In the lead up to the 2010 Australian Open, the first grand slam tennis tournament of the year, Lacoste has announced it will be re-releasing a limited edition of the 101 sunglasses range. 30 years after it’s original conception, the aviator style shades will no doubt reclaim its popularity and appreciation, becoming a must have item for tennis fans and fashionistas alike.

It was Rene Lacoste’s desire for the ultimate playing shirt that saw the establishment of the clothing line back in the 1930s. The French tennis star designed the 1212 polo as a way of gaining more comfort on the court, striving to find a replacement for the overly starched, long-sleeved shirts exclusive to the era. 75 years after its creation as a brand, Lacoste has continued to design luxury attire renowned for its quality and comfort. The label has successfully maintained its connection to the tennis court in obtaining unrivaled heritage in the sports fashion market and has gone on to compete with labels such as Polo Ralph Lauren as one of the superior labels for up-market mens and womenswear, showcasing it’s latest collections twice yearly at the New York Fashion Show.

Back in the 1930s it was unheard of for a sportsman to design his own outfits, especially styles as daring and unique as the 1212 polo shirt. Lacoste’s avant-garde approach as a pioneer pathed the way for a tradition in the sport for tennis players to release their own brands and labels. British tennis player Fred Perry was one of the first to follow on from Rene Lacoste with his label becoming an alternative in tennis wear during the 1940s and 1950s. Today, Roger Federer, among others, has designed a signature brand in partnership with Nike with his initials emblazoned on his shirts, blazers and hats. However, as opposed to Lacoste’s desire for a more comfortable playing shirt, today’s stars merely see their designing input as a lucrative form of propaganda.

The Lacoste brand is famed for its iconic logo of the green crocodile. The 1212 polo shirt was the first occurrence of a logo being adorned to the outside of an item of clothing, again proving its heritage and importance as a label in sports fashion history. The creation of the logo is said to have stemmed from a bet made between Rene Lacoste and his Davis Cup captain. If Lacoste were to win his next match then his captain would buy him an alligator suitcase. One American journalist coined Lacoste’s nickname, writing, “he didn’t win the bag, but he fought like an alligator”. Soon the legend of the alligator became a crocodile logo embroidered on the breast pocket of the Frenchman’s blazers. The icon was established.

It wasn’t until 1980 that Lacoste began designing and manufacturing lifestyle products such as footwear and eyewear. The inaugural pair of ‘La Lunette Lacoste’ had to match the unique style and iconic stature founded by the 1212 polo shirt. In keeping with the label’s sporty elegance the ‘101’ range of sunglasses were fashioned.
The distinguishing factor between the 101 range and other aviator-style sunglasses is the inclusion of the striking green enamel inlayed on the dual bar bridge of the glasses. Design director of Lacoste eyewear, Christophe Pillet, describes this special feature as “a perfect representation of the two worlds of Lacoste: sport and elegance.” Pillet goes on to talk about the importance of focusing on the iconic products of the brand, such as the 1212 polo. “When we found the 101 sunglasses range in the archives we decided to reproduce them immediately.” The only altering made to the original designs is the upgrade in quality of the iconic logo on the temples and the packaging. The sunglasses now come in a more modern green and white box, which is meant to invoke the spirit of the line’s tennis-wear origins. Limited to only a thousand pairs of the range being recreated, each individual pair will be marked on the inside of the temple with a serial number denoting its place in the series of 1000.

The idea of restoring and modernizing tenniswear echoes the state of play in the game itself. The golden age of tennis is continuously recreated throughout each era with ever more competitive and determined players. Each decade, it seems, the rulebooks are rewritten. This cyclic method is healthy and allows for previously impossible feats to be smashed both on and off court. There will undoubtedly be heavy competition for the limited edition sunglasses with only 1000 pairs being made. Hopefully the contention to obtain a pair of the prized shades will match the contention for glory on the courts in Melbourne this summer!

BLK1 Article: JULIAN CHAUNDY

Images and Article: © BLK1 2008-2010. All Rights Reserved.

Sydney’s hottest up-and-coming fashion label ‘I AM’ will debut their new range at Cargo Bar
for the official Summer 2010 Collection launch party on Thursday 21 January, 2010. The event
will kick off at 6:30pm and will feature an exclusive preview fashion parade showcasing the
entire ’I AM’ 2010 Summer Collection along with a live performance by Georgia Fair.

The ‘I AM’ Summer Collection is a contemporary breath of fresh air to the fashion industry.
The essence of the brand is all about a new culture of fashion which encourages women to
be confident and individual, transcending all stereotypes and the definition of ‘everyday’.
The pieces are comfortable, versatile and above all beautiful. The 2010 Summer collection is
made from the highest calibre fabrics and features a selection of dresses, blazers, shorts, tops
and boho pants drawn from an eclectic colour palette.

‘I AM’ pride themselves on their ability to create and distribute unique, high-quality clothing
at affordable, ‘GFC-friendly prices for young women across the nation.

Driving the’I AM’ brand is company owners and directors Claire Murphy, Brigid Whelan and
Polly Epov. Between the young women they are juggling degrees in Business, Economics
and Law to further enhance their company. Each girl has a unique quality that they bring
and inject into the ‘I AM’ brand; however they all share a love and flair for all things fashion
and design.

BLK1 PHOTOGRAPHER:Tony Chymes

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Synonymous with yoga and workout wear, the strange but catchy “Lululemon” is now a household name. Founder Chip Wilson began his career in sportswear design by founding famous surf/skate/snow brand Westbeach where he worked until 1998, when he began taking yoga classes. The vigor of the class and the lack of available clothing appropriately catering to his new pursuit inspired Chip to begin designing yoga and work out gear, selling and trialing it in the space adjacent to the yoga studio. From these humble beginnings, Lululemon was born.

The philosophy behind the brand has been vital to its wide spread success. In a time when society is struggling with increased stress levels, longer working hours, and poor eating habits, the brand’s mission is to promote healthy lifestyles with these points: fun, balance, integrity, greatness and entrepreneurship. These elements are instilled in the employees, which is visible when entering a store due to the welcoming and helpful atmosphere the staff provide.

Why is Lululemon different from all the other work out wear brands? The ingrained philosophy is very endearing, however it is the product that makes a clothing brand successful. Lululemon has engineered some of their own original fabrics to cater to its clientelle- directly targetting runners, yoga lovers, dancers and those that want durable but very wearable work out clothing. Luon is a fabric made of nylon and lycra allowing increased movement without the risk of ripping and tearing. Silverescent contains real silver particles with antimicrobial properties designed for high sweat activities. Lullure is designed to feel like a second skin – ideal for dancers and those needing very slim lined active wear. These cleverly engineered fabrics are designed after feedback from high level athletes, yogis and dancers whom Lululemon has worked hard to establish partnerships with.

While the original intent of the company – to “elevate the world from mediocrity to greatness” – sounds incredibly ambitious, it is this confident drive that continues to increase the brand’s popularity and sales. The wearbility of the clothes, the colorful marketing, the inviting staff and stores and the durability and technicality of the fabrics have made the brand a worldwide success with over 100 stores in Australia, Canada, the U.S and Hong Kong. Lululemon is an unstoppable force with an environmentally friendly conscience. The success of the brand is testament to the long known power of positive thinking.

BLK1 Article: CAITLIN REID

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Wet look mini dresses, zebra print and a whole lot of acid pink – nope, it’s not Lady Gaga’s dressing room, it’s the premiere range from hot new label, By Johnny, and it’s just as much fun!

Sydney designer Jon Schembri received rave reviews when he debuted the By Johnny label at the 2009 Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival, and his transeasonal capsule collection is fast gaining popularity with party girls all over Australia (including quirky Melbourne fashionista, Michi Girl, author of Like I Give a Frock.)

By Johnny combines on trend designs with a hint of elegance and a heavy injection of glamour. A must have for the modern party girl, the five piece capsule collection offers simple silhouettes and flattering cuts for dresses that are bound to draw attention. Warning: wallflowers need not apply.

Every party girl needs a little black dress and By Johnny provides a selection. There’s the decidedly eighties One Shoulder Wonder Dress, a range of backless body con dresses with hardware embellishments or the wickedly sexy Spike Me spray on dress with cap sleeves. The real stand out, though, is the range of Diva Drape dresses; these slinky mini dresses in wet look black and sparkly blue or pink really do belong under a flashing disco ball. For a cheap fashion fix, try one of the jeni from the block rock necklaces in aqua, yellow or pink.

Designer Jon Schembri was a finalist in the 2006 Australian Cotton Awards, and his previous designs have been featured in Shop Till You Drop magazine. In 2008, Mr Schembri had the honour of being crowned official designer for the prestigious Golden Slipper Stakes. He describes his latest endeavour as a ‘designer label without the designer price tag… I wanted to give my customers the opportunity to purchase a fun party dress without having to break the bank.’

Sydney residents can purchase these party staples at Paddington’s Fringe Bar Markets, while non-Sydney residents may e-mail their orders through the website. An online store will be ready in 2010.

BLK1 Article: CARLY OGBOURNE

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The eye-catching prints of the Lisa Blue ‘From the Dreamtime’ story are sure to capture the attention of beachgoers across the country this summer, with the swimwear featuring a special print from Aboriginal artist and close friend of designer Lisa, Bunna Lawrie. The print is the focal point for the current range which donates 25% of profits to the Australian Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

Lisa was granted special permission to use Bunna Lawrie’s White Whale painting in her swimwear, signifying her unity with the Mirning (Whale) Tribe as a passionate supporter of whale and dolphin conservation within Australia. Lisa created three different prints from the Whale Dreamer painting, one in traditional Aboriginal earthy colours, another with a more colourful print with bright pinks and warm colours and a black print with striking spot pattern.

The inspiration for the collection came from an experience designer Lisa Burke had swimming with whales in Tonga. Lisa says;

“During a swim I came face-to-face with a humpback whale and her baby; the babies eyes started into my soul and in that moment I promised to do what I could to help protect the gentle giants of the sea. From the blue, my dream was born to help protect the whales and collaborating with Bunna Lawrie from the Whale Tribe has been an exciting step for Lisa Blue and eco-conscious fashion lovers.”

In a move to support the local manufacturing industry and ethical working conditions, Lisa Blue swimwear is designed and made in Australia. Inspiration for the collections are drawn from designer Lisa Burke’s own life experiences which include swimming with whales in Tonga, living in a mud hut in India and time spent in a Japanese fishing village teaching English.

Hailing from Byron Bay, the eco-coastal capital of Australia, Lisa launched her debut collection at Swim Fashion Week earlier in the year. The collection features themes connecting strongly to the environment with designer Lisa Burke continuing this into the next collection which is being finalised ahead of IMG’s Swim Fashion Week in February 2010.

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From the organisers of Fashion Weekend Sydney, where over 13,000 Sydneysiders
shopped up a storm and splurged on the hottest looks for winter, came Fashion
Weekend Summer.

Featuring more designers than ever before, Fashion Weekend
Summer took place at the Royal Hall of Industries from 12-15 November, and was a
definite fashion go-to for those in the know when it comes to summer fashion.
This ultimate summer fashion event gave fashion diehards the chance to get
their hands on stylish pieces from over 120 designers at fabulously reduced prices.

Saving up to 70% from designers such as Alice McCall, Bec & Bridge, Fleur Wood,
Hussy, Ginger & Smart, Manning Cartell and Shakuhachi there were
sizzling summer bargains.

Spring/Summer Fashion weekend was also a great spot to be updated on the latest fashion trends that came straight from the catwalks.

As well as the fabulous shopping, fashionistas could be primped and preened with
beauty makeovers, hair styling by ghd, and manicures by essie.

The Fashion Weekend Summer featured three different shows on rotation including beachwear, daywear and gorgeous evening frocks to inspire the looks for the long hot summer ahead.

 BLK1 Photographer: VICTORIA RIKA-HEKE

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It is not often that a designer label is regarded as a cultural landmark. The title of ‘landmark’ is often an honour to be earned through construction of great architectural feats, museums of grandeur and sites of historical or spiritual significance. So it hardly seems fitting to categorise the designs of Easton Pearson as historically significant or anything remotely resembling a cultural landmark. However, consider this. The ultimate guardian of cultural heritage is often the nation-state and yet, many remnants of the past are threatened by neglect and the fear of crippling under the pressure of the market, as office spaces and skyscrapers replace ancestral tombs and historic buildings. A prime example was the 2008 refurbishment (read ‘semi-demolition’) of the Brisbane Regent Theatre, a heritage landmark, to accommodate for a 38-storey office building. It follows that, if the people of Brisbane cannot trust their state to maintain anything other than a historical facade and a grand staircase or two, who can be entrusted to protect our cultural heritage? The answer is simple – you, the people.

The design house of Easton Pearson, founded in March 1989 and headed by Lydia Pearson and Pamela Easton, plays a significant role in the cultural make-up of Brisbane, its people and its approach to style. The designers behind Easton Pearson do not design clothes. They design an interface between historic and modern influences, they merge eclectic textiles from varied cultural terrains and most importantly, they tell a story. It is said that there is something particularly devastating about destroying a library during a war. This is because a library stands not just as a historical monument and centre of knowledge, but more than that, it houses memories, remnants of people’s lives and bound volumes of physical proof that a culture and people once existed there. Buildings however, are easily destroyed. This is why a good storyteller is invaluable.

Easton Pearson’s designs tell a tale of a city. Yet, the stories are not about the city. They are about the individual components that make up the city or place – namely its people, their approach to culture and what they can teach us about the past.

To celebrate the retrospective of Easton Pearson, a showing of selected designs will be exhibited in the Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) until November 8th 2009, as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations. On display, eclectic chemise blouses in soft cotton and silk fabrics inspire the mind to wander towards the rich ethnography of Eastern Europe. Linen, hemp, wool and silk homespun fabrics were often woven together in places such a Romania and Moldavia. The exuberant gypsy culture of Eastern Europe is thought to be long forgotten or at best marginalised to the fringe of mainstream society. Yet the latest obsession in the cultural epicentre that is Paris, city of light, is far removed from couture, soft Debussy tunes and Louvre exhibits. One only needs to visit the trendy neighbourhood of Pigalle, where the crowds once swung to the can-can beats of the Moulin Rouge, to see the transformed neighbourhood of swinging skirts and barefoot dancers tapping their feet to the latest Balkan folk tunes of Franco-Italian DJ, Tagada. Easton Pearson pays homage to this historic ethnic trend and reinvents the rich colours, patterns and free-flowing designs for the cultural melting pot that is the modern Australian consumer market.

The designers, Lydia and Pamela, draw further inspiration from their travels. The distinct brand, ‘Isles of the Pacific’, is embroidered on one particularly eclectic dress. The dress is made of pliable fabric, a soft fibre cloth showcasing mangrove plants, frigate birds flying through the coconut trees and villagers scraping coconut meat to create ‘lolo’, the coconut cream. Easton Pearson portrays the rich island culture of Fiji in playful patterns that create movement and juxtapose the labour of the fishermen with the tranquillity of birds, coconut trees and soft waves as they encroach the shoreline. Easton Pearson understands that bright design patterns are not merely a beautiful interface; they are patterns of great cultural pride. In Fiji, soft ‘tapa’ clothes derived from fibrous masi cloth are generally made from natural materials, such as mangrove plants infused with candlenut bark and burnt tree resin of the dakua tree. It was a matter of ancient village pride for the women to weave the tapa cloth with rich textures, colours and cultural references to family lines and village honour. Easton Pearson have followed the design motif and inspiration of Australia’s island neighbours to create a vivid pattern which tells a story of island life and beach culture – a story that resonates only too well with sunny Queenslanders.

The designs of Easton Pearson embody the cultural diversity of modern Australia. Leaving the sandy beaches of Fiji and travelling across the Orient of the East, Easton Pearson invites the Australian consumer on a journey across lotus country. Japanese people have always harboured a strong appreciation of nature and flowers. Across China and Korea, were Buddhism is a prominent religion; the lotus flower, in particular, is used to represent the life of Buddha. It is theorised that the ever-lasting lotus flower is an embodiment of Buddha, who grew out of the darkness of society to become truthful, serene and immortal. A stunning maxi-dress, entwined with a bow tied loosely at the back, is infused with rich tie-dyed textures of floral lotus patterns, interwoven together on soft, loose fabrics that entice the wearer to embrace a deep respect for nature. There is something magnificent about the serenity of our natural environment and a keen appreciation for land is not foreign to Australian consumers. We are a nation of people who pride ourselves on the majestic beauty of the Daintree Rainforest and yet find an equal allure to the sunburnt outback and harsh terrain of the desert plains. Easton Pearson’s cascading dress stands as a reminder of Australians’ strong link to nature and as an enduring symbol of the beauty of simplicity. In a world where designers are turning out increasingly ‘edgy’ designs, severe symmetrical patterns and killer heels, it’s nice to know that women can take comfort in fluid, natural patterns that drape across their bodies and serve only to flatter their femininity, not to constrain or attempt to redefine it.

Easton Pearson is a design house du jour that beautifully restores subdued ethnic pride, a respect for texture and design as a symbol of cultural heritage and a deep appreciation of how design elements interact within a cultural landscape. The well-respected brand of Lydia Pearson and Pamela Easton is an icon of Brisbane and yet, it would be remiss to suggest that this is because the brand represents the women of Brisbane. No. The brand represents women of diverse cultural influences and mixed ideologies, most of whom happen to live in Brisbane.

BLK1 Article: NADA MARTINOVIC 

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Australian designer Eugene Leung has always had a quirky attraction to the dark, the strange and the gothic. And this obsession is evident in his cult fashion brand label INJURY. Pushing the envelope of high end street fashion, INJURY is a freak show. A city of enigma.

After studying architecture at the University of New South Wales, Leung founded INJURY in 2004. The website theinjury.com.au says that the label began as a creative collective of individuals from various non-fashion backgrounds and their aim was to create their own flavour of different clothing. As a result, the label is moody and atmospheric yet meticulously crafted into ready to wear pieces. Leung’s inspirations come from horror movies, grotesque themes and surreal imagery. The clothes are designed to reflect characters and icons, and this season Leung has channelled raw Mother Nature in his Spring-Summer 09/10 collection titled Aeolian.

Since last year, INJURY has taken a more modernist Bauhaus inspired approach. The Aeolian collection explores print which is a first for Leung. But don’t expect the traditional stripes, checks, 60’s retro or dainty flowers. Leung infuses dark and muted tones with photo prints of rocks, mould, hair, waves, beach grass and even the Moon. The earthy prints take you to the dark side of nature. Raw, edgy and alive.

Leung’s training as an architect is evident in the careful structuring of his garments. His jackets and vests including a multi panelled jacket and a low cut blazer are tightly structured statement pieces. The jackets along with shorts, waistcoats, shirts and cardigans round out the edgy Aeolian collection. The classy male and female collections are surely to get you noticed. And with stockists in Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Australia, INJURY is world class high end street fashion which looks set to become a household name this summer.

BLK1 Article: KATHERINE DUMONT 

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Make-up can do anything to the face of the wearer. When it’s applied with skill the wearer can become a smoky eyed temptress, a board-room boss or a cutesy cherub. Knowing how to get the right reaction from people who see your made-up face is known to be an art. With so many looks to choose from, knowing how to apply more than one or two colour variations requires an in-depth knowledge of the tricks of the trade.

Look Academy recently launched in Sydney and, as the first of it’s kind, offers visitors a chance to learn how to apply make-up like a pro.

Look Academy perched in a showroom lit with Hollywood lights above the noisy streets of east Sydney. In this plush and glamorous location, Look Academy host make-up tutorials that last all day or can be taken over a number of weeks. All that a Look Academy student needs to bring is a clean bare face to be decorated with the provided make-up. While learning with Look Academy students have an opportunity to experiment with the finest make-up brands such as Make-Up Store, Il Makiage, Dermalogica, Crush Minerals, Vani T and Harlotte Cosmetics.

But don’t get the wrong idea: Look Academy is not just one giant advertisement for these make-up brands. Look Academy is all about giving unbiased advice on what’s right for the individual.

Professional make-up artists supervise and take students step-by-step through the workshops. All the make-up teachers have developed looks on international fashion catwalks, television screens and magazine pages, with this amount of experience they know how to solve any make-up problem.

If you are plagued by dark circles under your eyes, apply concealer to the corner- not underneath- your eye. Always start with the bottom lashes when applying mascara and always apply your lightest colour eyeshadow first. Those are just a few examples of the lessons learned from Look Academy make-up lessons.

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MAC Cosmetics, one of the most recognisable brands in the world proved the complete versatility of the MAC Pro make up artists and the brand alike with amazing creativity at Spring Summer fashion weeks 2010 across the globe, allowing the highly regarded make up artists display their art work in all its glory and perfection. With 15 years of fashion shows under their belt, MAC is still the number one choice for make up artists, designers and everyday girls alike.

The 90s nude look was prominent this year, with a twist; a bare face was awakened with a dramatic or bright feature, be it lips, eyes or structured cheeks. Often seen as fairly boring on the cat walk, this year it brought out the magnificent beauty of the female face and had a newly naughties take, 90s nude with a silver lining.

“The inspiration for the look is Murano glass – multi-coloured but in a painterly way.” – Val Garland
September 19th, at the Mary Katrantzou’s show in London, Val Garland, a VOGUE favourite, made the models up to perfection. Val has worked some of the most creative trends including clown masks and autumn leaves around the eyes, Vals trademark perfect skin and big lashes are where she excels time and time again and once again delivered.
Val could not have described her look for the show any better. With a flawless face as the canvas, Val painted, as if by numbers, the eyes, with three blocks of colour and then painted a zig zag line under the lower lash. If possible; Val offers understated drama at its best.

Next up on the 19th September was artist Mel Arter for designer Mark Fast, one of my personal favourites, this look was described by Mel as “She’s a girl that’s escaped into the desert – a bit dishevelled, weather beaten but in a beautiful way.”
I could not agree more, this look is what the everyday girl would carry on a typical Sunday afternoon down at the beach…wearable and beautiful.

“The skin looks like it had ash explode onto it. We are building fine
layers of grey. It’s like a moth’s wing – delicate and deadly.” – Alex Box
On the first day of Paris Fashion Week, make up artist Alex Box, known for her unconventional approach to make up and ability to transform the face into something fantastical used every shade of grey to dramatically change the models whole face and persona. A truly perfectly, dramatic way to start Paris.

“Keeping the make up quite bare, the emphasis is placed on
pearly skin texture and nude features. I wanted the balance
created by the understated makeup and over-the-top face
accessory to have a futuristic fel.” – Kabuki
October 2nd saw another favourite look; designer Manish Aroras show was accessorized by Kabuki’s exquisite creativity on the faces of the models. In true Kabuki fashion- pushing the boundaries- he experimented with sparkling masks painted onto the models foreheads and eyes contrasted with pearly, flawless skin. Kabuki most certainly outdid himself with this look which screamed disco 2010.

“The look is fresh and natural, working each element of the face .” -
Tom Pecheux
Next was the ever sophisticated Balmain, with the most delightful French artist, Tom Pecheux. He is always classic yet incredibly up to date, he wants to make an impact with out being obvious….at Balmain this year he achieved perfection. The girls looked like they did not have a scrape of make up on, here we saw natural beauty at its best and Tom made the most of every feature on the models face. The girls sparkled without blinding the front row.

There were so many other shows that deserve a mention, Gordon Espinet for Vivienne Westwood Red Label with the ominous yet sexy tones, Lucia Pica for House of Holland with the typical 90s nude look and neon lips, Inge Grognard for Rich Owens displaying beautiful faces, using the incredibly talented photographer, the late Irving Penn for inspiration, the list goes on. MAC Pro have some of the best make up artists in the world and as per usual they went above and beyond at this years Spring Summer 2010 showing they are more than a make up artist, they are true artists in a league alongside Picasso and Da Vinci and they just get better and better every season.

BLK1 Article: LUCIANA LONGO

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Australia’s most well known fashion designer, Collette Dinnigan, showcased her Printemps Ete 2010 collection at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month, choosing the beautiful and exclusive Hotel Meurice to unveil her gorgeous selection of dresses to the public.

Dinnigan was thrilled with the appropriate backdrop. “Salle Napoleon at the Meurice is a perfect setting and backdrop for my Alice collection,” the designer said, with the whimsical turn of the century hotel complimenting a range that “echoes a fantasy spirit.

The 2010 Alice collection is a delightful wonderland of contrasts. Dinnigan devotes half of her collection to every woman’s best friend, the versatile and very flattering little black dress, while the second half introduces a kaleidoscopic selection of bohemian mini and maxi dresses.

The little black dress (as well as the maxi black dress) receives a striking make over in this stunning line. Collette Dinnigan’s wardrobe staple is a tailored, sophisticated and demurely sexy piece that drapes smoothly over the body, creating a flattering effect. They’re modest (like the lace appliquéd shift dress) or sexy (like the very low cut, glittering tutu style mini), and totally fabulous.

Collette Dinnigan’s eye catching boho pieces were easily the best thing about this collection, with the designer producing high class beach chic with ease. Tiny dresses in pretty pastels are designed to be worn over bikinis at the beach, while her theatrical, ruffled maxi dresses in amazing acid tribal prints are perfect for effortless cocktail hour cool. Sheer fabrics and bare shoulders add the sexy sizzle necessary for a hot summer.

This assembly of bold and beautiful dresses makes a refreshing change from the floaty gowns and barely there slip dresses that made the designer famous. The Alice collection is evidence of the designer’s innovation and design versatility.

Not that we really needed convincing. Since releasing her first collection in Paris in 1995, Collette Dinnigan is still the only Australian to show on the Chambre Syndicale du Pret-a-Porter Des Couturiers et Createurs de Mode schedule. “As the only Australian designer on calendar, it is very important for me to represent Australia and continue to show our collection to the global market,” Dinnigan says.

And that she does. By combining classic design with interesting embellishments and just a hint of sex appeal, Collette Dinnigan’s 2010 Alice collection is a daring fusion of modernity and femininity.

BLK1 Article: CARLY OGBOURNE 

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