Dork chic at Australian Fashion Week

Illionaire’s recessionista glam

It’s up to fashion to fly in the face of the convention of the world around us. In an era of downsizing, down-scaling and down-playing, the Illionaire parade at Australian Fashion Week protested that the only way is up. The mood was immediately set as the space transformed into a fibre optic light-show and the deep voice of Grace Jones purred from the speakers. In ironic anti-recession styling, 80s-excess influenced detailing featured in ruffled leather and hot-pants. (Leather pants in summer? A sign of climatic uncertainty in our global-warming world, I guess, where we have to be prepared for four seasons in one day). The standout? A gold jumpsuit, hands down, paves the fashion pavement for a new generation borrowing from their Mother’s Dynasty days. The show went off with a bang, literally, with a gold foil glitter drop from the ceiling exuding positivity and excess – even as models slipped and slided through the foil pieces during the finale circuit. Whether you’re a billionaire or a nillionaire, Illionaire put an approving fashion-forward grin on everyone’s faces with their SS 09/10 showcase.

Nana Judy unleash the next Cult To Be tee

It’s quite disturbing at the New Generation at Australian Fashion Week show as the designer comes out to take their final bow and more often than not looks younger than the fresh-faced models. The presentation of the new kids on the block is always packed to the rafters with fashionistas on the pilgrimage to find ‘the one to watch’. Pretty soon they could be mega-brands, and everyone wants the kudos of saying: ‘I remember being at their first show’. We’re still talking about Ksubi’s (then Tsubi) infamous debut onto the scene in which live rats were released onto the catwalk (yes, PETA was not impressed). Read more

Fashionable flu wear

If the world is overtaken by the current Swine Flu, I’m not sure how comfortable I’d feel donning the same generic disposable white medical mask as everyone else. Make mine a patent black leather one, please, just like the ones the models wore on the catwalk during the Stand show at Australian Fashion Week.

Fresh Face Fashion

It’s always a struggle for emerging fashion labels to get their name and work out into the marketplace. Enter Face Fashion’s The Fashion Event, which was held on Wednesday and provided a platform for new Australian designers to showcase their latest (or even first) collections at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The show featured work from designers including Trash Tusa, Vanna and Suzi Rose, all of whom unleashed brash new creativity onto the catwalk.

Illionaire’s recessionista glam

It’s up to fashion to fly in the face of the convention of the world around us. In an era of downsizing, down-scaling and down-playing, the Illionaire parade at Australian Fashion Week protested that the only way is up. The mood was immediately set as the space transformed into a fibre optic light-show and the deep voice of Grace Jones purred from the speakers. In ironic anti-recession styling, 80s-excess influenced detailing featured in ruffled leather and hot-pants. (Leather pants in summer? A sign of climatic uncertainty in our global-warming world, I guess, where we have to be prepared for four seasons in one day). The standout? A gold jumpsuit, hands down, paves the fashion pavement for a new generation borrowing from their Mother’s Dynasty days. The show went off with a bang, literally, with a gold foil glitter drop from the ceiling exuding positivity and excess – even as models slipped and slided through the foil pieces during the finale circuit. Whether you’re a billionaire or a nillionaire, Illionaire put an approving fashion-forward grin on everyone’s faces with their SS 09/10 showcase.

Nana Judy unleash the next Cult To Be tee

It’s quite disturbing at the New Generation at Australian Fashion Week show as the designer comes out to take their final bow and more often than not looks younger than the fresh-faced models. The presentation of the new kids on the block is always packed to the rafters with fashionistas on the pilgrimage to find ‘the one to watch’. Pretty soon they could be mega-brands, and everyone wants the kudos of saying: ‘I remember being at their first show’. We’re still talking about Ksubi’s (then Tsubi) infamous debut onto the scene in which live rats were released onto the catwalk (yes, PETA was not impressed). Read more