I had the absolute privilege of MC-ing the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s West Women of the West Charity Fashion Show, and what an extraordinary night it was.

A room full of incredible women. Stories of courage, resilience and community. Fabulous fashion on a runway with real Women of the West struttin’ their stuff. There was laughter. A few tears. And a whole lot of women supporting women.

Oh… and the whole point of the night—fundraising! Last year we raised $6,000. I boldly predicted we’d crack $10,000 ( )… and together we raised $10,429!

Iridis proudly donated our time and $3,200 in prizes, and knowing that money will help women and girls in our community makes me ridiculously happy.

If you haven’t heard of Zonta, they’re a global organisation advancing the status of women and girls through advocacy, education and practical support. Here in Melbourne’s west they support women recovering from family violence through financial counselling, home starter kits, scholarships, breast cancer support, food relief and so much more.

As much as I loved having a microphone in my hand again, my favourite part wasn’t standing on the stage.

IT WAS CREATING CONNECTION.

Making people laugh. Helping nervous first-time models feel like superstars. Keeping the energy flowing (yes, the sequin jacket made another appearance). Creating moments people will remember.

After 30 years of teaching, presenting, training and coaching women, standing at the podium felt strangely familiar. Just with a runway, a crapload more makeup on my face, and significantly more sequins than my lawyer days.

A huge thank you to the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s West for trusting me with your beautiful event again. Being invited back was an absolute honour.

And if you’re looking for a speaker, MC, panel moderator or podcast guest who can hold a room while wearing exactly the right amount (too much) makeup and sequins… let’s chat. 🎤

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🏳️‍🌈 A very belated Happy Pride Month from Australia's only queer-owned rainbow makeup brand. 🏳️‍🌈

As we see out another Pride Month, it may have officially finished, but around here, Pride isn't something we pack away on 1 July. *It's who we are.*

At Iridis, we're proudly queer-owned and queer-led. I'm a pansexual woman. Vanessa is a proud trans woman and le***an. Together, we've built a business where people don't just come for makeup—they come to feel safe, celebrated, understood and accepted exactly for who they are – regardless of gender or sexuality.

But to be honest... this year's Pride has felt different.

It's been a hard time for our trans community. The fear, misinformation, exclusion and hostility we've seen directed towards some of the most vulnerable members of our rainbow family has been heartbreaking. We know many of our clients are carrying that weight every single day.
So this is our little reminder...

🌈 We are still here. 🌈We'll keep doing the work. 🌈We'll keep creating safe spaces. 🌈We'll keep teaching, encouraging, celebrating and lifting people up.

We'll keep helping women, teens, trans women, non-binary people, gender-diverse people, drag artists, crossdressers and every beautiful person who walks through our doors discover just how extraordinary they already are. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🦄

It’s what we've been doing for over 17 years at Iridis.

To us, Pride has never *just* been about parades and glitter (although we're definitely not saying no to either of those). It's about 🌈 visibility 💄, 🌈 belonging💄, 🌈 courage💄, 🌈 community💄. It's about being able to exist safely and authentically exactly as you are.

It's about making sure every single person knows they deserve joy, confidence, kindness, the correct makeup for them, and fabulous eyebrows. At Iridis, we happen to do all of that with the power of makeup.

Every lesson is about helping someone look in the mirror and think, "There you are... I've been looking for you."

No matter your age, race, size, gender identity, sexuality, neurodivergence, disability, culture, faith, background or where life has taken you, our chair has a place for you.

We're incredibly proud to be part of Australia's rainbow community, and we'll continue to celebrate the entire rainbow—all of it. Not just the parts that are convenient. Not just the people others think deserve acceptance. ALL OF US.

Because every rainbow colour matters, every story matters, every person matters.

HAPPY PRIDE! Keep shining. Keep loving. Keep taking up space.

We'll be here, rainbow brushes in hand, cheering you on every step of the way. 🏳️‍🌈🥂🏳️‍⚧️