The Sunshine State has stolen the show. The show being the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia.
Bright, bold and colourful is how the contingent of Queensland born and raised designers have been described by the fashion elite in Sydney for the past week.
“I love Queensland designers they are just so fun, fresh and have really eclectic ideas,” producer and event stylist Mason Browne said.
The week started with a floral and 1950s inspired bang thanks to White Sands designer Leah Madden. The Gold Coast swimwear doyenne’s collection of fresh floral and pastel bikinis, kaftans and skirts were a fresh contrast to the high-fashion, sexed up, lingerie looking black two-pieces which will no doubt be seen on beaches all over the sun blest country come summer.
Taluah’s spring-summer 2014 offering was aptly named “Chasing Rainbows”, however designer Kelli Wharton is now riding one thanks to the new arm of her business Talulah Swim and her new David Jones diffusion line ISLA by Talulah.
Prints, relaxed silhouettes and muted tones of fuchsia and blues were met with smiles by the front row including stars Lauryn Eagle and Laura Csortan. International buyers were, once again, impressed and dutifully took notes. Talulah is now sold throughout the Middle East and Nieman Marcus in the US.
We Are Handsome co-designer Indra Chagoury said the continual inspiration for the spunky street and swimwear label is her “big, beautiful, sun drenched Queensland childhood”.
The collection and show was awash with bouncy vitality and effervescence. Everything from the model’s flirty curls right through to the custom made Monster headphones and hipster bicycles accessories grabbed everyone’s attention. The show also got the nod of approval from US Harper’s Bazaar executive editor Laura Brown and Style.com’s Maya Singer.
Up and coming menswear and womenswear designer Han showcased all white looks which varied from sporty luxe to slim tailoring.
The MBFWA highlight was darlings of the fashion world, Brisbane based designers Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson, staging their Mercedes-Benz Presents show.
The explosion of colour, elegant detailing and mythical references styled by Marie Claire’s inimitable executive fashion editor Jane Roarty, was a welcome flight of fancy and creative calming agent for the chaos that is fashion week.
