Expert Eye: Transtasman dress test

A model wears a design by Adrian Hailwood as part of the Little Black Dress show. Photo / Getty Images

Four Kiwis, four Aussies, in the battle of the Diet Coca Cola Little Black Dress.

There was a bit of the expected draping versus body-con transtasman divide, but the result was too close to call.

Kirrily Johnston's creations mined three distinctive looks, Adrian Hailwood's extreme shapes stood out and Alice McCall's graphic white on black print worked best in a full-length dress that reminded of the narrowing lines circumnavigating a globe.

Kate Sylvester drew on existing designs with assured simple shapes, and a subtle injection of red ribbon trimming a ruched dress and Jimmy D's fluid pieces had chiffon trails.

From Coco Chanel onward, the Little Black Dress is considered a wardrobe essential. This showed it needn't be boring.

Best it not be in knit jersey as at Alpha 60, ruffled and blinged to bits as by Yvonne Bennetti, or cinched with wide elastic belts as at Marnie Skilling, who also managed to inject a skull into one of her three options.

Juliette Hogan could have been bolder but her long-knife pleat chiffon dress with deep scooped neck was a signature look.

Australian Vogue favourite Romance Was Born had fun, with a velvet shift with lace ruff and see-through sleeves classic and a fizzy little number spangled in silver.

Hailwood's asymetric puff-sleeved mini and pleated skirt were arresting shapes, but less finished than Johnston's numbers with power shoulders, ruffles and an asymetric puffed hem.

Something for everyone and Coke to go on a Tuesday night.