Titled Luminesce, the show was a visual feast of colour and texture, a gradient of sorbet hues streaming down the runway. Soft, romantic ruffles and tiered gowns met voluminous balloon dresses, silky separates and a must-have transeasonal trench, all in a gentle palette of vanilla, sherbet, rose and mint. Print came courtesy of ethereal watercolours, realised in high-necked halter dresses and statement oversized bows. The fluid forms and diaphanous draping were a little bit Halston-esque, but with a sustainable, contemporary edge, crafted from consciously sourced natural fibres.
Designers and founders Alexandra and Genevieve Smart set out to showcase “the transformative power of fashion” and the clothes were threaded with optimism and hope – a recurring theme at this year’s AAFW. The mood spoke of a springtime soiree – perhaps a more pared-back party than that of previous years, but nevertheless a party we can’t wait to get dressed for.
