Once upon a time, back in the 1980s, models routinely danced down runways. You didn’t cast Grace Jones in a Paris show expecting her to trot along quietly with a blank face. Models were personalities. They jived and moved and camped it up in the clothes.
With the exception of Stella McCartney, who knows the power of laughing and dancing, these days most fashion designers take themselves way too seriously for that kind of caper.
Models are instructed to stomp and scowl and do their best to communicate whatever existential crisis the designers suffered to creative their art.
And the music! Don’t get me started on the music. Why anyone thinks angry techno, plaintive mewling or a madman scraping a cheese-grater with a spoon is going to help sell clothes, I cannot fathom.
Thank heavens for Macgraw. Their vision is unashamedly cheerful, and it feels good.
Their Resort ’18 show on Tuesday was a proper treat, from the very first exit: a plaid teddy girl suit worn with a frilly lace shirt. There were jaunty capes and plain kilts, pie-crust collars and puff sleeves. Standout chunky hand-knit pieces (a short-sleeved sweater, hot pants) were knitted by the Country Women’s Association, who were in the audience, and also embroidered and appliquéd little red hearts on dresses and shirts. The shoes were velvet slippers with bows on, sometimes worn in mismatched pairs. The runway was covered in cherry red carpet. And at the end, the model gang danced down the runway to a grin-inducing mash up of Kanye and the Rolling Stones.
Asked how they felt backstage, designer siblings Tessa and Beth Macgraw said, “Happy! We were having a party backstage so I hope it translated to the front. ‘Love Letter’ was the name of our collection. We do like our shows to be upbeat.”
Us too.
Why isn’t more of our fashion unashamedly cheerful? According to the 2017 World Happiness Report, Australia is in the top 10 happiest countries on earth. (We tie at number 9 with Sweden).
Of course, we have our share of injustice and inequality. Happiness isn’t a free pass available to all. But I think it’s fair to say that the sorts of Aussies who can afford to concern themselves with designer fashion are a pretty lucky lot. We live in a place of abundant sunshine. Our beaches are second to none. Our lands blissfully uncrowded. Our talent impressive. Our Country Women’s Association knitters, sublime.
What do we want? Smiles! When do we want them? NOW.
RELATED: The Best Street Style From Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia
RELATED: Follow These 25 Bloggers For All The Best Fashion Week Snaps
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
