Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Spring/Summer 2013/14 Wrap-Up, Day 4

The penultimate day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia was all about the possibility of the new.

Bless’ed Are the Meek designer Maria Maung has teamed up with a Northern Territory tourism body to produce her next Spring/Summer ‘Wanderlust’ range. But, for a collection that takes on the Red Centre as a starting point, there’s not a hint of ochre in sight. This is a luxe version of the desert; with reptilian textures, mirrored digital prints of exotic flora and embroidered lines mimicking waves in the sand.

Suboo’s upcoming collection is all about shape; symmetry, asymmetry, folds and gentle pleats add interest to smart urban pieces. Peek-a-boo cut-outs and sheer panels appear, seemingly a standard feature of any modern wardrobe. Suboo also presented a great geometric print. To us it seemed vaguely televisual as if inspired by a TV station on the fritz.

The Innovators group show saw a sextet of Sydney’s graduate designers take to the runway. Influences were as varied as cityscapes, sheer (the trend that will never die) and the surprise appearance of Charlie Chaplin. We particularly liked the technicolour marbled prints by Leroy Nguyen.

Without ever venturing into costume territory, Phoenix Keating’s couture styling takes its lead from varied 20th century fashion eras. Everything from 1940s pencil skirts, roaring 20s flapper-esque fringing to 90s minimalism were spied among the cohesive collection. Keating’s voluminous gowns in futuristic silver and noir tulle (shades of early Maticevski perhaps?) provided a nice little bit of drama to round out our fourth day at MBFWA.