By Keeva Stratton
The L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) had all the celebrity, glitz and glamour we’ve come to love from this event. But beyond the festivities, the true mark of this year’s festival was the strong quality of design and artistry on the catwalks themselves – and what a unique catwalk it was!
It seemed that metallics, blacks and golds, paired with short, structured skirts and shorts, flowing or feathered tops, were ever-present. Shape and form took precedent over colour in many of the shows and what resulted was a true feast for the eyes of sculpture in motion.
Dion Lee was awarded the esteemed 2010 L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival Designer Award, and it was well deserved. His stunning futuristic collection featured geometric designs achieved from meticulously crafted cut-outs and an impressive use of metallic beading – a true standout of the week.
Other highlights included: Alice McCall, whose bold floral prints, tiered sequins and structured skirts were filled with real-world promise; Collette Dinnigan’s bejewelled blacks with golds and lace that illustrated yet another dimension of her seemingly endless talent; and while Nicola Finetti showed us that short was chic, Sass & Bide were particularly bold in the best way possible with full body suits, beaded in metallic patterns, that channeled Egyptian beauty.
For street-wear, Metalicus and Forever New both offered some interesting looks that will no doubt make their way into many wardrobes – they cleverly paired colourful tights with fun dresses and blouses, and showed us how to uplift everyday looks with sculpted shoulders.
For glamorous gowns, Gwendolynne demanded attention with a combination of beaded elegance and weightless flow that was beyond impressive. Jayson Brunsdon offered a selection that boasted his trademark mix of sparkle and romantic sophistication balanced to perfection, and Lisa Ho made feathers fabulous, showing off her bold use of colour with dresses and jackets that were simply irresistible.
While the volume of talent on display was pretty impressive, I must confess that my personal favourites were Akira and Ellery, whose inspired pieces will no doubt be eagerly awaited and in high demand for their in-store arrivals. Both shows were truly a tease.
Promising new talent
Melbourne also got a glimpse at some of tomorrow’s promising new talent with the Metamorphosis Student Showcase, an event which gives students the opportunity to display their designs at one of Australia’s foremost events.
Celebrity spotting
The celebrities were also out and about in force, starting with the event’s glamorous opener at Government House, which attracted everyone from AFL superstar Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin to So You Think You Can Dance’s Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Throughout the week, the who’s who of fashion, names from the acting world, and even AFL WAGs, were all seen – and some, such as Packed To The Rafters’ Hugh Sheridan, even participated on the catwalk themselves.
But of all the famous faces, none was more commented on than the ever bold Brynne Edelsten (continuing to make her name for a range of outfit choices), whose pink outfit at the Myer Autumn/Winter launch was memorable for a variety of very different reasons; but she didn’t overshadow the gorgeous and seemingly omnipresent Jennifer Hawkins, who was strutting her stuff in a standout selection for the retail giant.
Fans of reality TV would have enjoyed playing ‘pick the former Australia’s Next Top Model contestant’ with the somewhat controversial Cassi Van Den Dungen appearing at home while modeling in many of the shows, as well as with Whitney Port (from MTV’s The Hills) being the headline model for the Target Rocks Red Market show, which, in the brand’s traditional mould, was all about fashion that’s accessible for all.
For all the runway highlights, visit www.lmff.com.au, the official website of the festival.
For more Melbourne Fashion Week coverage, click here.
Image credits: LMFF’s official website
