Yesterday saw Perth Fashion Festival (PFF) explode with feminine charm. In particular, Story By Tang closing parade for the day emerged as a delicious foray into the strength inherent in the female form, her warrior goddess bandage dresses a divine mixture of strength and vulnerability.
Of course, the day started well well before this incredible finale. In fact, it was menswear that emerged as a clear winner at the Student Runway Judging Parade, for which I am a judge this year. Unfortunately I can’t tell you who won – you have to beg or borrow a ticket for the sold out Student Runway Parade on Sunday for that – but there are so many promising students this year it is a very tight field. If you can make the Sunday show, do – you’ll be blown away.
Billie & Rose also dressed to impress. Labels like Daniella Caputi for the ladies and Self Help for the guys are just some of the flavours worth checking out. But there’s also a beautiful Alice McCall corn row braided bustier dress that is just ethereal – not every girls cup of tea, but if you can rock it out, you’ll certainly get noticed.
The Designer Capsule #2 was pretty pretty pretty through and through. On Tour seem to hit the nail on the head time after time, sending effortless fun down the catwalk. The perforated leather pieces in particular are worth investigating. Bahlo was a surprise, their mid-western prairie charm just that. Chambray and pastel panelling combined for a sensible outing.
Poppy Lissiman, however, was anything but sensible, her colour palette a mad brave clash of colours that shouldn’t essentially combine. Yet such is Lissiman’s audacity that the looks worked. The coral underwater print was perhaps a little too literal, but the other prints showed a sophistication, from the abstracted florals to the Rorschach mirror imaged pieces. Of course, Lissiman’s true calling may be in outrageous evening wear, her finale piece perfect for the upcoming Brownlow’s.
But it was Story By Tang who stole the day. Lasers, lighting, smoke… all before the first model walked. And what came out was just spell-binding. The bandage dresses in particular were fierce. High-necked, wrapped in dark gun-metal grey come black or the most luscious crimson, sleeves ever so slightly capped, the back revealed erogenously – there was something so utterly transportative about these pieces, perhaps because they stole your breath a little. Of course, these were mixed in with more breezy pieces, loose fitting t-shirts or dreamy pantsuits, the most gorgeous cropped jacket a must for any girl this spring. The overall effect was fully formed – this is a label that wants to take its client and share the possibility of the world, create a story for them to excel within, let them fall in love, go into ‘battle’ and then wash it all off at the beach. If fashion is armour, Story By Tang is your atelier of choice.
So yeah… a heady day indeed. Best part? There’s still so much more to come with WA Fashion Award winning Designer of the Year Alvin Fernandez and his label ae’lkemi still to show. But more on that tomorrow!
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
