Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia’s most-trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news
‘Pip clique’ purge at P.E Nation
P.E Nation co-founder Claire Greaves (formerly Tregoning), the brains behind the activewear label beloved by eastern suburbs yummy mummies, is back in a leadership role in the company.
She is conveniently making her return months after her former business partner Pip Edwards left to become creative director at Ksubi, the streetwear brand where she made her name in the Noughties as the muse (and partner) of founder Dan Single.
It’s a head-turning game of musical chairs that began eight months ago when one of Australia’s most enduring fashion partnerships parted ways, seemingly at the height of their success.
Rumours had circulated for months in 2023 that their personal and professional relationship had soured, so few were surprised when Greaves confirmed her departure from the day-to-day operations of the business.
P.E Nation co-founder Claire Greaves, left, is back leading the operation following the exit of her former business partner Pip Edwards, right. (The two are pictured in Sydney in May 2018)
Founded in 2016, P.E Nation is majority-owned by the Sydney-based fashion group Hotsprings, owned by Sydney brothers Wassim and Ziad Gazal.
Edwards had taken over the reins of the business last March, following the departure of Greaves, who retained a shareholding and board position.
The ex-girlfriend of Michael Clarke ever-so-maturely wiped all traces of former business partner from the brand’s social media accounts after their falling-out.
But that wasn’t the end of the story. In a genuinely unexpected move, Edwards then announced in August she was quitting the brand to ‘pursue new creative challenges’… only for Greaves to return to the fold.
‘Claire has returned to the P.E Nation HQ with a spring in her step since Pip is no longer in the building,’ a well-placed fashion insider tells me.
According to my source, staff are confused by the sudden appearance of Greaves, who had been MIA for the past few years, and are speculating what all this means for the future of the brand.
‘Sales have fallen off a cliff since the middle of last year. P.E is struggling to find its identity since its rebrand at [Australian] Fashion Week last year,’ my spy adds.
‘Which has not been helped by the revolving door of PR managers and constant staff purges. Anyone previously aligned with Pip, or hired by her, is on the way out.’
‘Claire has returned to the P.E Nation HQ with a spring in her step since Pip is no longer in the building,’ a well-placed fashion insider tells me. (Pictured: inside the P.E Nation offices)
Greaves announced her return to P.E Nation with this breezy Instagram update
The Group Chat understands the Gazal brothers have welcomed back Greaves with open arms in a bid to get the once-popular brand back on track.
‘The feeling is that, now Pip’s no longer there, P.E can go back to being about the clothes – not Pip’s boyfriends or selfies with Jackie O.’
Rose Bay housewives say, ‘Not in our backyard’
Could the Shire’s most captivating couple be making a move east?
Kelsea Doyle, the bombshell wife of property developer-turned-drug trafficker Matthew Doyle, was spied checking out homes in Rose Bay last month.
Sightings of the former fashion publicist in the east have sparked concern among local housewives who don’t want her husband’s ‘druggy image’ in their well-heeled suburb.
Kelsea Doyle (right), the wife of property developer-turned-drug trafficker Matthew Doyle (left), was spied checking out homes in Rose Bay last month
Now, of course, as readers of this column will know, drug dealers aren’t exactly taboo in the eastern suburbs. In fact, many famous residents have them on speed dial.
The problem with Matthew is he’s the wrong sort of dealer… because he got caught.
He was infamously arrested in 2019 for attempting to smuggle $85million worth of cocaine into Australia and served five years in prison before getting early release last year.
It turned out undercover cops from the U.S. had caught wind of the delivery and their local counterparts swooped in, bringing an end to the criminal enterprise.
I only have one suggestion to Matt: maybe leave your ankle monitor back in the Shire. The housewives really don’t like to see that
‘After Mark Chikarovski‘s drug lab, the eastern suburbs can’t afford a scandalous couple moving in,’ one pearl-clutching resident spilled, referencing the banged-up narco-trafficking son of former Liberal Party leader Kerry Chikarovski.
‘The mummy mafia can be brutal around here – especially if you don’t have a squeaky clean image. Being a jailbird is a big no-no, even if you’re rich.’
It follows the December birth of the Doyles’ second child, who was conceived shortly after Matthew’s release from the slammer.
Going by looks alone, the genetically blessed couple would fit in among the rich and beautiful of sparkling Rose Bay.
I only have one suggestion to Matt: maybe leave your ankle monitor back in the Shire. The housewives really don’t like to see that.
Drake is no minor spender during Aussie tour
He may have been absolutely eviscerated by Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl halftime show, but rap sensation Drake hasn’t let the diss track seen around the world dampen his spirits during his Australian tour.
In fact, his spending has been nothing short of extravagant, with the Canadian rap sensation splashing out $2,650 on Nando’s takeaway for his crew this week after his concert in Melbourne.
Ahead of his arrival in Sydney on Friday, the wheels are in motion for Drake and his entourage to have access to the Harbour City’s most luxurious venues.
‘His “handler” Mike has had introductions with the Merivale publicity team as well as the Caterpillar Club underground bar on Pitt St,’ a well-placed hospitality source revealed.
‘You can likely expect to spot him on the Harbour too. He loves a superyacht.’
Rap superstar Drake has been splashing the cash during his tour of Australia
Drake has spent a pretty penny on hospitality for his entourage, who were seen hitting the Beverly Rooftop in South Yarra and dining at trendy French restaurant Maison Bâtard
Since his arrival in Australia earlier this month, the 38-year-old made a handful of concert-goers’ dreams come true, pledging $20,000 to fund a fan’s European vacation and $30,000 for a fledgling tech company.
But it isn’t just fans he’s been indulging. Drake has also spent a pretty penny on hospitality for his entourage, who were seen hitting the Beverly Rooftop in South Yarra, dining at trendy French restaurant Maison Bâtard and attending the basketball festival in St Kilda.
On Monday night, he went to Electric on Chapel St, arriving at midnight and partying until 3am. He even grabbed the microphone to perform some classics and an Oasis cover.
And finally… a double guess who, don’t sue
It’s the go-to Queensland hotel for influencers, celebrities and the ultra-wealthy.
But this venue’s luxury swimming pool and balconies have become a hotspot for horny guests with an exhibitionist kink. The Group Chat hears management has given several stern warnings to a number of guests who were caught in flagrante.
In one case last year, a group of guests had their rooms raided and were kicked out after remnants of a white powdery substance were discovered.
And on the subject of white powdery substances… which notorious party girl was up to her usual tricks in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last weekend?
She already has a reputation for being the one licking the bag at the end of the night – but this time she went ‘way too far’, according to my source.
Rumour has it she had been supplying the goods all evening and into the early hours of the morning. She was about to open a bag at 6am when one of her exhausted girlfriends suggested they call it a night… and she completely lost it.
Fuelled by fury ‘that came out of nowhere’, she went into a full-blown meltdown that left her party pals shaken and racing for the door before their Ubers had even arrived.
This isn’t the first time she’s been accused of taking things too far. Perhaps it’s time to take a break?
The subjects of this blind item are not mentioned or pictured elsewhere in this article
