On the runway with fashion’s future talent

Audacious, fearless and blissfully unbound by commercial constraints, the talented students of Future Runway dazzled a sellout crowd at Telstra Perth Fashion Festival tonight.

            

One of the most exciting and original events on the program, Future Runway celebrates the next wave of designers.

TPFF industry liaison and Future Runway judge Marcia Ball said the nurturing event was vital for the survival of the WA fashion industry. “They could be the future of the industry,” she said.

Among the stand-out designs were Curtin University and Polytechnic West graduate Nicola Yeung’s wild, white architectural piece, which took out the costume award. So impressed were the judges, the 25-year-old has also been invited to take part in Sunday’s closing-night show, The Art of Fashion, along with fellow Future Runway entrant Henrietta Jennings.

Ms Ball said she and her co-judges, designer Katherine Dunmill and Pauline Locker from boutique Ricarda, looked not only for unique pieces but also good construction.

Previous Future Runway alumnae include Natalie Rolt, who showed her all-white range as part of the WA Designer Showcase, and Natalie Donovan from cult local label Wild Horses.

Other designs in the show featured digital prints and hand dyeing. And in what might go down as the ultimate fashionista-hipster runway moment, a daring young designer showed a skirt made using trendy fermented drink kombucha.

The Style Trust's Telstra Perth Fashion Festival Survival Guide

With Telstra Perth Fashion Festival kicking off in a matter of days, Perth fashion bloggers Beverly Ligman & Nicole Jameson of The Style Trust have prepared a 'survival guide' with tips and tricks for fashion first-timers heading to the shows.
           

The Fashion Festival brings a serious amount of glitz and glam to the city and it's a huge week for everyone involved, but trust us, you need to be prepared, because fashion can be an extreme sport.

Pre primp – Looks come together that much easier if you've had your eyebrows, nails and hair done. And don't forget your skin; a well timed facial will leave it glowing and make-up and photo ready. If you don't have time to get a facial do a DIY honey mask at home (put honey on a clean face and take it off with a warm flannel). We've been doing it for years.

Dress the part – It's Fashion Festival, so have some fun. Be bold and make a statement. Plan your accessories; we're talking bags, earrings, jewellery and shoes. You'll be surprised how much these can add to an outfit and help create a look. We're flying the flag for WA designers this year, there's so many to choose from we started a list on the blog. Check it out for some inspo.

How 2016 Fashion Week Is Already More Inclusive Than Usual

With New York Fashion Week in full swing, all eyes are on designers to see their newest collections and attention-grabbing show tactics. (We’re looking at you, Tommy Hilfiger’s carnival).

But there’s something more significant to take note of than Kendall Jenner appearances and celebrities in the front row. Just three days in, the whole production feels profoundly more inclusive than usual. Tracy Reese featured models of different sizes, ages and races in her presentation, debuting her new “inclusive sizing” at the event.

Siriano’s decision is arguably one of the biggest moments toward inclusivity at Fashion Week thus far ― having a major designer like Siriano do something so many designers, including himself, have said is difficult due to things like cost and lack of resources.

Of course, if anyone was going to make a statement about diversity on the runway, it’s Siriano. Creating Leslie Jones’ Ghostbusters premiere dress, after she revealed no designer would help her, was icing on the inclusive, body-positive cake that has been the trajectory of Siriano’s career thus far. He has long championed inclusivity, working with celebrities of all different shapes and sizes and repeatedly speaking openly about his commitment to dressing every woman.