By Keeva Stratton
Some of Australia’s greatest artistic works provided the perfect background setting to open fashion’s weeklong celebration of Australian creative talent, the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, which officially began this morning with Lisa Ho’s Spring Summer 10/11 collection at the New South Wales Art Gallery.
The festival is known to attract the cream of Australia’s A-list and this morning’s show was no exception. A keen crowd gathered early and the two-laned runway on the gallery floor was brimming with the who’s who of Australian fashion and media, eager to see what wonders Lisa Ho would produce again this year. Television presenter Erika Heynatz, model Kate Waterhouse, Vogue Editor Kristie Clements and Marie Claire Editor Jackie Frank were joined by Sydney’s social elite.
Indigenous model and Vogue Australia covergirl, Samantha Harris, opened the show in a stunning sunkissed silk mesh-draped dress, and set the high standard for what was to follow.
The collection itself brought the wilderness to the city with Ho’s signature use of prints this time drawing inspiration from nature and optimising a soft colour palette that consisted of nude tones, water colours and mossy greens, to create a modern romantic feel.
Stretch silks and silk jerseys were draped unusually close to the body, which gave great visual effect to the female contour. Knee and ankle length skirts were paired with paper thin leather jackets to add height and drama, and cropped pants and tailored shorts guided your attention to ankles and the towering shoes, also designed by Lisa Ho.
Closing the show in a milky way print silk ruched gown, was Australian supermodel Alyssa Sutherland, who was greeted by a round of applause from a crowd clearly embracing this sophisticated yet strikingly elegant collection.
Lisa’s own description of the collection was: “It’s harder edged, more modern, but always glamorous and relaxed” and few would disagree with this deservedly well regarded Australian designer.
Lisa Ho has opened RAFW with true class, only intensifying the anticipation for what great Australian talent lay ahead in the week to come.
For more RAFW coverage, log on daily to the RESCU Events section for our beauty and fashion runway reports.
Images courtesy of Shahram Zadgan
