Oscar de la Renta Brings Some Star Power as Australian Fashion Week Winds Down: Our Day 5 Wrap-Up

Like all good things, the show must come to an end, and what better way than to do it in style! With a huge focus on emerging Australian designers there was a fresh feed of fashion balanced by the house of Oscar de la Renta, showing for the first time at Australian Fashion Week.

 

#Puppy power @_kaliver #mbfwa Next Gen. Where are the kittens? #projectnextgen

A photo posted by @damienwoolnough on May 19, 2016 at 5:12pm PDT

Project NextGen enabled up and coming Australian fashion designers a platform to showcase their work and discover support from one of the biggest events in the industry. Six finalists were selected to showcase their work and this year, they really hit the jackpot. These are the names to keep an eye on, for they will soon enough, dominate the Australian world of fashion. Anna Quan, Holystone, Jason Hewitt, Kaliver, Third Form and our pick of the top six – Monster Alphabets.

 

A photo posted by MONSTER ALPHABETS ⚡️⚡️ (@monsteralphabets) on May 19, 2016 at 10:25pm PDT

Perth born designer of Monster Alphabets, Sarah Watanabe proved that she earned her spot amongst the finalists with her ready to wear collection. Titled “my black book of colours,” the collection focused on black being a combination of all different types of colours. It featured a blended mixture of black garments and despite the fact that the silhouettes looked minimal and simple but if you look within the garments, there’s so much detail in every single piece. There was a lot of black, but when you looked deeper inside, there’s all different colours dancing.

House of Cannon Runway 2016 / Photo by Ashley Mar

Burgeoning Australian label House of Cannon is committed to creating flattering, easy-to-wear and elegant silhouettes in an endless array of signature prints inspired by observations and imaginings from different cities around the globe. Their collection flirts with the juxtaposition of nature versus industrial and clashes the two worlds together in the streets. From nature patterns of green leafs to a car inspired pattern, House of Cannon’s style was speedy, racy and raw. There was even a great final touch of over worn, used sneakers featured throughout, from model to even the designer herself, which made the whole show feel real.

It was effortlessly feminine in its delivery, the collection was a perfect meld of beauty, tongue in cheek humour and thoughtful design. Constructed in fine silks with great care and attention to detail, and coupled with a palette of bold and eye catching colours, House of Cannon proves that their future in fashion is both bright and beautiful.

 

Gorgeous @shaninamshaik opening our first runway show in Australia. Thank you @imgmodels @fashionweekaus @etihadairways #MBFWA #RunwaytoRunway #Sydney

A photo posted by Oscar de la Renta (@oscardelarenta) on May 20, 2016 at 7:35am PDT

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is one of the biggest events in the industry, so it’s fitting that the only way to officially close the show is with a mighty big stylish bang. Oscar de la Renta finalized the show with its Summer 2016 collection. It’s one of the first international luxury brands to present alongside Australia’s designers at Australian Fashion Week and the crowd couldn’t get enough of it.

Oscar de la Renta became internationally known in the 1960s as one of the couturiers who dressed fashionista Jacqueline Kennedy. An award-winning designer, he worked for Balmain and Lanvin. His eponymous fashion house continues to dress leading figures, from film stars to royalty.

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Making an exit.#Resort17 pic.twitter.com/8OXSn20Jvv

— Oscar de la Renta (@OscardelaRenta) May 23, 2016

The collection was classic, elegant and true to de la Renta’s signature looks. Models walked to an orchestral version of Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach”, featured in all types of evening gowns with a variation of beautiful striking colours and seductively sophisticated styles. But as Oscar de la Renta is known for its couture bridal, it was a stunning bride, dressed in a glowing white gown, with stylistic layers frills and textures, accompanied by two little flower girls who really stole the show.

Another highlight was seeing Australian supermodel and Victoria’s Secret catwalk queen Shanina Shaik return to Sydney to walk in the Oscar de la Renta show. The collection really focused on the idea of resort, and for those who don’t understand what that means — it means real clothes meant to sell. The collection was a commercial enterprise, comprised of classic, straightforward yet highly elegant silhouettes dressed up in special treatments.  

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See the rest of our Australian Fashion Week 2016 coverage here.

Gallery: Street Style Day 5

Photos: Ashley Mar for theFashionSpot Australia.