Dion Lee spring/summer 2010/2011 inside the Sydney Opera House.
Their seasons may be topsy-turvy to ours, and fashion week heavyweights New York, London, Milan and Paris may grab all the headlines, but Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (to call it by its proper name or RAFW for short) still carries plenty of clout when it comes to fierce, fabulous fashion.
We’ve long been a fan of the cool, cult brands emerging from Oz, and they’re only set to get even bigger as the designer scene Down Under continues to blossom. It’s fair to say that no-one does easy, breezy summer dressing and hip evening attire quite like the Antipodeans. But with RAFW spring/summer 2011/2012 kicking off today in Sydney, which are the key brands to look out for? Which labels are we getting all excited about? And where can you buy them over here? Well, we’ve done all the hard work for you and selected our favourite labels showing in the Australian fashion capital this week.
What are you waiting for? Take a peek below for our RAFW brands to look out for.
Who: Lover
Why: we’ve proclaimed our love for the hip Aussie label before, and it shows no sign of abating. The clothing line, which started out as a market stall at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in 2001, has grown in stature around the world and already counts style icons Alexa Chung, Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst as celebrity fans. The label mixes its founders different but complementing tastes perfectly – Susien Chong’s romantic and ethereal side (think floaty dresses, slouchy shirts and tailored pieces in sweet pastel colours) and Nic Briand’s darker style (cool clubbing clothes such as bodycon velvet and lace trimmed mini dresses, and leather shorts in gothic black and dark blues).
Where: the Lover website currently only ships within Australia (boo!), however you can snap up pieces on Net-a-porter (yay!).
Who: Stolen Girlfriends Club
Why: Founded by three surfer friends - Dan Gosling, Luke Harwood and Marc Moore - in New Zealand back in 2005, SGC is known for its young, bohemian, festival-inspired style that caught the fash pack’s eye when they reworked the iconic ‘80s Frankie Says Relax tee. We’re loving the cute cocktail dresses with sheer panels from the current collection. And we’re in good company too. Rocker Juliette Lewis, Beyoncé and the ever-stylish Kate Bosworth are already fans.
Where: Beyond The Valley, Harrods, Liberty and Selfridges in London, Coggles in York, Dolls Boutique in Glasgow and ASOS online.
Who: Therese Rawsthorne
Why: Established in 2006 by University of Technology graduate Therese Rawsthorne, her eponymous label continues to grow in stature year on year. What can we expect from the clothes? Think elegantly tailored items with a clean silhouette, her signature slouchy cotton shirts and party clothes with quirky detailing – all totally wearable.
Where: Couverture in Notting Hill, London.
Who: Dion Lee
Why: Award-winning designer Dion Lee’s career has skyrocketed in a mere three years. Founded in 2008, the line is famous for its architectural approach to tailoring and luxe fabrics, with the current collection jam-packed with contemporary cocktail dresses, jacquard skirts, sharp tuxedo jackets and shirts, and this season’s must-have item – the silk-crepe pleated skirt. What’s not to love?
Where: all just a click of a mouse away on Net-a-porter.
Who: Camilla & Marc
Why: Sydney-based sister and brother duo Camilla & Marc launched their namesake line in 2003,and it has has quickly established itself as the go-to label for cool, party clothes – think flirty cocktail dresses, slinky jumpsuits and teeny minis – that just scream fun.
Where: Net-a-porter, yet again.
