Fashion icon Mark Patrick dies at 73, leaving a lifetime of style and service behind

Australian fashion designer, celebrity agent and luxury-brand publicist Mark Patrick has died at age 73, friends say, leaving behind what they describe as a “fabulous life.” Patrick was a fixture in Sydney’s luxury fashion scene, first as one half of the Mark & Geoffrey label and later as the head of his MP Publicity agency, which represented Moët & Chandon and managed celebrity appearances at upscale events.

Patrick was known for his wit, generosity and cultivated taste, forging enduring friendships across sport, media, design, law and politics. He was a familiar presence at the Melbourne Cup marquee, where he combined sharp hospitality instincts with a knack for pulling outsiders onto the A-list. He was described by friends as a gatekeeper who also encouraged newcomers to join the party, guided by a mantra that emphasized glamour, fame and conversation: “Get gorgeous, get famous, get on the A-list, learn to hold your liquor like a lady (or a proper gent) and cultivate a witty line in cocktail conversation.”

In the years after stepping back from his corporate life, Patrick remained a hustler of taste and brand narrative. He reinvented himself with style, opening BORN — borrowed, old, refurbished, new — a homewares store at Kincumber on the New South Wales Central Coast, a project that reflected his penchant for curated, aesthetically driven ventures while staying connected to the public-facing side of fashion and lifestyle.

Tributes poured in from Sydney’s fashion and media circles. Deborah Hutton, a long-time friend and media personality, wrote on Facebook: “What fun we all had…a life he threw everything at…and so bloody good at it! There was always laughter. I remember modelling in one of his Mark & Geoffrey fashion shows. So fabulous. My heart goes out to his life partner Geoffrey…constantly by his side.”

Model and television figure Melissa Hoyer also shared memories, saluting Patrick for a life lived in full within fashion and media circles: “Mr Mark Patrick. What a life you always, always led.” Hoyer and other colleagues posted tributes and memories of Patrick’s hospitality and his ability to connect people across the industry.

Others recalled Patrick as a trailblazer and icon of the 1980s. Glen Marie Frost described him as someone who defined a era with charm and wit, while Rupert Noffs, a restaurateur and former MP Agency colleague, recalled Patrick’s mentorship in public relations and event planning. Noffs recalled Patrick’s insight into who was on the A-list, the B-list, and the hot players in food and hospitality, noting how Patrick helped him understand the art of sponsorship, guest management and seamless execution of high-end events.

Patrick’s professional arc began with a lifelong partnership with Geoffrey Williams, which started when he was about 20 years old in the 1970s and flourished through the high-octane era of the early 1980s. The Mark & Geoffrey label rose to prominence during that time, and its legacy persisted even after the label’s run ended about a decade later. Patrick then pivoted to public relations and publicity, building MP Publicity into a respected agency that represented luxury brands and managed celebrity appearances at exclusive gatherings. His career reflected a consistent thread: an eye for talent, a talent for storytelling, and an ability to orchestrate events that combined fashion, hospitality and media attention.

While Patrick stepped back from the day-to-day fashion business, he remained deeply involved in shaping culture through curated experiences and collaborations. Friends remember a man who could still turn a room with a few well-placed notes and handwritten invitations into an occasion that felt both intimate and extraordinary. His influence stretched across generations of designers, PR professionals and event hosts who learned from his blend of elegance, audacity and generosity.

Patrick’s death marks the passing of a pivotal figure in Australia’s fashion and public-relations landscape, one who bridged design, commerce and media with a distinctive blend of charm and discipline. Colleagues and fans alike say his contributions—whether on the runway, at a marquee, or in the management and mentorship of a new generation of publicists—will continue to be felt across Sydney’s luxury scene for years to come.