On the 18th of October, 7pm at the Festival Function Centre I (and 950 others!) attended a little bit of Adelaide Fashion history & witnessed a parade I will tell my grandkiddies about. (Professional Photography courtesy of Antony Snape- www.antonysnape.com)
Paolo Sebastian (Paul Vasileff) started his label at 16, in his final year of high school with a love of couture and tailoring. Fast track to 2011, and at age 21, after being accepted for a scholarship into the Instituto Europeo di Design in Milan in 2010 he has just released his Autumn/Winter Couture collection for 2012 as part of the Adelaide Fashion Festival, 11-22 Oct 2011.
His collection was inspired by the Russian composer Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake', evoking the strong emotion and elegance of the music. The parade opened to the familiar music of Swan Lake & built up to an intense height with a lights show and mist on the catwalk as the models floated and sashayed at an ethereal pace along the catwalk which was elegantly trimmed with ivy bouquets, completing the theme.
The diaphanous silhouettes and draped chiffon reminded me of Haute Couture designer Elie Saab, who also has a way of embracing the female form with soft, flouncy fabrics contouring feminine soft curves. The bodices were swathed in in silks, velvets and my favourite, trending at the moment, lace. The precision detailing was incredibly romantic, embellished with crystal beading, from afar looking like sugared frosting and sparkling like stars.
And of course, how can I leave out the grand finale, the Couture Bride. Literally stealing my heart and making me want to get married tomorrow. It was all of the above and more. Congratulations Paolo, I wish you every success in life and in fashion. I was so inspired to blog and illustrate from the catwalk parade. It was an inspiring night indeed.
(Paolo's designs are available to buy from his studio, you can contact him via www.paolosebastian.com)
(Professional Photography courtesy of Antony Snape- www.antonysnape.com)
Belinda
