Artists Behind The Lens

Up and coming Australian photographers

Thom Kerr

Sex

Mysterious

Fantasy

 Darren McDonald

 Raw

Moment

Natural

Daniel Luxford

Dramatic

Striking

Alluring

Kelsey.

FASHION WEEK

Fashion Week: the Wondrous and Weak

TEXT: Sam Michael

With all the clacker, boose, scanning eyes, and eager anticipation that epitomized the atmosphere at Australian rosemount fashion week, the annual showing once again has proved to be an interesting spectacle. A spectacle that delivered both eye catching innovative proposals, and unfortunately tiringly derivative ones.

The week that began with a digitally ethereal offering from Zimmerman looked to be heading in a positive direction. Zimmerman offered up a primarily white and aqua collection with scattered displays of digitized and traditional botanic prints plastered onto long shift skirts, and kimono sleeve dresses. One of my favorite looks came from Zimmerman in the form of a cut out long sleeve dress fitted to the perfect figure of Julia Nobis. The collection was definitely a step toward a maturing and holistic aesthetic for the brand, however this was not the case for many other designers. Whilst within the Zimmerman collection there was an apparent yet acceptably subtle influence from the Rodarte sisters, their re-manifestation and integration of references was fresh, yet it seemed that many other designers relied very heavily on in some cases a very overt appropriation of overseas designs. The most popular derivative sources that this onlooker identified throughout the collections were Alexander Wang, Haider Ackermann, Rodarte  and Christopher Kane.  These sources are no doubt amazing and valid points of reference, however the continual reliance on somewhat imitative design processes does no justice to the aesthetic that could materialise, if a true meditation and contemplation on what is contemporary Australian fashion was to happen.

Some truly dynamic offerings at Australian fashion week did punctuate the noticeably absent line up, Fernando Frisoni, Alistair trung, Michael Lo Sordo, Christopher Esber, Josh Goot, Dion Lee, Morrison and Stolen GirlFriend’s club were the names that kept coming to the fore for no fourth. The flowing long white silhouettes at Michael Lo Sordo promoted a clean utilitarian approach for the coming spring, whilst Alistair trung worked the breadth of the color spectrum depicting a modern tribe adorned with his typically relaxed yet functional and enigmatic draped garments.  Josh Goot delivered a strong body of slightly less pictorial digital designs, placed perfectly on his tailored slim silhouettes. The Josh Goot woman for spring was an interesting paradox, she embraced colour  and print but with a clinical precision, echoed by the chrome capped footwear. The Morrison show delivered tailored tomboys, that maintained an elusive femininity through wide leg pants and tailored button ups. The colour palette was an interesting voyage through navy, mustard, egg shell, black and white.

For this coming spring minimal, tailored, tribal, urban and tom boy will all play a strong role informing the consumer choice. With each aesthetic vocabulary receiving a fresh treatment at rosemount. On a wider note, whilst there was a degree of disappointment, there is an identifiable inertia pushing australia’s fashion culture which no fourth is excited to see intensify. 

JOSH GOOT

CHRISTOPHER ESBER 

MORRISON

SHE FELL ASLEEP

She Fell Asleep, the eerily beautiful story styled and creatively directed by Sally Gordon is an individual project and radiating idea Sally has been contemplating for some time. With the help of Model: Eillie Mackbeth, photographer: Mitch Mclennan, Makeup:  Alanna Gee, Hair: Koh T It was able to materialize. The sleeping princess ballet was the conceptual and aesthetic epicenter of the story, however the styling, constructed space and general aesthetic was the unique vision of Sally. After watching sally slowing layer and develop her small lounge room space with dried autumn leaves, and lush colorful blooms, the final images are testament to her effort and vision. The images are fragile yet powerfully re-visualize an intriguing and household tale.

Sam

KATE

Mert Alas, Marcus Piggott and Kate Moss

Paris Vogue

Timeless

Sam