Melbourne Fashion Festival kicked off at Central Pier Docklands on Monday night, showcasing the A/W 14 collections of Australian designers from David Jones to give us a small taste of what is coming up over the week but also to showcase the collections DJ’s will be carrying in all their stores.

Lots of small fitted dresses short and midi length, men in bow ties, 3D digital printed dresses and tops which stood out and lots of white.

As for the trends that walked down the runway it was a sea of cobalt blue, burgundy and fluoros as far as colours are concerned. See-throughs and lazer-cut fabrics, peplums are still a must, as well as short and fitted dresses. Personally, I couldn’t go past the silver foil-looking bottoms by Ellery with her minimal loose tops, Bassike’s clean, almost seamless tops and finishes, Christopher Esber and Dion Lee in whites, see-throughs, and blue with red prints, Sabatini in big hats, awesome detailed sleeves and knits worn together in horizontal and vertical stripes of different widths. Easton Pearson in a vintage and feminine style in shinny deep blue and olive green.

The show opened with Scanlan and Theodore’s minimal lines in red and black, followed by Calibre (menswear) with dark red shirts, leather jackets and pants in natural tones. Nicola Fenetti used cobalt blue for his designs.

Camilla with stunning baroque/oriental prints, strass and kaftans who is showcasing on Wednesday her full collection in a not-to-be-missed show!

Mimco showed us bronze accessories with bags in burgundy. Rachel Gilbert gave us peplum dresses and tops, using white embroidered fabrics and a stunning black see through dress. Bec & Bridge with leather sleeves, digital prints and a black and white knit combined with colored skirt.
Banjo and Matilda with cool knitted jumpers Camilla & Marc with wide leopard prints in black, blue and grey Talulah with it’s black and white zebra and fluoro zebra all in one outfit – very daring. Michael Lo Sordo showed high neck, cross chesed dresses with openings on back and waist

victoria and woods, a label loved by Australian women, C&M by camilla and marc with lots of croco leather printed pants as well as Cameo Industrie always on trend presented us a lot of check shirts for men. Lover with its beautiful grey-light blue tone; Willow with whites and cobalt on relaxed cuts; Jac + Jack with whites again and light grey/light blue.

Nicholas with large scarves for men, wide horizontal stripes in blue and whit e/ black and white; Jack London with a beautiful silky looking shiny cobalt jacket and white dots, and impressive lapel leather jackets; Ginger and Smart with fluoro leopard prints and lazer cut fabric tops; Bianca Spender in strong cobalt blue

Romance was born, in a beautiful salmon based color with purple and fluoro color prints; Thurley in geometrical and see through and also vanishing elephant and Zanerobe with their cool everyday menswear collection. The show closed with Josh Goot.

The fashion shows have been for the last three years open to public making fashion more fun and engaging.

The festival will be held until this Sunday with Runway Shows of upcoming and established designers, Camilla’s (not to be missed show), the national graduate show, industry forums, workshops, offsite runway shows with live events, a business seminar and Cultural events throughout the whole month. For tickets visit www.ticketek.com!