What were the most popular trends at the recent spring summer shows at RAFW?
"Rosemount Australian Fashion Week has wrapped up for another year and as someone who attended many of the 57 shows that were on schedule throughout the week, I can safely say first hand that the event - now in its 16th year - focused on the task at hand; to deliver wearable ready to wear garments straight to the consumers. There was no one collection that completely blew the press away (although Dion Lee’s third collection had all raving as was expected). No infamous volcano dress (thanks to Romance was Born’s incredible creation last year), no live vermin in sight (Ksubi will never live that one down now will they?) and no over the top, so-called ‘celebrity models’ (Supermodel Yasmin Le Bon was the exception of course, but she is as professional and as beautiful as she was when she first hit the scene more than two decades ago). No, the theatricals seemed to be out of favour this year. So it really boiled down to the actual clothes. And what exactly was on offer, you ask?
If these collections are any indication then your wardrobe will be filled with pieces in whites and nudes as well as rich deep punchy shades such as tangerine, hot pinks, cobalt blues and neon yellows come next season. Colour Blocking was a massive trend seen at Josh Goot (who, really, has never been one to shy away from colour each season), Karla Septic, Lisa Ho, Shakuhachi and Bec & Bridge. As if to counteract this explosion of colour, whites - as well as nudes - also proved popular in the collections of Fernando Frissoni, Flannel, Little Joe Woman, Kirrily Johnston, Lover, Ellery and Shakuhachi.
Showing some serious skin has never been a problem with us Australians given our beautiful climate and come summer time be sure to be tanned and toned as several designs to hit the runway throughout the week featured plunging necklines, thigh high splits and cut outs galore. This was evident at Bec & Bridge, Alice McCall, Sara Phillips, Shakuhachi and Miss Unkon. Another trend to make you want to sign up for that gym membership? Sheer. Bianca Spender, Lover and Karla Septic were just a few of the many designers who sent out models in see through garb. Prints also were in abundance and I especially adored snake at Sara Phillips, leopard at Little Joe Woman, a sweet garden print at Stolen Girlfriends Club and New York’s Chrysler Building at Bec & Bridge.
Pleating and frills also proved popular and these were especially evident at Alex Perry, Dhini, Bec & Bridge, Camilla and Marc, Magdalena Velevska, Miss Unkon and Dion Lee. One trend that always excites me is Leather and - although it is generally seen as more suitable for the colder months - many labels showed how it can successfully be used for summer with Shakuhachi leading the way by using leather panels (in shades of mustard) on pale linen pieces. Leather was also featured heavily at Saint Augustine Academy as well as at Little Joe Woman.
The 1970s trend seems to be sticking around for yet another season with many, manycollections clearly influenced by the decade that produced flares, pussy bow blouses, the shirt dress, platforms, jumpsuits and maxi dresses which were seen at the likes of Bec & Bridge, Saint Augustine Academy, Little Joe Woman, Miss Unkon, Sara Phillips and Alice McCall.
Although several of these trends coming through have been around for a couple of seasons now - and therefore isn’t really anything new per say - I do love how there really is something for everyone regardless of personal taste. Do you adore standing out in a crowd dressed in an unusual print? Do you love rocking head to toe colour? Or perhaps you prefer pretty pastels and dusty shades as well as nudes and whites instead? Do you like showing off some serious skin in revealing clothes or are you partial to covering up in a maxi? Are you a fan of clean lines and impeccable tailoring or do you lean more towards girly frills and knife pleats instead? It really doesn’t matter what your predilection is as the upcoming season has loads of options for you to try as detailed above. In an era where retail sales are down and people are tightening the purse strings, this very fact is most certainly a win for consumers everywhere".
By Elsie Kassis - Editor at Diary of A Fashion Muse