Sara Phillips RAFW Preparation Diary

Sara Phillips may only be at the start of her career, but she's already making in-roads as one of the most promising commercial designers on the Australian market. Her cute party dresses and pretty prints are exactly what girls want hanging in their wardrobes, and as a result, the designer is already creating up to four ranges a year, and collaborating with the likes of Sportsgirl, and this season Ecco shoes.

We asked her to tell us a bit about her collection, and give us a rundown of her RAFW preparation process:

Our Summer 2011/12 collection is based on the beauty of our native Australian flora and fauna. We have taken inspiration from the harsh beauty of native flowers such as banksia, bottle brush and the waratah.

We have also examined reptiles and their beautifully detailed scales.  We took silhouettes from their form and colour and pattern from their skin.

It is a heavily print-focused collection with both hand-drawn as well as photographic offerings.

Here's a timeline of how it came together:

3.1.11
Finalised design concept - inspiration etc

27.1.11
Chose fabrics

1.2.11
Went to the flower markets, found more inspiration. Found some great native flowers that I could turn into some really beautiful prints

13.2.11
Started to hand draw our prints, so exciting seeing everything come together

29.3.11
We’ve got so many prints it’s hard to choose my favourite

1.3.11
Started to workshop our beading in India. We found some really interesting textures/beads/yarns, we think this will add another dimension to the collection

10.3.11
Started to digitally print our fabrics, I love how immediate the technology, it allows us to see our fabrics straight away

25.3.11
Just received some summer samples back for fashion week, all the colours and textures look amazing together. Some slight changes to be made but it’s all looking really good

4.4.11
Started our fashion week productions meetings. Trying to find a way to do something really different with the venue, I think this year is going to be really special. We are trying to mix up the layout a bit and make the set design come out into the audience space

25.4.11
Received all our good bag product today from all our amazing sponsors- Ecco, Bobby Brown, Redken- some really great product that I hope everyone gets excited about

Above image: Collection preview image and mood board exclusively for TheVine.

Camilla & Marc's colourful party frocks from RAFW 11

The pink beauty is hitting store in October! 

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Dramatic Black

Sasha Pivovarova looking amazing in this shoot from Vogue Nippon- August 2011

Our version of the look: Michael Lo Sordo Maxi silk skirt with matching black silk top..perfection.

 

 

Michael Lo Sordo SS 11/ 12

In store August -11

02 9976 3277

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* source The Design Scene

"Romance Was Born" this way.........Spring Summer 2011/12

Staged in Sydney’s Grand Mitchell Library the soothing sounds of the Sydney Youth Orchestra and gorgeous blooms by Lisa Cooper and Simone Gooch set the scene for a much anticipated and spectacular show. Entitled The Oracle, began, and one couldn’t help but feel that the design duo had Chanel in mind. There were embellished jeans, reminiscent of those seen back in January at the Chanel S/S 2011 couture show. Lustrous pearl prints featured on soft silk fabrics, while glossy strings of pearls were delicately weaved into the models’ hair, styled to resemble rope (there was a Grecian element to the show). There were also ballet flats, courtesy of Bloch.

It was in fact the work of 1920s illustrator Erte that inspired Romance Was Born. At least, that was just the beginning. RWB love a bit of a mash-up — a clever mix of prints and textures. Their other source of inspiration was a little more fantastical. The German fantasy novel The Neverending Story by author Michael Ende also stirred the artistic pair. The ideas behind the collection might have been inspired by fantasy, but the collection was the most wearable to date: fluid dresses over pants (a key look from the A/W 11-12 collections), jumpsuits, lots and lots of lace, and unique digital prints of artworks by Australian contemporary artist Nell. One fashion editor who used to comment that while she loved the brand she’d never wear it, quickly changed her tune. Every couple of looks she’d turn to me and whisper, “I’d wear that … oh, and that.”

While the start of the show was highly wearable, the second half reminded us why we love this label so much — and, more importantly, why they are such a vital part of the Australian fashion industry: they’re simply brilliant at creating theatrical showpieces. Yes, things got a little crazy. Various characters from The Neverending Story made an appearance. One model had a sculpture that resembled Rock Biter, the talking rock character, attached to her, while others wore jewellery prints inspired by the childlike empress. There were also plenty of spectacular hats on show, all the work of Teresa Redrup, along with luxurious jewels from Australian jeweller Autore. According to the press release on my seat: “Deco dancers and dream weavers — this season, Romance Was Born are drawn to the complete woman; she wears a hat or headdress, coiffure … and all manner of enchanting accessories.”

At the end, Romance’s Anna Plunkett, who has become a local style icon, emerged in a little black dress and a string on pearls, and one couldn’t help but think she resembled a young Coco Chanel. As Anna and co-designer Luke Sales walked through the library, the Australian Youth Choir sung the theme song from The Neverending Story.



*images & words Harper's Bazaar Australia

http://www.harpersbazaar.com.au/runway/rafw-ss-2011-2012-romance-was-born.htm?index=0