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MBFWA 2014: Day 4

Racing towards the finish line in a blur of shimmery metallics and ear cuffs, the last day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia was quickly upon us and delivered another brilliant day of eclectic fashion.

Alice McCall

Celebrating a fantastic 10 years in business, Alice McCall, kicked off proceedings with a stunning show inspired by lucid dreaming  and complete with a beautiful set of white whimsical sculptures suspended from the ceiling. Opening with a series of white looks in her signature sweet silhouettes with embroidered details and scalloped edging, she moved through soft shades of mint green, peach, sky blue and lemon.  Glitter, digital prints and delicate frills on cute playsuits, mini dresses and beautiful separates made for a truly covetable collection.

Dyspnea (left) – Daniel K (right)

The New Generation show was a mix of fresh designers using the MBFWA platform to launch their careers to the next level. It was refreshing to see a diverse range of directional collections deliver many vibrant and colourful prints. Dyspnea kept to their statement pieces in silk satins but pushed it to the next level with dusty pink gowns that are set to be a hit. It was fantastic to see New Zealand’s own Daniel K, with co-designer Mino Kim from Foureyes blog, bring their unique style to the runway in a series of stunning diaphanous looks in bold colours.

Hayley Elsaesser

Bringing some quirky charm to the MBFWA runway, Hayley Elsaesser, presented a collection of amusing prints (including one of a beer can) on retro-inspired garments that felt fresh and fun. The addition of flame-hemmed dresses and leather stitching details upped the cool factor of the redneck-inspired range.

Macgraw

One of Sydney’s brightest rising fashion stars, Macgraw, made their MBFWA debut with a chic collection full of texture, stripes and sweet prints in a collection entitled ‘sail bomb’. Crisp whites intermingled with nautical hues and chartreuse on softly tailored dresses and separates for a French inspired look that was effortlessly cool.

Kowtow (left) –  Ovna Ovich (right)

A celebration of ethically minded fashion, the inaugural Clean Cut Designer Showcase featured a mix of designers with a focus on sustainability and fair practices. The showcase included Kowtow and Ovna Ovich proudly representing New Zealand with their clean looks that had a focus on environmentally friendly fabrics.

The Innovators showcased the rising stars of The Fashion Design Studio and they certainly delivered.

The runway collections had a futuristic feel that commanded attention. Silver shoes, hot silver sequinned pants and bright yellow polka dot detail ran riot on the runway. Bei Na Wei was a standout showing shimmering dresses teamed with Perspex bags and accessories.

Ae’lkemi

Presenting divine evening wear with a dramatic aesthetic, Ae’lkemi, took to the runway with a collection of stunning garments in strong scarlet, black, white and metallics. The key looks were opulent floor length gowns with feathers, lace, and lots of sheer fabrics making for a show-stopping range that was red carpet ready.

Ixiah

Ixiah showed a modern taken on tribal style with pretty rainbow coloured accents and fabrics making for a joyful range. Cut-out details, metallics and striking neck-pieces added interest to a collection made up of contemporary silhouettes.

Zhivago

Set in a darkened space lit with neon, Zhivago, delivered another fierce collection that was a sequinned spectacular! It was sparkle city on the runway with a collection of avant-garde designs, plunging necklines and structured shoulders. This brand is all about attitude!

Aje

Aje took the fashion set on a gorgeous safari with their installation which included a stunning white tent, complete with a lovely lounge-worthy bed. The models were positioned around the tent in Aje’s feminine collection which featured delicate floral prints on soft cottons, khaki leather and shimmering embellishments on divine evening wear. Aje’s idea of safari is certainly a glamourous one.

Song for the Mute

It was all about layering as menswear label, Song for the Mute, closed the week with an edgy showcase. Beautifully textured jackets were teamed with short hemmed trousers that came in baggy and tight-fitting styles. Featuring neutral tones of white, black and grey, it was the sneakers that completed the looks, giving a street wise appeal along with an extra push into new menswear territory.

And just like that MBFWA is over again for another year. This past week’s shows saw so many metallic fabrics, pastel hues and pretty dresses on the runway, it’s safe to say summer will be sweet and shiny later this year.
Written by – Evelyn Ebrey and Craig Lawson
Imagery: MBFWA

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