KEY POINTS:
Strange but true, it seems that a whole generation of new Australian designers are wanting to get all dark and interesting. During last week's Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, the Australian media were not backward in coming forward to comment on this. It felt more like Melbourne, or maybe Antwerp on the runways, some Australian fashion media were moved to comment. But of course there were still plenty of the sexy and easily wearable looks that the Australians are best known for. And also a bunch of hot celebrities - Mischa Barton, rapper Eve and model Miranda Kerr, who's now best known as Orlando Bloom's main squeeze - as well as some colourful creativity and some pretty fabulous shows.
Particularly notable was the return of Sass & Bide - the label, which has had massive international success with their jeans, launched a more affordable diffusion line called s&b vie, that looked fresh and sweet. Hard to know whether their new Rats leggings-cum-jeans - metallic black with ruched sides - will be as popular with everyone as they were with skinny starlet Barton, who wore them everywhere.
Meanwhile, the dozen New Zealand labels that were on display at the New Zealand Labels Showroom just across from the venue were also doing well. Despite the fact that most of them didn't put on runway shows, nearly everyone picked up new accounts, including several large international buyers, says Mint Condition's Chris Lorimer and Charles Haddrell, the project's manager. It was a gruelling schedule - 62 shows in five days - but the Australian media was also keen on the Kiwi designers, reports Murray Bevan of Showroom 22 who had the likes of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire and others come to check out the local labels he was representing.
Other New Zealanders who made their presence known were Kate Sylvester, whose runway show made the front page of local newspapers after her use of fake medals as a prop was deemed controversial, and Stolen Girlfriend's Club, who hosted a raucous party and an exhibition of photographic tributes to Helmut Newton. The fitting finale to the week's shows was a triumphant show by one of Australia's best designers, Akira Isogawa, who - believe it or not - moved several hardened frock commentators in the front row to tears with his wildly colourful, covetable and beautifully constructed clothes.
