Johannesburg - The wet weather in Johannesburg did not deter fashion lovers from coming out in their numbers to the opening of SA Fashion Week’s spring/summer 2014 collections.
Celebrities who attended included actress and Strictly Come Dancing winner Zakeeya Patel, dancer Somizi Mhlongo and Idols judge Randall Abrahams.
As the downpour persisted, fashion designers and hairstylists at the Crowne Plaza in Rosebank put the final touches to their creations in preparation for the Sheer Glamour Show by Motions and Tresemmé.
One of the leading participants was designer Gert-Johan Coetzee, who is best known for designing breathtaking dresses for Top Billing presenter, Bonang Matheba.
Actress and presenter, Minnie Dlamini, opened the show with an angelic halter-neck dress from Coetzee.
The ever-bubbly Durbanite paired the dress with a gold belt, completing her look with polka-dot Christian Louboutin shoes.
Coetzee said the inspiration for his collection – which was largely white and lime – came from two distinct sources.
The colour palate had been inspired by soft winter fruits, while he had drawn inspiration for the overall feel of the collection from the issue of breast cancer awareness and its associated pink ribbon.
Also sharing the black ramp with Coetzee were the duo from Lunar; with the use of different tones of white and beige, their collection was characterised by a soft, romantic feel.
The easy-flowing dresses – some in an old-school crochet design – simultaneously displayed a refreshing new look and a blast from the past.
The star-studded crowd gushed in admiration at Rubicon’s take on leather.
With tight-fitting elegant evening dresses, and skirts paired with see-through tops, Rubicon’s leather ensembles were a big hit.
Beige and black were prominent colours in Rubicon’s collection.
Durban-born Joel Janse van Vuuren opted for Hollywood-style glamour, with a play on different tones of gold.
Vino did not shy away from colour, with an all-red collection. From off-the-shoulder dresses, to V-neck cuts, and jumpsuits, Vino’s collection stood out from the rest.
But it was Black Coffee who stole the show with his classy and feminine high-fashion collection. While many thought the peplum design – a short skirt attached to a bodice or jacket – had had its day, Black Coffee rewrote the fashion script, giving it a new twist.
Clive Rundle went for the metallic and futuristic look, while Laz Yani of Cutterier chose brown organic material. His collection received mixed reviews, with some fashionistas saying it was bland and uninspiring.
The fashion event, which ends on Sunday, will showcase the collections of more than 40 designer labels, including Durban’s Terrence Bray.
Durban’s emerging designers will fly the KwaZulu-Natal flag tomorrow when they showcase their designs in a KZN Fashion Council-sponsored show. - Daily News