I can’t believe Rosemount Fashion Festival is over. It seems like only yesterday that I came back from Greece (with a nuclear tan), and was backstage, ready for the excitement of two back-to-back shows… Probably even more fashion surreal than that, it seemed like yesterday that the Arabian princesses unleashed their Middle Eastern glam-exotica at Rosemount Australia Fashion Week!
Whilst I love fashion week, I adore Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. It has all the glamour of fashion week, without the ‘code red’ vibe… In its place are super excited, real girls who are ready to give Carrie Bradshaw a run for her manolos in the shopping stakes. The gorgeous dresses you will see on the runway, have just had the plastic garment bags whipped off, and have been hung gorgeously in David Jones, and 50 ultra chic boutiques nationally!
The Arabian Princess Collection:
Like all my collections, is themed around a part real, part imaginary princess that lives on the red carpet of my mind. Each season, I like to select a land, or a culture, and more importantly the woman that lives there, and I take my lead from her.
The Middle East has always held a certain fascination for me – the extraordinary desert sunsets, the kohl black midnight sky unashamedly strewn with a king’s ransom of diamonds, the brilliant gold of a souk, and the women – the real jewels in the Middle Eastern crown. Woman who are legendary, for their exotic beauty, strength and unfaltering commitment to glamour.
The collection starts from a selection of masterfully tailored jackets. Defiant shoulder-lines tilt skyward, waists are cinched, and peplums gently flare over the hipline… available in black, nude and overblown zebra. My favourite of course is the black opening piece, with delicately hand beaded detail around the neck and down the spine.
For me, there was a standout white lace dress, almost a confirmation dress in corded Italian lace, knee length with a high neck and sweet capped sleeves worn over an alpine white underwired corset, pristine yet altogether ravishing!
I also love the sheer, beaded mini dresses. The most spectacular hand beading in gold, diamond, silver and nude…on barely there tulle. Some are dusted with heavenly nude ostrich feather, or caught at the hem to give an asymmetrical tilt. But the star power lies beneath the gorgeous jewelled tulle in the form of the essential power mesh corset dress. It hugs, defines and polishes the figure to perfection – it’s sensational enough to have its own red carpet moment.
Which brings me to my favourite bit!
The red carpet takes on many guises in this Arabian dream. From ultra feminine layered tulle dresses in nude and lilac… To the pristine one shouldered, white goddess gown…the explosive black net crinoline-edged ball gown. But my favourite of favourites would have to be the closing gowns… glimmering beyond belief in gold seqinned tulle.
Something happened this season…for some reason the Arabian kings smiled on me and gave me two things.
1. They gave me the absolute joy of working with make-up legend and my friend, Napoleon Perdis at RAFW. He flew from his home in the Hollywood hills, and designed the most perfect make-up imaginable. Eyes defied drama… liquid mercury cornered the eyes, the blackest of black kohl made them deeper, and black shimmering eyeshadow was nothing short of feline…finished with a crystaline dust across the forehead, the result was breathtaking.
2. Renya Xydis. She is nothing less than a hair styling superstar…fresh from the international runways. She lent her talent to creating hair so perfect, I was momentarily lost for words. The hair [at RAFW] was high, sleek at the sides, held in place with visible chrome hair clips that she flew in from Paris. Masses of hair extensions meticulously placed, GHD curled, and over one shoulder…the effect was captivating, serpent-like and beyond perfect.
