With all the endless parades of feminine frocks at this years’ Australian Fashion Week, we were bowled over by the wonderfully named Song For The Mute. Melvin Tanaya and Lyna Ty’s second menswear collection subtly breaks the rules of traditional tailoring to create brave new silhouettes. Raw, fragile shirting and delicate, draped fisherman style pants are the antithesis of the usual male uniformity. I walked away from their showcase at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney) with the dream to open my wardrobe and find the entire rack at my disposal.

SPONSOR

Now you never have to do the walk of shame again. The Other Side’s reversible jeans, presented recently at Australian Fashion Week, give you an instant costume change as the mood takes you. Designer Kassandra Scardino’s denim line is full of fresh takes on the traditional wardrobe staple. Friendly to both the environment and your wallet, these reversible wares provide more wear in your wardrobe.

We love the satchel bags of German label George, Gina and Lucy spotted at Australian Fashion Week’s Emerge Showcase. Here, innovative use of wetsuit fabric (how very Aussie) contrasts wonderfully with what looks like an old-school private school tie used as piping. Hence it’s name: Sophomore Love. An unexpected mix, but we reckon expect to see more of these urban satchels slung over a shoulder near you soon.

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.

If you spent your formative years in the library rather than the playground, fear not. The fashion world intends to reek havoc on your adolescent bullies by turning literary du jour. Models sported big black rimmed glasses (the kind of frames your mother would have insisted upon during visits to the optometrist) at UnNakeD at Australian Fashion Week. Unless there was a contagious wave of shortsightedness, we don’t think the glasses are prescription. It’s not the first time we’ve seen such nerdy goggles. American Apparel’s oversized Challenger and Fabian eyeglasses have been leading the way in the dork revolt. So grab a pair and start a book club!

SPONSOR

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).

Their t shirt design, Royal, Hedonism and The Streets, from that first collection, became an overnight must-have-item and originals still cause the occasional bidding-war on ebay. Our pick for this year’s cult-t-shirt-to-be? The fanciful singlet slogan of the season from boutique men’s label, Nana Judy: We’re not in Wonderland anymore Alice. Catch one before they all disappear down the rabbit-hole. [photo by Six 6 Photography]

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.

Fashion really is a process of metamorphosis. First there were skinny jeans. Then super-skinny. Then leggings. Then ‘Meggings’ (leggings for men). Now we’re about to go one step further, if Artsu have anything to do with it. Male models strutted the catwalk at Australian Fashion Week in a kind of hybrid-jodhpur: skintight to the knee then flared above with a baggy crotch. Teamed with military-influenced jackets and tees, it’s going to be a long black summer according to Artsu. The collection continued the gothic romantic trends of winter into the warmer months ahead (good news for us Aussies, as we can recycle our current winter wears!) With a darkly Victoriana influence and a nod to equestrian styling we reckon the look will be galloping out of the stores in no time.

Cult indie label Maise shunned Rosemount Australian Fashion Week and instead went for an off-program showing in a secret inner-city warehouse before the event’s official launch. Inspired by teen flicks from the late 80s and American high school culture, the label’s designer, Claire Greaves, and Sydney styling guru, Ms Fitz, had guests sitting in the bleachers with the venue decked out like a high school gym.

The collection saw models walking in basketball spiked heels to the sound of coach squealing whistles, wearing gridiron ready shoulder pads, pedal pushers, and athletic sweaters in a variety of varsity shades. One look at these pieces and you’ll be channeling your favourite high school character faster than you can accept the hot quarterback’s jacket.

SPONSOR