FASHFEST 2017 Closing Night

Posted on 1 October, 2017

The closing night of FASHFEST 2017 gave us everything from JLo meets Gone With The Wind to Brigitte Bardot sex kittens…and so much more in between.

Show One

Charly Thorn

Charly Thorn is an just 18-year-old designer from Cooma, but her work is far beyond her years. Showcasing a teal and white palette, the collection was JLo meets Gone With The Wind: tropical prints melding with sheer ruffled white and rich blues and green. Mirrored sunglasses, bronze lips and hair slicked at the roots added a little Miami Spice.

We loved: the showstopper strapless floor-length gown with ruffled waist detail and bronze-metal belt.

Miss Winks 

Lacy wisps of nothing and Brigitte Bardot hair—Miss Winks sent sex kittens down the runway in a curated collection presenting pieces from Australian lingerie labels Lil & Emm, Kat the Label, Aimee Cherie Intimates and Etheria Intimates.

The show was notable in its diversity: from a sparkly white bikini set to black high-neck lace leotard, a frilly bra and satin boxers, and long sleeve lurex leotard with black full brief and back cut out.

We loved: The forest green silk playsuit showed that more can be more.

Assemblage Project

Braddon’s Assemblage Project presented several labels on the FASHFEST catwalk, showcasing complementary women’s aesthetics, including: Eva Cassis, High Tea with Mrs Woo, Kowtow and Wendy Voon. Moody tones, draping and sculptural elements made this a most wearable collection.

We loved: The pin-striped maxi with gathered waist detail.

Nomiko 

New Canberra label, NOMIKO—developed by FASHFEST founders Clint and Andrea Hutchinson in partnership with Sophia Petersen—presented a refreshing collection of gender-specific and unisex clothing. Grey, khaki, charcoal, sand, black and white (with a splash of gold) provided a palette that worked equally well for boys and girls; with floppy hats, beads and hoodies adding edge.

We loved: the clean lines and urban feel—with not a shade of pink or blue in sight.

Salvos Stores

It’s fashion reinvention and serious eco chic. Salvos Stores’ ‘Salvaged’ is sustainable style at its best, illustrating just how high-end discarded and donated clothing can be. Beautifully curated by Salvos Stores eco stylist Faye De Lanty, it showcased incredible customisation, ingenious upcycling and couture offerings.

We loved: the customised studded leather jacket featuring a ‘Salvaged’ illustration, and an embroidered gauze with corset waist and sheer fishtail skirt with zipper belt.

Naomi Peris Bridal 

Naomi Peris Bridal encapsulates the modern, sexy bride, sending a collection of gowns handmade using French laces, intricate beading and fine tailoring down the runway. Appliqué was a focus, with florals, leaves and butterflies fluttering to life atop sheer tulle and gauze. From traditional ballgown silhouettes to daring lace pants and a bodysuit with feathered overskirt, it was a collection that pushed the boundaries and launched fantasies.

We loved: The one-shouldered ‘butterfly dress’. A corseted waist spilled to a full skirt, with fluttering butterflies trailing the bodice, up over one shoulder and down the other side. Dreamy.

Show Two

Karen Lee

Karen Lee showcased clothing with simple, sophisticated lines and classic shapes. Colour blocks of black and white, coupled with sculptural jewellery, and paired with intriguing prints made this a collection embodying effortless chic.

We loved: The black apron dress. Top of our list for our summer wardrobe staples.

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) presented a collection of  Indigenous textiles in bold colours and vibrant textiles. Tones of earth, water, wine and fire combined with sculptural shapes for an arresting and daring collection.

We loved: The cobalt blue ballgown with fauna print.

Zilpah tart

Nightfest may have been going on in nearby Commonwealth Park, but Zilpah tart brought Floriade to the runway in feminine, bright, garden-inspired designs. In the past, Yumi Morrissey has drawn inspiration from Canberra’s architecture and now the city’s flora springs to life in a collection of dresses, skirts, pants and jumpsuits.

We loved: The green singlet dress topped with print overdress—perfect for party season.

NYNE

NYNE is an independent New Zealand made women’s fashion label—asymmetric shapes and fluid fabrics lend themselves to an uncomplicated layering of pieces. The pieces were highly tactile, using tonal colour and texture to create a distinctly moody aesthetic. The Spring/Summer 2018 season, ‘image 18’, draws inspiration from Andy Warhol’s polaroid-based Portrait series.

We loved: The black batwing top and olive skirt ensemble, both with contrasting panels.

BT

Forget drab charcoal suits, BT’s collection—designed by Sarah Kennewell—brought (nearly every) colour of the rainbow to the catwalk: lemon and daffodil yellow, vibrant purple, pink, tangerine, petroleum blue, the deepest forest green, and even a field of flowers. Double-breasted jackets with brass buttons dressed up women’s suiting, while the guys embraced adventurous checks and prints.

We loved: The deep green velvet suit with peplum. Gorgeous.

Megan Cannings Designs

Megan Cannings produced an exquisitely feminine collection of black and one floral print was that reinvented in a variety of ways, for day and night: from a flippy day dress to floor-skimming shirt dress. At times dainty—others, daring—this was a collection to appeal to all tastes.

We loved: The strapless ballgown with ruffled skirt—fresh, feminine and unique.

Photography: Martin Ollman