Acclaimed Australian designer Dion Lee staged high fashion's version of a bachelor and spinster ball on Sunday to officially launch Fashion Week Australia's Resort 2018 collections.
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Instead of the food dye-covered fancy dresses usually seen at B&Ss, Lee's version of the iconic country meet'n'greet featured deconstructed wide-brimmed Akubra hats in shades of black, blue and tomato sauce red along with R. M. Williams boots with Cuban heels.
Like Ikea and Balenciaga before him, the New York-based designer showcased his take on calico with what he called "laminated outerwear" for men.
The oversized jackets, one even in Ikea shopping bag blue, were a highlight as were the silk tracksuits and thick terry towelling-looking throwovers for women. All perfect ensembles to take the wearer from a party in a paddock to a board meeting in the CBD.
There was plenty of trademark Lee such as laser-cut waffle skirts and dresses in simple yet sophisticated hues of white and navy as well as high-waisted pants cut open at the thigh morphing into floor-length skirts. They showed why one of our most successful designers at home and abroad is lauded for his ability to temper his creative flair with commercially viability.
The gender-neutral collection – boasting loose silhouettes, sculptural folds, punchy perforations and a flip-flop/Birkenstock hybrid slide – was inspired by "identity, reflection and optimism", Lee said.
Buyers from Matches Fashion and Net-A-Porter, social media taste makers and celebrities Sylvia Jeffreys and Olympic swimmer/aspiring physicist Cameron McEvoy were spotted in the crowd.
Fashion Week Australia, now in its 22nd year, continues at Carriageworks and around Sydney until Thursday.
"Fashion Week Australia is an important platform for our state's designers to make their mark, showcase our unique Australian style and spectacular harbour city to a global audience, and importantly, generate business for NSW," NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall told Fairfax Media. "The fashion industry employs some 71,000 people in NSW across design, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing, generating around $8.7 billion in annual retail sales."
On Monday, Sass & Bide will make its return to the official schedule after a 14-year hiatus and emerging male supermodel – Australian Jordan Barrett – will make his Australian runway debut for new label Justin Cassin.
