Photos: Jessie Bush/We The People

Prior to Fashion Week, Sara Phillips wasn’t really a brand I was familiar with. I went backstage to see the collection before it hit the runway; a fusion of cotton candy silks, brocade dresses, luxe sportswear and fluid cuts. Titled ‘Natural Law’, the fabrics came to life with floral, snakeskin and incredible blue waratah prints. Inspired by the native Australian landscape, the attention to texture and unique prints was refreshing and bold. I did feel some elements didn’t sit quite right; the skirts fell at awkward lengths and the open-back dresses seemed unnecessary. It was a collection for the eclectic and free spirited – some pieces won’t be easy to pull off.

Photos: Jessie Bush/We The People

Kate Sylvester’s presentation at Randwick racecourse was elegant with a bad-ass attitude. The collection gave a nod to the 1940s’ with feminine silhouettes, silk ruffles and mid-calf hemlines. But the models striding around the dressage circle in leather shorts and translucent jumpsuits kept it from being too prim and proper. While the cloud of smoke and eerie darkness made for atmospheric lighting, it was pretty impossible to see anything. That said, Sylvester’s collection was perfectly ladylike and cool, right down to the finale kiss on model Julia Nobis’ cheek.