Australian Fashion Week – Monday highlights

RAFW kicked off with Kirrily Johnston’s ‘Modern Nomads’ populating the catwalk with flowing styles and heavy ethnic influences

The palette was subdued with nudes, whites and greys dominating the show, contrasted by the occasional splash of fuchsia a metallic accessories. Johnston’s long time collaboration with Jeweller Sylvie Markovina produced beautiful statement necklaces to create weight to the flighty garments.

The collection was recognisably Kirrily, her love affair with soft silks with ruching and pleating details has carried on from her past collections with the addition of very wearable jersey dresses.

Dresses of all lengths dominated the collection, the shapes were free-flowing and draped adding a Grecian edge, the perfect look for hot days and glamorous nights.

Beauty note: Heavy brows and sky-high plaited buns added to the universal look of the clothes.

Italian born, Australian designer Nicola Finetti believes that women can express their individuality, femininity, invention and strength through the silhouette’s and the structure of his garments.

Tulip styled dresses, one shoulder and simple summer shifts marked with Finetti’s signature detail dominated this morning’s catwalk.

His collection this morning dictated just that, with powerful pleats, structured satins, bold colours and hues of blues, dove grey, nudes and pastel greens.

His collection displayed a creative collaboration of art and fashion, shown in his incorporation of the tie dye and ombre effect.

Luxe golds were teamed with colourful accessories for a modern edge to the feminine fabrics.

Anna Thomas, former Design Director for luxury label Max Mara, impressed the fashion crowd on day one of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

With her tailored take on Summer’s ever-present and timeless nautical theme, Anna Thomas brought chic back into casual for Spring Summer 08/09.

Seersucker stripes, navy, grey, white and blue dominated her show in all forms from 50s full skirts, shirtmaker dresses to detailed tailored jackets and pants.

Volume was the season’s shape-maker at the Anna Thomas parade, with see-through full skirts and dresses gave a feminine and modern edge to the collection.

Cobalt and navy, lemon, pink and leaf green are drawn into a colour palette with black, white, stone and ecru worn as both solid colours or mixed into a range of retro, geometric and graphic fine prints for maximum impact.

Day one of Australian Fashion Week in Sydney drew to a close with ‘Clouds and Rainbows’ by Wayne Cooper. Cooper drew heavily on an African Safari theme for his collection.

Garments twisted, draped and folded to create movement and flow on a colourscape of cloudy whites, seagull greys and watery blues drifting into sunset safari shades of sand, mandarin, khaki and coffee and ending with the colours of dusk, african violet, pewters, gunmetals and dead of night black.

Cooper opts for a more ethereal floaty silhouette with soft cloud-like draping, cowls and ruffles.

Cooper’s collection plays on colour, shape and movement that resembles the African landscape drifting from dawn till dusk.

Light as air parachute silks, metallic chiffons and satins all added a delicate texture and fluidity to Cooper’s collection.