A Dramatic Scene in Sydney
From the Sydney Opera House to Fox Studios, the cityscape of Sydney is a dramatic backdrop for Australian designers.
Romance Was Born, photo courtesy of The Vine
While most of the shows during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week are being held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal overlooking the Opera House (stunning), a few shows on the official schedule were held off-site and packed plenty of extra drama.
For Alex Perry, a 1930s-era sound stage at Fox Studios was the setting for a show of cinematic proportions. The cavernous building provided a never-ending runway for the designer’s glamorous “Perry Girls.” With over 1,000 guests in attendance and a dramatic runway lined with spotlights, the raw space presented his elegant creations with the enormity of any Hollywood production. Models strutted the full length of the building in his tulle and sequin confections that celebrated a modern “Arabian Princess.” The designer is known for dressing many a celebrity for the red carpet in Australia. And calls from J-Lo, Eva Longoria and Rhianna prove that his star has risen beyond the Southern Hemisphere.
Dion Lee, one of Australia’s premier emerging design talents, staged his show at the country’s most iconic building. The glass windows of the Sydney Opera House were the backdrop for Lee’s much anticipated presentation. The northern foyer space provided a scenic view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which complemented the designer’s architectural collection. Lee entered the Sydney design scene just two years ago and has already become known for his tailored creations. This collection expanded on his previous work with masterful engineering. Mesh inserts, strategic cut-outs, harness-like details and colorful Rorschach inkblot prints accented the structures of the body.
Romance Was Born has developed an almost cult-like following in Australia. Breaking all the rules of traditional fashion houses, the design team of Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales has the kind of dedicated following that receives each theatrical production with overwhelming enthusiasm. Clapping and stomping in anticipation even before the show began, the crowd wasn’t disappointed. The smoke-filled Gothic chambers of Sydney University’s historic MacLaurin Hall transported the audience to the imaginary world of the “Dinosaur Renaissance.” A world created from “a kaleidoscopic crystal-lined portal [that] cracks open linking the Jurassic period to Renaissance Florence, forming a pathway between their worlds,” explained the show program. The design duo’s fantastical approach to fashion was a couture feast for the eyes. Resin stalactite crystal formations, high-voltage digital sprints, Swarovski crystals and reptilian sequin scales decorated models who were transformed into a variety of prehistoric creatures. To close the show, two white-clad figures strode the runway to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” A perfect finale.
Alex Perry
Alex Perry, photo courtesy of au.Lifestyle/Marie-Claire
Alex Perry, photo courtesy of smh.com.au
The setting for Alex Perry's Spring 2010/11 show at Fox Studios Stage 7.
Dion Lee
Dion Lee
Dion Lee
Dion Lee
Dion Lee
Romance Was Born, photo courtesy of The Vine
Romance Was Born
Romance Was Born, photo courtesy of The Vine
Romance Was Born, photo courtesy of The Vine
