The opening day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2013 went off without a hitch. We got there just in time to see our fashion favourites Pip Edwards and Nicole Warne (aka Gary Pepper) arrive. Camilla and Marc celebrated their 10th anniversary by opening the event, Bec & Bridge backed-up last year’s success with another solid collection, and swimwear label White Sands showed us their cheeky side.
For the first time ever, I’m at fashion week with my very own photographer (the talented Lizi Hamer), so I’m pleased to say that the photos you’ll see this week will all be our own.
OFF THE RUNWAY
Pip Edwards
We snapped super stylist Pip Edwards on her way into the Camilla and Marc show. Pip recently left her amazing job as Senior Accessories Designer for Sass & Bide to join General Pants Co as their new Design Director. Looking tanned and relaxed, Pip was rocking balayage hair and killer accessories. Her mirrored Richard Nicholl for Ksubi shades are now at the top of our post-fashion week shopping list. And her Balenciaga heels – well, they might require a bit more saving.
Nicole Warne
Fashion blogger Nicole Warne from Gary Pepper Vintage was there as ‘MBFWA Insider’ after signing with IMG’s Australian Talent division last week – making her the first Australian blogger to be signed by a major talent management company. She was dressed suitably in a Camilla and Marc outfit with a photographer in tow, looking cool, calm and collected.
We also squeezed in a bit of people watching.
ON THE RUNWAY
Bec & Bridge
One of our favourite shows at fashion week last year was Bec & Bridge, so we had high expectations for this label. It seemed we weren’t the only ones – by the time we got inside the venue, it was standing room only. Luckily the girls didn’t disappoint, sending models down the runway in a collection of Kate Moss (circa Calvin Klein) inspired ensembles. Clean and minimalist tailoring was perfected across bias-cut satin slip dresses, camisoles and pencil skirts.
Colour palette: navy, white, aqua, black, mulberry and salmon.
Camilla and Marc
So we’re taking our own photos this year, and we’re also still figuring out how things work. One of them being the photographer pit, which is basically a scrum of photographers with paparazzi-style cameras who each have a space the size of an A4 piece of paper – literally! Lizi got elbowed to the back of the scrum, but like the true professional she is, still managed to get a few great shots. An opulent gold one-piece swimsuit was a standout for us, and we couldn’t get enough of the sheer black lace.
Colour palette: gold, black, white, orange, cobalt blue and red.
White Sands
With bouncy curls and bronzed legs, models strutted down the runway in an array of skimpy Brazilian-cut bikinis. I buy most of my swimwear from international labels, because Australian labels tend to have too much coverage. So it was great to see a label bucking the trend with skimpier than usual bottoms in nice summery prints. Florals dominated the collection in both pastels and brights.
Colour palette: aqua, black, coral and lemon yellow.
Photos by Lizi Hamer for This Island Life.
