PRE FASHION WEEK SHOWS

In the lead-up to Fashion Week, not unlike a cocktail before dinner, some of Australia's most elite designers showcased their current collections including Ginger & Smart, Romance Was Born and Carla Zampatti.



OPI's We'll Always have Paris, a rich dark coffee shade - ideal for Winter; featured on the hands of the Carla Zampatti models, whilst a flesh nude shade, Samoan Sand featured on their toes. Elegant accessories designed to highlight Carla's Strength of Simplicity Collection, featuring an “all about the back” 90s-inspired range celebrating long, lean lines with plunging and high necklines and dresses with the sexiest strong graphic back detailing which can be twisted, draped and adapted to suit the mood or occasion. Jackets are more relaxed with lower pockets and tapered silhouettes. Wide-legged pants represent the ultimate classic base while colours such as royal blue, muted tangerine, vivid red and the softest cream all star in this collection that brings cool sophistication back to the runway.

With tone-on-tone fabrics including new look linens and bamboo to the sheerest organzas and georgettes, Carla’s Spring Summer Collection effortlessly merges day into evening with a refined sense of elegance.

The juxtaposition of the setting, showcasing simply beautiful elegant clothes in amongst the raw ambience of Carla's company headquarters, the former carriageway dating back to the late 1800s. The showing on Thursday 29th April reaffirms why Carla Zampatti is still one of Australia’s most respected and popular designers.

OPI will feature on the fingers and toes for the following designers at Rosemount Australian Fashion
Week 2011;

Zimmerman
Bec & Bridge
Flannel
Lover
Manning Cartell
Nookie
Carl Kapp
Kate Sylvester
Lisa Ho
Magdalena Velevska
Fernando Frisoni
Bianca Spender
Gary Bigeni
Alice McCall
White Suede
Yeojin Bae
Kooey
Lime Drop
Stolen Girlfriend Club
Josh Goot

POLISHED & LACQUERED AT RAFW

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week kicked off with a bang as the Zimmerman sisters showcased their Spring Summer collection celebrating all things spring in the heritage listed building known as the Classic Throttle Shop in North Sydney.
 
Not unlike the beautiful sexy motor vehicles normally housed in this establishment, the Zimmerman outfits were sleek and sexy. A beautiful collection filled with sensual loungewear, flowing dresses, short wrap skirts and capri pants; all in an assortment of flowing pastels and cream skirts, offset with crisp clean silk dresses in white, tan and aqua. There was strong focus on diamond-cut inserts, lace and embroidered brocade.

Whilst hair and make-up was not a feature at the Zimmerman show, free flowing hair, with face bronzer and brown toned eye shadow used sparingly; the nails popped with colour. A minty fresh green lacquer shade featured on the nails at the Zimmerman show. Try Nicole by OPI’s My Lifesaver or OPI's Mermaids Tears.

The idea of romanticism and floaty feminine designs carried through for the rest of the day with designers such as Bec & Bridge, Flannel and Lover showcasing their Spring/Summer collections.
The New York 70s inspired show by Bec & Bridge, really set the tempo for this year’s Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.  Sighting Lauren Hutton as the muse for the show, the models each paraded down the runway in funky fedora hats in an assortment of sorbet colours.

The parade featured breathtaking floaty and feminine pastel and floral backless silk dresses, wrap dresses in suede and pretty prints, mini shorts in gold lame, one shoulder dresses in apricot, peach, plum and white with a whisper of lilac.  Most of the outfits were backless, loose fitting and easy wearing; Grecian inspired free flowing dresses with suede belts, wide leg pants with thigh high slits and barely there knits. 

The collection was set off with smooth full bodied blow-dries and big curls, sexy 70s hair.  The make-up was nude foundation, bronzer with a brush of colour on the lips.

The nails completed the look using a layering technique, starting off with a beige tone, OPI’s Barefoot in Barcelona as the first layer, followed by a soft feminine coat of OPI’s Coney Island Cotton Candy. This technique was applied so as to match the Foundation look often used by muse Lauren Hutton.

Later in the day we were all blown away with the beauty of Flannel, a collection that was inspired by traditional Japan and the opulence of 1930s France.



The collection featured leather pieces, rich velvets, caramels, vibrant corals and watermelon shades, and a sublime printed fabric from a 100 year-old kimono.  A fringed leather vest, velvet trousers in raspberry, ruffled gowns, silk robes, long wrap maxi-skirts and more thigh high split silk gowns gave the impression of an oriental kimono with a seductive European edge, not unlike a French boudoir. 
The slicked back hair coupled with minimalist sun-kissed make-up, deepened our desire for the spring season.  The nails complemented the minimal hair and make-up theme with a flesh tone nude, OPI’s Samoan Sand.

The last show for day one did not disappoint, as we were treated to a theatrical performance at The Studio by the cult-like fashion label Lover.

Another fashion label whose took inspiration from Asia, more specifically Chinese mythology.  The collection held a strong oriental influence with a classic 1950 tailored styling and elegant chic.  Lover celebrated all things feminine and womanly with their beautiful and romantic collection complete with french lace, soft tailoring and leather in hues of ruby red, white and black.  Sleeveless tailor jackets combined with silk and lace skirts, short, delicate lace dresses shown alongside long, romantic sheer gowns that were toughened only by statement heels and bold lips.



Elegantly chic slicked back hair, side parted and neatly presented in a ponytail.  Using pale foundation, the make-up focused on accentuating the eyes with strong eyebrows, natural brown eye tones polished off with cherry lips, not unlike a modernised version of a Japanese geisha girl.
The nails completed the feminine style, a soft feminine sheer nude with a hint of pink, OPI’s Coney Island Cotton Candy. 
 
Cult fashion brand OPI will continue to make a statement on the catwalk this week in the following shows;

Manning Cartell
Miss Unkon
Nookie
Carl Kapp
Kate Sylvester
Lisa Ho
Talulah
Magdalena Velevska
Fernando Frisoni
Bianca Spender
Gary Bigeni
Alice McCall
White Suede
Yeojin Bae
Kooey
Lime Drop
Stolen Girlfriend Club
Josh Goot
Ms Couture
Next Generation Group Showing

POLISHED & LACQUERED AT RAFW

As the rain poured down, nothing could dampen everyone’s spirits for day two at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

OPI’s day began with a journey to Africa with a tribal inspired showing conducted by Manning Cartell.

Inspired by the natural wonders of the African landscape, the Manning Cartell featured earthly palette ranging from desert reds, mustard, beige and pale greys, with stand out pieces such as the gold lame dress and shorts, leather fringed rope strapped white dress, sheer hooded overcoats, thigh high split pants, floaty dresses, wide knitted tops that dare to be bare; halter-neck backless flowing dresses and pants in magenta blue, caramel and black.



The collection was accentuated with oversized gold African style necklaces and bangles. The make-up style natural, fresh and youthful, accentuated eyes, bronzed and rouged cheeks, designed to create a natural sun-kissed glow with soft pink nude lips; combined with a natural carefree slicked back knotted ponytail.

On the nails OPI aimed for a tribal appearance using both natural earthy tones combined with gold by applying a half moon manicure. Using OPI’s Skull & Glossbone, a oyster colour with a khaki hue, as the base polished off with a half moon in OPI’s Glizterland, a pale gold. This nail style has become a significant trend at this year’s RAFW.

Another tribal themed show, Nookie took inspiration from mother-nature, focusing on earthly tones. The parade started with an evocative and exciting drum composition. Before our breath was taken away as we watched half naked men and women, step around a circular stage filled with sacred stones and elements from nature.

The raw and organic composition of the staging immediately engaged the audience as we saw sheer floating maxi dresses with triangular cutouts, maxi skirts placed low on the hip teamed with cropped tees in earthy tones, desert reds, beige, mint green, lilac and coral palettes. Swimwear featured with balconette one pieces, bodice and bandeau bikinis in pastels, combined with sheer floral tops and skirts and the continuing trend of thigh high split pants.

The genie came out of the bottle tonight, wearing Ali Baba poolside pants and other exotic flowing poolside fashion.

The tanned models were adorned in body art stencils creating a unique style. The makeup palette for the girls was very natural and fresh faced with cream finished, designed to give a sun-kissed appearance. The hair was free flowing with a natural beach texture. The nails followed the natural make-up trend, using OPI’s Samoan Sand.

Feminine floaty pieces and lace appears to be the predominant trend of the new season as we stepped into the magical world of Carl Kapp and his ballerina inspired showing. A jewelled collection that popped with colour, Carl’s outfits were soft feminine and floated, as if underwater. Cross over, tied grecian style tunic dresses in a variety of gem stone colours including claret red, ruby, peach, aqua, olive green, sapphire blue, royal purple and emerald green. The elegant mono-dramatic evening gowns were lacking in prints and lace detail seems to be lacking in this showing. The hair and make-up palette matched the ballerina theme, with dramatic cat eyes and bronzed gold on the inner eye socket combined with soft pink lips and slicked back ballerina buns. In keeping with the ballerina theme, OPI’s In the Spotlight Pink, a soft sheer feminine pink, was applied to the nails.

Miss Unkon’s Kaleidoscope Minds collection offered individual pieces where every woman has the opportunity of their own self expression. The collection spoke to passionate women who want to make a difference in the world and express their own individuality. The model’s hair was pulled loosely in side plaits and Grecian headband plaits, all natural and sexy.  The highlight of the show was the tribal body art. OPI’s Chocolate Moose was chosen for the models hands.

Day two closed with New Zealand designer Kate Sylvester showcasing a beautiful, urban, street fashion that is dirty yet moody and sexy.

 
Drawn from the inspiration of motor cross and translated to washed silks and soft viscose. Moody, dusty tones rule supreme, interspersed with shots of vivid colour. Models wore dramatic smoky dark eyes with nude lips.  The hair was wide and filled with drama.  OPI’s My Private Jet, a dark gunmetal grey, was applied on the nails.

Cult fashion brand OPI will continue to make a statement on the catwalk this week in the following shows;

Lisa Ho
Talulah
Magdalena Velevska
Fernando Frisoni
Bianca Spender
Gary Bigeni
Alice McCall
White Suede
Yeojin Bae
Kooey
Lime Drop
Stolen Girlfriend Club
Josh Goot
Ms Couture
Next Generation Group Showing

As the sun peak out from the clouds celebrating the third day of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, we all arrived early at the Art Gallery to catch a glimpse of Lisa Ho’s artist new collection.

A sophisticated and elegant collection that referenced 1960s Grecian goddess dressed in draped one shoulder gowns in a palette of shades including peach, coral, caramels, olive green, creams, hot pink, sorbet orange and beige; and beautifully tailored suits, capri pants, tailored tunic dresses and piped trousers. The models held their head held high (literally) modelling swept up hair in an elegant beehive style, with minimal make-up that focused on natural and fresh complete with nude lips. OPI’s Samoan Sand, a flesh nude complemented this look.

Sydney-based label Talulah showcased their elegant poolside leisurewear in linen and soft rayons floating dresses, pull skirts, cheeky short shorts teamed with floating mid-drift tops in a palette of washed chalks, corals, sky greys, aqua, olive and tie-dye patterns.The range was pulled together with leather belts, pleating detail and lace detail. The make-up was minimal, fresh and healthy appearance, whilst the models hair was in a loose windswept French braid. OPI’s Designer Series Glow, a shimmery coppery orange, ignited the catwalk.

The most captivating show of the week was Magdalena Velevska. Inspired by Velevska's Macedonian heritage, the collection combined bright neon pinks and oranges with bold blacks and dazzling whites that shone under the UV lighting.

Each piece was carefully constructed, with pleats and draping a predominant theme throughout. High waisted flattering pants, sneaky pink petal sleeves, black and white tunic dresses with fluro felt piping detail on the front, knitted shifts, skirts and dresses with a whisper of pink on the bottom. Standout pieces from the collection included the knife-pleat skirted dresses and the floating cream dress complete with gold detail on the front. The shoes were amazing and made specifically for the show by the designer. Everything was about the show was professional executed and beautifully detailed.



The hair and make-up was more modern goddess, medieval princess styled with weaved plaits pulled back into a ponytail. Soft make-up palette, light pink washed cheeks, pale pink lips and eye catching blue mascara. OPI’s Black Onyx was applied on the nails for this show, however there was talk of doing a reverse moon nude on black lacquer application, using OPI’s Black Onyx as the base with a half moon in Samoan Sand on the cuticles. This reverse moon was seen as a new trend in nails for this year’s fashion week. Magdalena Velevska is most definitely a designer to watch.

By lunchtime we were enjoying the classic yet edgy and futuristic designs Fernando Frisoni at the Opera marquee where it was difficult not to be distracted by the backdrop of Sydney harbour. Offering a surprising mix of strong minimalism and subtle detailing in clean, crisp white shirts, ali baba pants in an amazing cotton weave material. Clean, simple separates teamed up with more structured pieces, details such as lace and fringing gave it an amazing modern signature. Loose fitting dresses, wide leg pants, slit knees on silver pants, knee length dresses will longer train. Cocktail fringed hem-lined cha cha dresses ideal for cocktail hour. Based around a simple colour palette of white, black and gold.


The fresh faced models, wore simple mascara and nude lips with a gold lip liner, with a slicked back in a ponytail pulled together in a knot. OPI’s oyster toned Skull & Glossbone featured on hands and toes.

Gold fingers ignited the catwalk at Bianca Spender, as model wore Not A Gold Digger, from OPI’s new sister brand Nicole by OPI. The collection explored colour in geometry and abstraction channelling the 1910 modernist artists. The sheer nude silk organza dresses

Bianca collection was elegant and sophisticated, whilst she played with colour, form, opacity, contrast by teaming silk tops with tailors jackets and sheer organza skirts; in an assortment of vibrant colours such as red, mustard, blue, grey and watermelon and lemon sorbet. Beautiful symmetrically draping dresses that show off the figure without being figure hugging. Interesting folded necklines, jumpsuits, sheer panels inserted in Capri pants, strapless watermelon dresses and deconstructed shirt dresses, pieces in watercolour prints, not unlike the modernists’ artists. Truly a work of art!



Slicked back hair with accentuated and fattened eyebrows with lemon coloured eyeshadow, topped off with golden nails courtesy of Nicole by OPI.

Proud mum, Carla Zampatti saw her daughter collection for the first time from the front row and nothing could take the smile off this proud mothers’ face at the completion of the show.

We all packed into the Cargo Theatre in eager anticipation for Gary Bigeni’s spring collection. We were all impressed by the brightly coloured and easy to wear dresses, shorts and tops in a-symmetrical lines with draping, cream coat dresses with symmetrical cut out backs, gorgeous tailored leather jackets and jumpsuits, man-ish front pleated trousers and maxi skirts.  Bigeni cleverly teamed watermelon pieces with aqua blue, electric blue with chocolate brown, tangerine with caramel bolero jackets; all grouped together with aqua and electric blue belts and clutches. The mint green and aqua wide stripped tops reminded us of Summer.  Bigeni’s impeccable tailoring was softened with classic shapes reinvented to be loose and deconstructed.  The strappy shoes by Tom Gunn, 13cm in vibrant aqua strips are worth mentioning.



OPI polished of the look with the application of San Tan Tonio, a caramel toffee on the hands and OPI’s Skull & Glossbone, an oyster with a hint of khaki on the toes. The models wore strong red bold lips that popped against the matte foundation. Eyes were sparkling whilst the hair was carefree loose ponytail pulled together with a knot and sitting at the nape of the neck.

Inspired by an old world sophistication and women meeting for afternoon tea, Alice McCall’s collection was truly feminine, with playful pieces in colours from porcelain white to antique china blue, mango, nude and pale green. Delicately tailored dress shorts with oversized pockets, featuring fine gold trim or sequined embellishments. Jackets with slim-line sleeves and dresses and skirts in lampshade silhouettes that gently flowed like the summer winds.

Models wore a seductive 1960s sex kitten look with double liquid eyeliner wisps on matte foundation, no mascara, toned down lips teamed with a braid that started at the nape of the neck.

In keeping with the paired back look, models wore OPI’s most popular nude flesh lacquer, Samoan Sand.

Cult fashion brand OPI will continue to make a statement on the catwalk this week in the following shows;

White Suede
Yeojin Bae
Kooey
Lime Drop
Stolen Girlfriend Club
Josh Goot
Ms Couture
Next Generation Group Showing

It’s now day four at Rosemount Australian Fashion week, our heel are sore and our hair is loosing its’ luster, however our spirits were lifted after we watched the white crisp refreshingly tailored lines from White Suede.

Anyone for tennis, it was a case of game set and match at the showing of White Suede. The show featured an assortment of modern, white crisp suits, leather shorts, jumpsuits, beautiful pale grey pleated and gathered dresses, front zipped and high waisted, wide legged trousers, boxed halter-necked dresses, sneaky back reveals and lace back tops, beautifully gathered dresses with cross over lines, high waisted pants in graphic grid format print. Most of the collection was in a monotone white, peach, grey, lilac, hot pink, sorbet and orange, there was a set of pants, skirt and dress in the most amazing reverse floral shiny patterned material.



Trogon-headed models came out wearing clear perspex face visors and angular clear bangles. Their hair, not unlike gladiators was swept up and curved under on the top of their heads like a decorative helmet. The make-up was natural and nude, no lips – more finessed sporty. The shoes from Top Shop are worth mentioning, a two toned strappy piece with peach and aqua straps.

OPI complemented the look by providing pointed caramel coloured nails in San Tan Tonio

Making her highly anticipated debut appearance at Australian Fashion Week, Yeojin Bae’s show was not to be missed. This French themed show offered an assortment of finely pleated dresses, watermelon coloured shirts, midnight blue silk a-line and playful floral dresses, big front split skirts, and fitted shirt dresses in midnight blue with pleats and accentuated shoulders. The colour palette consisted of blushed coral, hot pink, midnight blue, and sorbet peach.

Bae's dress where less flowing and more loosely fitted yet softly shaped and pleated in all the right areas of the body. Soft and feminine designs, yet sexy and playful, with sneaky peak-a-boo vibrantly colours bras revealed underneath open silk shirts.

The models wore a natural foundation with a punchy orange-red lipstick, whilst the hair was swept up into a loose ponytail.

The nails for the show were designed to be a work of art; using Coney Island Cotton Candy as the base, a thin whisper line (almost drawn on with a pencil) of OPI’s Big Apple Red. Originally the nails were to be a reverse moon, a popular trend during Fashion Week 2011.

The sun continued to shine for WA swimwear designer KOOEY, with boxing champion Antony Mundine in the audience – random!

Even though Ellery had Jennifer Hawkins modelling their cloths, KOOEY had their own pageant queen with Miss Universe Jesinta Campbell joining the models on the catwalk.

The KOOEY show featured white and black and swimwear accessorised with black, thigh-high boots. Using the landscape of the Australian desert as the inspiration for the collection, KOOEY’s range of swimwear featured high-waisted bikinis, tankini’s skimpy triangle-styles followed in stunning burnt orange, burgundy, cobalt and black – all very sexy, and all very wearable.

OPI’s white lacquer Alpine Snow popped on the sun kissed models.

Another design label debuting at RAFW 2011 was Melbourne based label Limedrop. Best known for their prints, their show embraced all things tropical and vibrant including bright watermelon and aqua shorts, bomber jackets, matched with soft feminine draping and preppy tailoring. Model not only walked down the catwalk in OPI’s Samoan Sand, they were also carrying baby Bengal tiger.

The group Ready to Wear showing the designers collectively chose a creamy nude with a white hue, OPI’s new So Many Clowns So Little Time

Josh Goot’s return to Rosemount Australian Fashion Week was a futuristic masterpiece. An amazing line of celebrities in attendance, Goot offered an assortment of interesting pieces, one shouldered and strapless dresses, electric blue pant suits, bold emerald green pieces, computer graphic prints and gorgeous material that look as if they should have been on a canvas.

The models wore their hair in a simple slick back free flowing casual style, muted eyes and burgundy rich lips. OPI’s oyster toned Skull & Glossbone nail lacquer was used on the models.

A special mention goes to the amazing pale blue boot shoes at Josh Goot.

Cult fashion brand OPI will continue to make a statement on the catwalk this week in the following shows;

Ms Couture
Next Generation

The last day of the 2011 Rosemount Australian Fashion Week has arrived as we all indulged in second cups of coffee this morning in anticipation of Toni Maticevski collection after his long absence, followed by an entertaining parade hosted by Lisa Maree, complete with enslaved half naked buffed men (thank you Lisa Maree!).

OPI appeared on the catwalk in the Ms Couture show, when designer Juilee Chione-Tullio took lingerie to a whole new dimension with her assortment of sorbet coloured outfits including handcrafted bras, high waisted briefs, bodysuits, teddies, nightgowns and capelettes in iced baby blue, lemon sorbet, mint green, pale pink and lilac.

In their debut lingerie showing at RAFW, Ms Couture’s Angel by day, Vixen by Night show had us all licking our lips in delight. The fabrics used in the show were as soft as fairy floss, corsets structured like harden chocolate topping with lace-up backs, sex kitten gowns with fur trim lining, lace and ribbon detail so fine and delectable you would think they had been crafted by old world Venetian artisans.
The hair and make-up was very heavenly goddess, with plaited headbands and flowing hair and angel faces. There were two styles of make-up depending on the sorbet shade each model was wearing; those in the pink, lilac and white wore baby pink lips, pink rouge and pale pink lips, complemented by OPI’s Panda-monium Pink. Whilst those models who wore mint green, blue and lemon sorbet pieces carried off golden lips, pale green and lemon eyes and pink rouge, complemented by OPI’s new Mermaid Tears.


As can be expected with a lingerie collection, there was plenty of sheer, but it was executed so well, through floor length night gowns and 80s high cut bodysuits with diamante, lace and fringe detailing. The stand out pieces from the collection include a pink floor length nightgown with wrap-around tasseled fringe detail and the Tuxedo inspired nightgown; both of which will surely make an appearance on an episode of Desperate Housewives in the near future.

OPI supported the up and coming designers in the New Generation group showing with a bright poppy shade of lacquer, OPI’s Pink Flamenco.