Toni Maticeski’s Resort 17 collection. Photos by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images.
Celebrated designer, Toni Maticevski, opened Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia with a spectacular show, setting the tone for what should be a week of outstanding Australian fashion. Maticeski is known for his theatrical, feminine style which has seen favourable comparisons drawn to Christian Dior among others, however he is a unique talent and visionary who is among Australia’s leading designers.
A huge crowd of over 1000 attendees gathered at Bangaroo in a beautiful new venue, the Cutaway, which featured an exposed sandstone wall to witness Maticevski’s beautiful heroines grace the runway. While usually known for his more romantic looks this season the collection had gotten considerably darker around the edges in a a dangerous but delightful way. Beginning with elegant daywear that was carefully draped and tailored to accentuate the waist it wasn’t long before the more sinister undertones of the collection presented themselves in unexpected ways. The full-skirted princess gowns were there in white and baby blue but this time they were accompanied by bejewelled handcuffs and restraints courtesy of jewellery Ryan Storer.
The nod to BDSM didn’t stop there with jewellery resembling ball gags adding a further naughty touch to a collection that was both powerful and sexy. But back to the clothes which were unmistakably confident, gothic references have never looked quite so chic. As with all Maticevski’s creations there was a complex structure to the silhouettes which flattered and coveted the model’s forms all at once. This was fashion fetishism at its finest.
From an initially monochromatic colour palette, the collection developed into softer shades, with a new hue of buttery yellow a standout on sculptural dresses and separates. It’s not hard to see how many of the evening wear looks would be perfect for the red carpet and the incredible draped chainmail dress that closed the collection was a showstopper. Maticevski’s seductive new direction is certainly alluring and will no doubt tempt his many fans over to the dark side.
Images from Getty Images.