SHOW: Maticevski – Resort 2017
LOCATION: The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve
DATE: May. 15
START TIME: 4PM
TOP INSTA LOOK: Customized Ryan Storer jewelry – think shiny handcuffs and embellished ball gags – upped the collection’s dramatic Gothic factor, but there were no Brides of Frankenstein here. Other accents included crystal handcuffs, onyx-hued beading and twisted, draped chainmail.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Many of the 800 guests weighing in on the Barangaroo development ahead of expectations of a signature Maticevski princess show – instead they were schooled on the talented designer’s range in delivering edgy pieces flung far from the prom queen playbook.
OFF PROBATION: A white gown with asymmetric neckline and voluminous gathered skirt. Jewel encrusted shackles binding a blinging choker that draped down the back to handcuffed wrists.
GOOD BEHAVIOUR BOND: A buttermilk yellow strapless midi-gown with voluminous arm-length overlay, teamed with a chunky neck choker. Other key looks included ruffle front-pieces on tops and a shimmery gold full-length strapless balconette-style dress, which paid homage to the cocktail of Cinderalla on a night out at the Studio 54 of 2016, New York’s Up & Down bar.
INSPIRED BY: 18th century fashion and its focus on pleating and gathering – the cusp between reality and the imaginary, unknown future.
POP CULTURE-NOD: Feminine Mohawks complemented paparazzi-ready Logies dresses dramatic enough to distract the press from the fact you’ve downed five gin and tonics in the limo riding high off a five-day juice cleanse in the limo on the way over to the red carpet. Think the sort of frock J-Law facing back-to-back best female actor nomination at the Oscars might select (When her perennial love fest with Dior finally ends).
WEAR IT TO: The 2016 Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology themed MET Ball (instead of Taylor Swift’s goth-inspired, glistening look, which involved a custom Louis Vuitton silver, snakeskin dress with side cutouts, teamed with wrap-around gladiator shoes – a questionable look for the usually on point).
OVERHEARD COURTSIDE: “Holy sh$t – and on day one!” – the collective reaction to one model slipping and falling on the basketball court sized stage set against the natural backdrop of Sydney’s trademark sandstone.
SPOTTED: Delta Goodrem, Edwina McCann, Bridget Malcolm, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Pip Edwards, Christine Centenera, Margaret Zhang, Justin O’Shea, Roxy Jacenko and daughter Pixie Curtis.
COLOR WHEEL: Sunshine yellow, stark whites, black, dramatic embellished glitzy gold.
BEATS: Café Del Mar-style house beats, peppered with chirping birds, reminiscent of a sleep machine set on hybrid. Composed by the designer himself and Tim Harvey.
THE DOCKET: An array of intricately constructed show stoppers and voluminous gowns with rippling pleats, innovative cuts, dropped waists and flounces, Maticevski delivered his signature soft, dreamy pieces with a measure of Zendaya and Rihanna thrown in to up the dramatic gothic factor. The maiden show of MBFWA definitely kicked off the week’s girl squad theme.
