THE LAST SPOT HAS WINKED OFF, THE LAST MODEL SWANNED OFF THE LAST RUNWAY OF MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK. BUT BEFORE WE TURN AWAY AND PLUNGE, ALL FROCKS, HATS AND HANDBAGS BLAZING INTO THE SPRING RACING CARNIVAL, LET’S PAUSE A TICK FOR VOXFROCK REPORTERS HOLLY MASON AND SIMONE POOLE TO REVIEW THE LAST SHOWS OF A GENUINELY MEMORABLE WEEK.
VOXFROCK RETURNS TO NORMAL TRANSMISSION LATER THIS WEEK WITH A PRELUDE TO JEAN PAUL GAULTIER’S IMMINENT ARRIVAL AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA, PLUS A SET OF VOXBULLETS TO FILL UP YOUR FASHIONABLE HEART, AND OUR CUSTOMARY STREAM OF KNEEZUPS ON TWITTER, INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK
PHOTOGRAPHS: LUCAS DAWSON
MAIN PHOTO, TOP: DESIGN BY TALENTED EMERGER GRACE BUTTERWORTH
Target at The Hub, Holly Mason reports
Target
The show opened with a luxe white collection, embracing floaty dresses and swinging 1960’s skirts accompanied by nude accessories, making the white pop. White held its ground as the hero tone before splashes of blue were introduced. From tailored, cropped navy pants, to spotted blue blouses, the looks were fresh and classic with a subtle nautical theme.
Menswear was preppy and classic and continued the blue and white theme. Navy chinos and powder blue shorts contrasted with crisp white shirts and nude loafers.
The palette diverged into black and white with splashes of pink. A unique floral print stood out in the women’s range of feminine, 1960’s inspired silhouettes with blazers the jacket of choice for all ensembles before,
finally, a stunning watercolour palette closed the show for the spring racing.
Target
Emerging Designer Runway 1 at Melbourne Town Hall, Simone Poole reports
Seeing firsthand the vision of fashion graduates is amazing, as they have fresh ideas and aren’t bound by industry expectations. Students from Box Hill Institute, Whitehouse Institute, Kangan Institute and Melbourne School of fashion showed collections that were different and unique, but also dominated the recurring trends of colour-blocking and structural elements, especially around the shoulders and waist. Box hill student Alana Smith’s designs were particularly striking; bright and bold butterfly prints on white and black base garments.
Alana Smith
Crisp white leather and laser-cut detailing set Rochelle Gregory from Whitehouse Institute apart from the pack, with her attention to detail and fine finishes more typical of an elite designer.
Rochelle Gregory
Kangan’s Grace Price produced a light and feminine sport luxe swimwear inspired collection featuring multi-pastel patterns and flattering cuts.
Grace Price
The Melbourne School of Fashion’s Young Jung created a hot pink and black neoprene collection of garments cleverly cut and structured to flatter.
Young Jung models photographed backstage.
Emerging Designer Runway 2 at Melbourne Town Hall, Simone Poole reports
RMIT fashion graduates are definitely going to make an impact on the fashion industry if this show is anything to go by. Among the stars, a bold entirely red collection, including facial accessories, was designed by Natalie Kieleithner. Abundant fringing trimmed beautifully made and structured pieces.
Natalie Kieleithner
Laura Galati’s futuristic shapes in black leather featured sexy cut-outs and short hemlines.
Laura Galati
Grace Butterworth’s pop-art knit collection was in-your-face but not over-the-top. (Main photo, top.) Think Jeremy Scott meets the 1980’s neon palette. Pieces were definitely wearable, but not for the faint hearted!.
Holly Mason and Simone Poole, intern@voxfrock.com.au
