Sexy fashion: The week that was

Let's put on a buyer's hat and accentuate the positives to come out of Fashion Week.

It's easy to be negative about Australian Fashion Week. Every year there are hits and misses and the spring-summer 2007-2008 collections were no different. Yes, there were too many young designers and too many collections that weren't up to scratch. We knew that would be the case before the event even kicked off on April 30. Of the 80 designers, 37 were new and many unheard of. Star designers and Fashion Week regulars Akira Isogawa, Sass & Bide, Toni Maticevski and Leona Edmiston were missing.
For some, it is the expense - $100,00-$200,000 to put on a show. For others, it is the timing, as they are presenting collections in New York and Paris or are focused on other areas of the fashion business. We can't criticise them for not showing at Fashion Week. We haven't turned our backs on Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett because they make films overseas. We just hope that occasionally they come home to Australia so we can enjoy their talent.

That said, there were definitely highlights from some of our new and established designers. Josh Goot, Kirrily Johnston, Lisa Ho, Anna & Boy, Anna Thomas, Jayson Brunsdon, Ginger & Smart, Tina Kalivas, Lee Mathews and Ksubi presented collections that wowed the media and had fashion buyers reaching for their order books. But this relatively short list highlights another problem with the week-long event - it is too long. It should be cut to three days or the week should be split into categories. New designers on one day, swimwear on another, established designers all together. It would make the industry-only week more manageable. OK, so Australian Fashion Week isn't just for the media. It's also a "wholesale event", says Simon Lock, the event's founder. "It's a platform for Australian designers to show their collections to local and international buyers." So I'll put on a buyer's hat on and select those designers I'd choose for summer. Call it criticism by omission.

Josh Goot
For his "sport-meets-futuristic-Rome" collection. Goot has moved away from his signature cotton jersey to experiment with fabrics such as Lycra and metallic mesh. Draping fabrics and simple sheaths in hot pink, purple and blue were standouts. Loved the pencil skirt in lemon and the tight bias-cut mini dresses with panels of vibrant colour. Leggings were in abundance on the catwalk but Goot's looked as if they had run straight off the athletics track and will do the same out the store. His cool metallic mesh knit dresses and pants were also highlights.