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SYDNEY - On a balmy afternoon beside Sydney Harbour, designer Fleur Wood today showed her latest spring/summer stylings during Australian Fashion Week.
Set against a backdrop of three arched windows reminiscent of a tiny church, long-layered petticoat skirts in breezy cottons created a relaxed olde world feel.
The models, sporting long sleek locks and natural makeup, paraded to the strains of Amazing Grace and the visual prop of long grass swaying in the breeze at the foot of the catwalk.
Backstage, the girls were told "to act like boys are watching -- but you don't care!"
Fashionistas tired of seeing an endless barrage of bare legs on the runway would have been pleasantly surprised by Wood's collection, which reminded us that a sexy collection doesn't have to scream to be heard.
It said instead: Give them the suggestion of what's beneath -- through fine lace necklines and shirts with tulle panelling -- but keep them guessing.
That is not to say the collection is completely modest.
Little lounge numbers like ruffled silk camisoles paired with matching shorts were girlishly cute but grown-up at the same time.
Using a predominantly monochrome palette in beige, whites, creams and champagnes, Wood used occasional injections of colour -- in bright yellows (becoming the colour of the week), blacks and florals -- to take a daytime look through into the evening.
Kirstie Clements, editor of Australian Vogue, was one of those looking on intently from the front row.
"I actually really liked that one. I think it was really cohesive," she said after the show.
"I liked the way she stuck to a theme -- that pretty Virgin Suicides kind of vibe. I thought it was really well thought out and well styled and extremely pretty.
"Thankfully we saw some lengths ... because all we've been seeing is mini-dresses. We saw a jacket, we saw some pants, we saw shirting and that's why I think she really succeeded with that because she had lots of different bits."
Backstage after her show, Wood said the collection is about Sunday best.
"It's about the dreaminess and the romanticness (sic) of a Sunday," she said.
"Clothes that are easy, that are fashionable but aren't trying too hard."
- AAP
