Ultimo ups the anty

It's half an hour before showtime and Melissa Cocker is pacing up and down the halls of Sydney's Strand Arcade - or at least asking her model to. Wedged between the third floor elevator and a small legion of equally nervous students, the designer is adding the final touches to her presentation.
"Just, um," she says, signalling with her hands. "Just maybe swing your hips this way when you get down there turn your head and pose."
In the end, Cocker and her 32 classmates had little need for last-minute jitters. The third year fashion design students from East Sydney TAFE staged a spectacular evening as they battled it out for the 2006 Crosser Award. Filling the runway with eveningwear inspired by this year's 'Champagne' theme, the designers left audiences speechless with Edwardian inspired frocks, delicate, slinky dresses and decadent ball gowns. In the end, it was a difficult decision for the three judges- Nicky Zimmerman, Glynis Trail-Nash and Ruby Smallbone- who awarded the $1500 prize to Kim Deters for creating a strapless evening gown with deep folds and delicate drapery.
In tyAnd the final verdict? "The judges were blown away. Nicky [Zimmerman] turned to me and said "My God, this product is amazing!"