Society gossips pounce on ‘notable absence’ from Melbourne designer’s A-list gender reveal… after Rozalia Russian and Sarah Lucas’s feud became the talk of the town

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In simpler terms, just as among university students, the more trivial the matters in Melbourne’s upper class, the more petty the rumors seem to become.

On a Sunday, prominent figures from the city’s social scene gathered at the fashionable Maison Bâtard French restaurant for a combined baby shower and gender reveal event, organized by renowned celebrity designer Effie Kats.

We’re discussing our regular crowd, which includes Nadia Bartel, Jessie Roberts, Jade Kisnorbo, Chris Kontos, and, without a doubt, Sarah Lucas, who is often referred to as the queen bee. Her husband, Chris Lucas, happens to be the owner of the establishment.

But one high-profile socialite failed to make an appearance.

And that fact alone was enough to set Melbourne’s rumour mill spinning.

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Rarely does Bec Judd skip a social event, so when she wasn’t present at her friend Effie’s party, her absence was quite conspicuous, according to some reports.

Rather than heading to the gender reveal event, Bec – who had been present at Effie’s 2023 wedding with finance broker James Cerolini – departed for her hometown, Perth instead.

On Sunday evening, after settling into her high-end accommodation at Crown Perth, she posted videos on Instagram which hinted at a sponsored vacation.

Despite any potential issues, it appears that the woman from Brighton with four children extended warm greetings to Effie through Instagram posts, suggesting a harmonious relationship exists between them.

Despite the fact that her absence might not have caused any issues, Melbourne’s gossipy communities are keeping a close eye on these gatherings, searching for any indication of disagreement following Sarah Lucas’ recent public dispute with Rozalia Russian, which has sparked much discussion.

Rozalia, similarly absent from Effie’s gathering, often socializes within the same group as Sarah, even having mutual friends with her. However, as previously mentioned in June, they haven’t been seen together in any recent photographs.

This fact was swiftly picked up on by our Melbourne society spies.

Although it couldn’t be definitively ascertained the details of their encounter, their decision to stop following one another on Instagram appeared to hint at some sort of disagreement or falling out.

It was rumored back then that Rozalia and Sarah had their differences, even though they were both prominent members of the same exclusive social circle.

indubitably, an unusual image capturing all the influential figures within the social circle of Victoria’s capital city placed the two ladies on opposite sides, seemingly intent on maintaining distance from one another.

Rozalia stood next to Effie, along with hair and makeup artist Jade Kisnorbo, fashion designer Nadia Bartel who was once a WAG, and celebrity stylist Lana Wilkinson. Meanwhile, Sarah, known for her all-black attire, posed at the opposite end.

To put it simply, Rozalia – a renowned ex-ballerina – is a highly sought-after fashion influencer in Australia. She’s married to Nick Russian, who runs popular nightclubs, was once on Temptation Island, and at one point ran for Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

Sarah needs no introduction.

Once upon a time, she was married to Steven Lew, the son of wealthy retail entrepreneur Solomon Lew. Later on, she tied the knot with Chris Lucas, a significant figure in the hospitality industry, at a Venice venue in 2023 – the very same ballroom where George and Amal Clooney exchanged their vows.

Her teenage daughter Bella Lew is considered a rising star of high society.

Beyond simply marrying wealth, it’s important to note that Sarah comes from a wealthy background associated with Toorak. Back in 2017, her parents put their luxurious suburban property up for sale at around $8 million. After her divorce from Steven in 2011, there was a settlement between the Lew family and Sarah. Although the specifics of the agreement were never made public, it’s been widely whispered that she received an exceptionally generous payout.

Later this month, it was announced by fashion icon Effie that she and her husband James are anticipating the arrival of their first child as a couple.

Effie shared on Instagram, ‘I’ve hidden this small detail for some time. Overflowing with excitement about what lies ahead in the next stage of our journey.’

On Sunday, the 34-year-old unveiled that she’s expecting a daughter, as she burst a balloon to scatter a rain of pink confetti.

I proudly follow and admire the exceptional work of Effie, a renowned fashion designer based in Melbourne. It’s truly inspiring to see how she effortlessly styles some of my favorite celebrities such as Bec, Nadia, Carrie Bickmore, and Kelly Rowland.

The wedding of the pair, held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral during the summer of 2023, was among the most prominent social occasions that year.

The newlyweds later held an opulent reception at the State Library of Victoria. 

Effie was amazed while donning a grand, partially translucent lace dress designed by Zuhair Murad, necessitating multiple visits to Paris for alterations.

260 distinguished attendees graced the guest list, comprising Melbourne’s elite social circle. Notable figures like Bec and Nadia were joined by influential locals such as Jessie Murphy, wife of ex-Carlton captain Marc, and acclaimed fashion stylist Lana Wilkinson.

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2025-08-25 16:49