Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Spring/Summer 2013/14 Wrap-Up, Day 3

Alice McCall made a splash at the start of Day 3 at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia. Her ‘Les Galeries de Poison’ cruise collection was based on botanical illustrations, jewels of the Art Nouveau era and under the sea. And it’s about as breathtaking as you would expect. Silhouettes are as fluid as water, the colour palette extends from oysters and pearls to pinks and blues of the most delicately-hued oceanic creatures. We’re betting the Little Mermaid Ariel didn't really grow legs to be with her prince, really she just wanted to strut around in Alice McCall’s new designs.

Serpent & the Swan live up to their faunal moniker as they debuted their unisex designs at MBFWA. However, rather than referencing birds and reptiles, this collection has an equine hero. Horse-head (not as The Godfather as it sounds) trinkets dotted all over a basic, sheer tee make a hero of the piece. Leather accents and brass buttons are reminiscent of harnesses and stirrups. Meanwhile, frayed edges and subtle, weedy prints reinforce the idyllic countryside feel of the collection.

Giraffes and foxes and brumbies; oh my! We Are Handsome are known for their photographic swimsuits. And while the aforementioned might not have quite the same ring as ‘lions and tigers and bears,’ their prints still look darn cool (admittedly, they did include a lion motif for summer too). Aside from the animalistic muses, We Are Handsome’s latest series traverses the globe, featuring landscapes from the savannah to the rainforest to the Antarctic. They also throw a few retro robots and theme parks in the mix; because who doesn't like a roller-coaster?

Minimal, unfussy, modern. Bronx & Banco’s wearable collection literally started out as simple as black and white. Then things really got interesting with collaboration between the label and prominent Australian artist Charles Billich. Selected canvas-like designs featured Billich’s works of the Sydney Opera House highlighting architectural aspects of the collection. That, combined with a slick of near-neon pink throughout proved highlights.

From sea to shining sea. Our day started in Alice McCall’s underwater world, so why not end it with another interpretation of the big blue? Sister act label Watson x Watson takes an entirely different tack, dishing up designs suited to surfer girls of the 90s grunge era in a high-end fashion. Think cinematic seafoam prints, references to wetsuits and plaid – complete with mock flannelette shirts tied at the waist. Here’s to affluent beach bunnies everywhere.