Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2016 – Day One Wrap-Up

Fashion week has hit Sydney and it’s bigger, better and more fashionable than ever before. From a world famous celebrity opening a show to a bigger than life distorted rendition of a classic film, this year the designers have stepped up their game and given a new meaning to fashion.

The day kicked off with Australian designers (and sisters) Ginger & Smart, who utilise their distinctive style to express their individuality, and this year they achieved just that. Their Resort 17 collection, titled ‘Voyager’, saw a unique blend of neutrals and bright colours, ultimately offering not only a sense of cool confidence but a luxury contemporary design with an equal balance of the polished and the playful aspects of women’s fashion.

 

First Look: Resort 17… #mbfwa

A photo posted by GINGER & SMART (@gingerandsmart) on May 15, 2016 at 9:40pm PDT

When you hear Yeojin Bae you think exquisite designs and exceptional quality, and this year you could clearly see that her work was nothing short of breathtaking. Modernity, innovation and beauty were the key elements throughout her collection that’s set to make any designer green with envy.

Yeojin Bae Runway, MBFWA 2016 / Photo by Ashley Mar

It was the tenth anniversary for Yeojin Bae at fashion week and she celebrated with an absolute bang. The dresses were striking with bold styles and block colours. While she displayed the girls in simple chic and luxe-sport fashion, she still managed to incorporate her signature look, double crepe sheath dresses. The loose fitting look which is becoming more popular amongst designers was displayed with longline sleeveless trenches and easy tailoring.

Bella Hadid in the Misha Collection Runway Show at MBFWA 2016 / Photo: Ashley Mar

It’s likely that not many people were familiar with designer Michelle Aznavorian and her brand Misha Collection, but you can be sure that it’s now the brand everyone will remember. This year’s fashion week saw Bella Hadid open and close “Misha Gold” with a killer performance that is bound to go down in local fashion history. 

The American model was labelled as the face of the Australian brand’s resort ’17 campaign, “Misha Gold”. Girlfriend to hip hop artist The Weeknd and sister to socialite Gigi Hadid, Bella has established quite the name for herself, earning reportedly more than 400,000 dollars just for opening and closing the show. The room was jam-packed with people, watching in silence and awe as the lights came off, music turned up and Bella strutted her stuff on the catwalk.

Wearing a black corset-style dress draped in delicate lace and then featuring in a sexy, suave strapless blush coloured ensemble paired with a divine matching coat.

The three-year-old Melbourne-based brand specialises in evening wear with a decidedly Australian sensibility. Think structured playsuits, sculptural off-the-shoulder tops and curve-hugging keyhole dresses that fall below the knee. MBFWA beware, you’ve been warned. Misha Collection is rising to the top and you can be assured, it’s bound to be epic. 

Zhivago Runway at MBFWA 2016 / Photo: Ashley Mar

Don’t let the name scare you off, it means exactly what it sounds like. Daring, edgy and sexy. Zhivago is a high-octance West Australian fashion label, widely acclaimed for their signature fusion of tailored ready-to-wear, architectural proportions and provocative red carpet gowns. (See our interview with the designers of Zhivago, here.)

From the Russian name meaning “daring”, Zhivago is designed for the confident, calculated statement-maker, who lusts for opulence and directional design. Launched in 2012 by co-designer Lydia Tsvetnenko and Lara Kovacevich, the brand has been an international success, with some of the world’s biggest celebrities like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Coco Rocha, JoJo, Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hawkins, feature in it. 

Their show “Death Becomes Her” was inspired by the 1992 American black comedy fantasy film. Their collection was a satirical comparison to society’s perception of social media, with a focus on how far platforms such as Instagram will go. The aim behind this collection was to capture the audience’s attention and make them look at the show, not at their own reflection on their phones. And it’s safe to say they achieved that and much more.

Zhivago Runway show at MBFWA 2016 / Photo: Ashley Mar

With clothing inspired from the 90s and a theme based on a distorted version of “normal,” the show was edgy, trendsetting and more than just a fashion show. It was an artistic performance. The models were put into character with a cutthroat look that saw the girls have clear tape wrapped around their face, with bold lipstick and glamourous jewels pasted on their lips, neck and checks. This utopian stylistic approach helped paint the picture of a ‘fantasy world’ while accentuating the distorted image the models were expected to portray. The show commenced with professional singers and dancers performing for the audience and playing on the superficiality of social media.

The highlight of their collection was without a doubt the glitz and glam outfits. And of course, the crucifix inspired high heels that left the crowd beyond impressed because not only did they look fantastic, but they proved that the models could strut their stuff in anything Zhivago gave them.

Seductive and sophisticated, this brand not only empowers the female form but creates garments that accentuate femininity and dominance. It has hit a national international audience and we can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store for next time.

Follow our ongoing coverage of MBFWA 2016 here.

Photos: Ashley Mar for theFashionSpot Australia.