Fashion ran the full spectrum today from the return of beloved fashion icon Jenny Kee to the recent TAFE graduates at the Innovators show. In the evening Carl Kapp and Christopher Esber seriously stepped up the pace delivering two of the strongest shows this week. Jenny Kee made the best use of The Box seen so far, setting her rainbow ‘Australiana’ scarves against a eucalypt wonderland filled with the lemony scent of the bush and sonorous bird calls. Styled by Romance Was Born with elaborate native flower headpieces, the waratah was a defining motif in the prints – ‘my favourite flower’ confided Jenny.

It was a full house for the TAFE Innovators show and no surprise considering this institution has consitently produced some of Australia’s most innovative designers such as Dion Lee, Luke Sales & Anna Plunkett (Romance Was Born) and Akira Isogawa who sat front row. Of the six graduates, the botanical prints and complex crafting of award winner Kaylene Milner (main picture) was a particular standout – her prize including spending money and a coveted internship in New York with Diane von Furstenberg. After the show Kaylene revealed the reality of jetting off next week still hadn’t sunk in. The first thing she’s going to do when she lands in NY? Take a well deserved break.

Althought the night slots are the most difficult, Thursday evenings are usually a standout. The Carl Kapp show titled ‘Collision’ started fittingly with the sounds of a revving motorbike having a spectacular crash. The clothes were bright, sharp and accessorised with perfectly styled David Fincher Lisbeth Salander wigs. The loud raving voices leaving the show praised the lack of ‘seen that’ trends - nary a peplum in sight. The same can be said of Christopher Esber who explored sporting references in structured shapes adorned with clusters of seed-beading on cuffs, collars and necklines. A definite contender for show of the week.

Highlight
The rousing applause and crowded post-show backstage said one thing: Christopher Esber you delivered beautifully. The concertina maze was the most dramatic runway yet highlighting the structured clothes and intricate detailing.

Fashion Moment
The most colourful crowds of the week turned up for Jenny Kee, many wearing her jewel toned scarves as bandanas, headscarves or neckties. We spied the cute as a button actor Sophie Lowe and model Emma Balfour.

From the Front Row
We Are Handsome brought the fun to fashion week with a zebra print runway and watermelon lemonade ice-blocks on entry. As expected the prints were bold and intriguing in their signature super-saturated colours.

Trend Alert
On the street, pastel hair is having a moment possibly to match all those pastel colours.

Words by Lucinda Burtt Photos by Jessi White and Vanessa Low