SYDNEY: The schedule of the new Fashionstate festival will be topped by a key event featuring upcoming trends with a strong Australian flavour.
The Fashion Group International (FGI) Fashion Flash will take place on March 10 at 8.30 am at Sydney's Department of State and Regional Development, a Fashionstate spokesperson confirmed.
"A key event on the Fashionstate program this year, the FGI Fashion Flash comprises an interpretation of the best of the runway shows from Paris, Milan, London, New York and Los Angeles."
"FGI's trend selection team pull together the essential season looks and the process is overseen by creative director Marylou Luther, former fashion editor of the Los Angeles Times and writer of the Clothesline column [which is] read weekly by five million people."
The team also included industry experts from international department stores Saks, Neiman Marcus and Barney’s as well as fashion luminaries from Vogue.
For the first time in the history of the trend reports – launched in the 1930’s – Australian and New Zealand designers including Aurelio Costarella, Karen Walker and Jayson Brunsdon would feature as points of reference for key trends, the spokesperson confirmed.
Toni Maticevski would also receive special mention for transforming the silhouette of the season with his slouchy pants, while Willow would be a highlight, particularly for her strong use of concentrated colour and her uniquely structured lingerie.
Trends being touted as the key looks of the season included high voltage colour, transparency, looser dresses, softer pants, sleeveless jackets, jersey, chiffon, embellishment and special occasion dressing, the spokesperson said.
"Providing the ultimate trend edit, the FGI Fashion Flash tells us what we will be wearing next and what will be hot this summer. The influential forecast has long been a point of reference for fashion insiders, largely due to the calibre of contributors over the decades."
Fashionstate is a new city-wide festival for fashion professionals launching in Sydney from March 7 to 12 2008. The event acts as an umbrella for a diverse program embracing creative and industry talents, major fashion and arts institutions and trade fair Fashion Exposed.