Proving once again to be the most fashionable week on Brisbane's calendar, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival – Brisbane hosted by South Bank didn't disappoint with a stellar line-up of amazing local and national designers giving a sell-out crowd a taste of what's coming this spring. From the triumphant new design talent to the genius detailing from our fashion veterans, here are the colourful highlights and strongest trends from the week that was...
Day One
Over the Rainbow
Our opening show kicked-off the festival with an explosion of colour as the Virgin Australia Group Show showcased a plethora of jolting neon hues on the runway. Hats off to going totally wild up top as Easton Pearson paired their garments with cheeky neon crowns and gorgeous bright tropical prints. Kisses boutique featured explosive block-coloured suiting and
Akira featured neon pink wedges that effortlessly added punch and personality to his signature garments, while Scanlan & Theodore sealed the deal with a collection of divine 'look at me' dresses in a range of sunset hues.
Image: Easton Pearson
Oh so pretty
Along with vibrant colours came a more subtle trend so fitting for Spring with florals, lace, feathers and things feminine. Akira channelled feminine sophistication with cherry-blossom prints and flowing white numbers,
while Lisa Brown delighted girls-at-heart everywhere with her collection featuring frills, florals and feminine adornments fit for a garden party. Aurelio Costarella ramped up the drama with lashings of feathers, structured layered shoulders and bejewelled adornments, but kept it feminine and wearable in soft, natural shades.
Image: Lisa Brown
Spring Fresh
This year's Spring/Summer is the season of fun and frivolity, and the collections on show at the Foreshore Hamilton by Mirvac Group Show
were positively joyous. The runway was saturated with more bright
colours, as EP by Easton Pearson sent out playful sundresses and separates in colourful prints, stripes and silks for the ultimate in easy summer style. Samantha Ogilvie also featured a lavish array of silks, keeping it sophisticated with strong colour blocking. Francis Leon took
a nautical turn and showcased classic shirting and linen shorts perfect
for balmy Queensland days, while Paul Hunt got playful, presenting cute tennis whites alongside his glamorous Fifties-inspired gowns.
Image: Francis Leon
Raw Edge
Camargue provided a sharper edge with dark pleats, draping and leather.
If you want to wear black in summer, this is how to do it. As for the boys, it's time to try something different this season!
Let Richards & Richards show you how, by adopting their cropped European-style trousers, well-fitted jackets or fresh lavender-hued pants. Team with blue suede shoes for the ultimate male chic.
Image: Camargue
The Long View
It's time to rethink your approach to length. If there's one new length which was the hit of the Macquarie Wealth Group Show it was the floor-skimming look that made most these unique labels stand out with dramatic effect.
Justine Davis and Kate McCoy rejoiced in floor-length pleating and summer leathers paired with some serious wonder woman cuffs. Size does matter, and big is beautiful.
dogstar took asymmetrical tailoring to a new level with military punk inspired looks, draping heavy fabrics with length to create dramatic shaped skirts, dresses and callouts. And Talulah featured a take on Summer khaki with a maxi skirt and a gorgeous flowing back length peachy number.
Image: dogstar
White out
It's officially a white wash and summer is the perfect season for a palette cleanser
Chasing Bow stirred emotions with a collection of white looks certain to take cult status this coming season. Arguably the long cut out shouldered maxi dress and split skirt will be holiday favourites. Neon Heartache featured crisp white shirting back with gloriously galactic prints and Justine Davis showed a combination of striking tops and dresses in the pale hue,
Image: Neon Heartache
Day Two
Summer couldn't come any sooner and oh how we Queenslanders love our swim and resort wear!
The South Bank Swim and Resort Wear show kicked off the day with style, and no amount of water droplets from the sky could dampen the feel-good mood these collections could bring. Camilla's signature designs floated down the runway in stunning bold graphics and fluid fabrics that feel as beautiful on the skin as they look on the body. Harem pants turned heads as they made a rejoiced comeback while shells and beaded capulets added that special Camilla touch.
Image: Foxton Danger
Red coral prints, multi-coloured tropics and pom-pom edging sealed the deal for Foxton Danger's fun collection while Roopa Pemmaraju embraced kaleidoscope patterns and flawlessly embellished jumpsuits, reaching the height of fashion with an unforgettable crochet one-piece.
Add to that Rebecca Manning's jade green leopard prints, feminine frills and garden florals just begging us to wear them.
Saucy Rose got cheeky with look-but-don't-touch-me ruffled bikini bottoms, polka dots and crystal buttons while JETS by Jessika Allen rocked mesh overlays and ribbon detailed necklines. And to close the flamboyant show.
White Sands paired sky-high heels and feathered head bands with whimsical one pieces adorned with frills.
Image: White Sands
Retro Revival
Fashion Festival goers took a trip back in time at the Brisbane Arcade Group Show, with the revival of chic tailoring, lady-like accessories and the return of the classic, feminine silhouette bringing a little old-world charm to the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival – Brisbane marquee.
From statement fascinators and sultry derby-swoop brimmed hats from
The Hat Box, the fifties inspired skirts, sugar-sweet shift dresses, kooky, cats-eye glasses and cinched waists seen at Maiocchi, the trim tailoring, forties-femme twin sets and prim accessories at Pia du Pradal, the fluid and feminine fabrics on show at Tengdahl, to the exquisite appliqu̩ and beading detail of Bora and princess-perfect Darb Couture bridal gowns that had even the most staunchly single fashionistas dreaming of gliding down the aisle. The Brisbane Arcade Group Show was chock full of fashion nostalgia Рa dreamy, sentimental strut down memory's most fashionable lane.
Image: The Hat Box from Brisbane Arcade
Prints, Prints, Prints!
Prints ruled the runway once again for the Sunday Mail Group Show, proving that when it comes to fashion you can never have too much of a good thing.
Our designers showcased prints perfect for summer, in styles sure to suit every fashionista. Lylah layered printed pieces with crochet and solid colours for an edgy, street-cool effect. Nelson Molloy kept it simple with a touch of tropical patterning on floaty dresses, while Sacha Drake mixed it up with an array of bold prints. Katelyn Aslett had the prettiest offerings, with florals adorning feminine pieces in shades of pink and purple. And for a totally on-trend look, top off prints with statement "look at me" accessories from Adorne. Whether you choose to go bright and bold or play it simple, the verdict is in: prints are where it's at.
Image: Sacha Drake
Day Three
Shirts and Skins
Austen Brothers got a little cheeky while showcasing their signature classic shirting at the Mercedes-Benz Group Show. It just goes to show that if you invest in some quality tailoring, you don't need... well, anything else at all. Peter Morrissey brought his trademark tailoring to the runway with his Man & Woman collection. Peter is one of Australia's most well-known fashion designers and with good reason: his clean, minimalist fashion provides quality wardrobe staples designed to make women feel powerful, professional and sexy. His dedication to making all women (and men) look their best is clear given the very accessible price-point of his diffusion collection, which is available from Big W.
Image: Austen Brothers
Lady-like Practicality
You'll look oh-so-beautiful in any of the stunning little numbers that were on show in the Mercedes-Benz Group Show but in particular the Izabel & Sebastian pieces featuring the cutest super-sized bows.
Surafina had a cute dress to suit every fashionista, in light summer blacks, fresh whites and sweet sunset hues.
Living Silk showcased a collection of dresses in colours fresher than sorbet in summer. Feminine shapes reigned supreme with lady-like A-line frocks and flowing floor-length numbers in sunset hues.
Daniel Alexander Couture closed the show with a dazzling collection of gowns, from the light-as-feather pieces in spliced shades of blush and the fit-for-a-goddess turquois Grecian, to the show-stopping structured champagne gown that could have stepped off a runway in Paris. Personally, we can't go past the va-voom Barbarella-esque gold gown. Wear for instant sex appeal.
Image: Surafina
Evening Excellence
The Evening Wear Group Show promised a stand-out show of glitz and glamour and from brightly shimmering satins and silks to glittering sequins and embellishment, this year's evening wear show wowed the crowd.
Paul Hunt opened the show with an encore performance showcasing floor-length floral glamour and a stunning ball gown fit for a princess. Gina Kim's engaging collection was oh so cool in the effortless Parisian way with chic tailoring and immaculately embellished garments. Jacqueline Buck showcased a dreamy collection of gyspy-luxe dresses in light summery fabrics and fresh watercolour prints. Whimsical and care-free, the collection was a true celebration of Spring. Fiorenza delivered all the high-stakes drama with wildly luxurious gowns and head to toe glamour. The lady in Fiorenza reigns supreme. Understated elegance at its most eloquent epitomised Jordanna Regan's collection which showcased a masterful line-up of timeless classics. And to close the goddess-inspired show, Toscana proved that there is a dress for every belle of the ball and triumphed with an abundance of charming dresses that dared to be different. Image: Gina Kim
Day Four
Fashion industry folk, breathe a collective sigh of relief. Rest assured your future is in very safe hands - in fact, judging by the graduate display we witnessed the fashion forecast is looking very bright indeed. The
Westfield Chermside Australian Fashion Graduate of the Year Award showcased exceptional students from Australia's top six fashion colleges. Congratulations to all of the finalists; you've proven you can tailor, structure, drape and even origami garments like the pros. After much deliberation form the judges a tough decision was made and the winner was Emily Walters from Sydney Institute of TAFE. Emily's stunning collection which featured pops of bright orange back with neutral hues with modern shapes and a touch a glitz could sit along side any leading designer in any department store with pride.
Image: Emily Walters
Generation Next
A fresh crop of new faces are injecting their unique and edgy style into the fashion industry, launching their collections at the Emerging Designer Group Show. Here are our picks from the plethora of talent on show:.
We're crushing on the covetable lingerie pieces from Thousand Dancers - the perfect fusion of flower power and rock chic, it's underwear made for showing off. Edgy, crisp and raw, the Royce collection has an irresistibly androgynous appeal with geometrical shapes and a focus on clean black and white, slick cuts and unique collar and neckline details. SOOT's collection was a range that featured pops of colour and dreamy pastels, paired back with a palette of chic black, nude, and crisp white. Kip and brand showed us how to make a simple dress worthy of a statement outfit with the collection of clever jewellery pieces and Sharka Bosakova showed stunning black and white gowns and unique skirts with mushroom-like folds. Sae Miyazaki toyed with interesting shapes, braces and black, white and grey separates and Eva Lilly proved why she is a player to watch out for with a gorgeous collection of floral dresses in black and chartreuse. The Kezini parade stole the show and wrapped up a fun night with models grooving down the runway in hotter-than-hell swimwear in chic black and white. Image: Sae Miyazaki
The Festival has generated enormous amounts of national and local media coverage for this great city and we couldn't be more proud. Our Group Runway Shows proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that our home-grown designers and retailers can cut it on the national and international fashion stage. 
I would like to share with you the vision we have for the Fashion Festival moving forward to ensure we cement our position as the premier location in Australia for releasing Spring/Summer fashions to the rest of the country. Our vision is to create three or four event spaces, from the more intimate to the full-stage venue, showcase more local and national designers and even add an international element. We want everyone, from designers to speakers to leading fashion identities to descend on this great city from around the country and the world. But while we want to broaden and develop the scope of the Festival we don't want to forget our local industry and will look to the creation of a significant fashion business award with a focus on our emerging talent. 
The new funky and fresh little sister label to the hugely popular Easton Pearson brand, EP by Easton Pearson, opened it's first stand-alone store in Winn Lane, Fortitude Valley last Wednesday night to a select crowd of media, socialites and hip, young things.
Designers Lydia Pearson and Pamela Easton have said that the repose to the new collection has been overwhelming and opening a new store a must in terms of responding to the market demand. "Our buyers kept telling us that young women are desperate for our clothes but can't always afford them." says Lydia. 
Liz Golding, Styling Director loved the laser cut patterned fabrics and the digital prints she saw throughout the week but her favourite outfit was this little number from Easton Pearson.
Trish McKenna, PR Manager, was captured by a variety of our designers collections but loved the classic pieces that she could mix and match with her current wardrobe. Her favourites were Josh Goot's pink dress from Kisses and two of the bright.
Cidonie Richards, Communications Manager said she has always been a big fan of Aurelio Costarella since he first started out and this year loved his sculptured shoulders and feathered skirts. She also loved Paul Hunt's 50's inspired green and blue print dress, "so cute and chic for the races" and Emily Walter's shimmering pieces. "She's one I think we'll all have our eye on in the future." orange dresses from Scanlan & Theodore. 
Lindsay Bennett, Festival Director said he likes the new direction that Bora is taking with short dresses, skirts and shorts. He also loves the on-trend use of Bright Orange by Scanlan & Theodore, Izabel + Sebastian, Justine Davis and Pia du Pradal.
Model: Matisse from Vivien's Models
Model: Chelsea Cunningham from Dally's Models
Model : Olivia from Vivien's Models
We can't say a big enough thank you to our wonderful partners who each helped create such a successful week. All our partners played an imperative part in making this year's Fashion Festival shine and shimmer with their expertise and proficiency.
We saw Sanpellegrino distributing their refreshing mineral water drinks in the marquee each night, the popular Italian Peroni beer served up to our VIP guests and famous fashion editors at the Surf Club swimwear after-party and Deakin Estate bubbles served up to all our ticket holders pre-and post-shows. 
Who could forget the lovely Virgin Australia crew who welcomed our guests outside the Virgin Australia Show in their Juli Grbac designer uniforms or the relaxing mini hand-massages for our Fashion Bar patrons courtesy of Wintergarden. 
Westfield Chermside displayed a well-received mini parade of key looks of the season prior to the prestigious Westfield Chermside Australian Fashion Graduate of 
For the first time, Avant cards were installed in the foyer of the Marquee showcasing a range of Brisbane offerings and responsible for starting all sorts of fashionable conversations. 
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