Alpha60 started off the show with a movie clip of a talking parrot. It wasn’t until the first outfit came down the catwalk that the reason for this became apparent. Alpha60’s collection had many animal influences throughout, with the parrot (see right), elephant, bird and snake becoming prints. These unique designs were combined with block colour staples such as pencil skirts, hooded coats, layered knits and loose dresses in greys, black and white.

Limedrop’s Silver Lining collection focused on blues, beige, black and white in the form of tapered pants, long cardigans, blazers, trenchcoats and patterned sweatshirts. The textured bodysuit with a leotard-like low back, cloud prints and a touch of PVC were also featured. Check out our interview with Nathan and Clea from Limedrop about this collection.

Carly/Hunter used zips and piping as embellishment in their collection on structured dresses and jackets. We saw cowl necklines, shorts paired with tights and high waisted pants. New Zealand brands NOM*d and Zambesi stuck to a classic winter palette with very different design results. NOM*d’s initial outfits were all about excess of material with strips of fabric layered all over the body. We then saw the use of leather panels, tassels, belt straps, and the tops of shoes as detailing on their garments. Zambesi blended sharp tailoring and soft draping with waistcoats, calf length pants and lattice structured skirts.

To spice up menswear with a little colour this winter, Jack London used bright purples, maroon and berry tones as well as browns, greys and black. From classic tailored suits to textured jackets, belted trenchcoats to crisp shirts; this collection was all about mixing eccentric pieces with timeless basics. S!x used a lot of layering in their outfits with uneven hems and various levels of draping. Fur coats enveloped the models who also wore a number of designs emblazoned with the British and Australian flags.  TV travelled back to the hippie days of the 70s with floral prints, peace symbols and full length print jumpsuits. Colours such as lime green, burnt orange and deep purples were seen in sheer fabrics, full skirts and dresses with cut out detailing.

Photo credit: Fashionising.com

Below are also several videos of attendees of the parade, frocked up and willing to share their fashion opinions with our GPO TV crew. Enjoy!

The official closing party was held on Friday the 22nd of January as we celebrated in store with drinks and a lovely Limedrop sale. You’re invited to see the store and take advantage of these final reductions (so don’t forget your purses and wallets in case you spy a bargain).

Christa Catharina Müller, the fashion editor at Vogue Germany chose Limedrop as one of her favourite Australian labels on a recent visit to Melbourne after seeing their pop-up shop so come and see why. It may be your last chance!

Limedrop will be officially open and trading until Sunday 31st January. That’s when we will really break out our hankies.

For men: Temporary Uomo is a place to find current European styles at up to 60% off. Think of labels like BryanHusky, Transit Uomo, Rifle, Messagerie, Alessandro Gherardeschi, Hotel, Crossley and Caliban for slacks, shirts or perhaps a whole new sleek style.

Temporary Uomo

For women: Alexi Freeman is an Australian designer who actually designs for women, not only models. His designs are highly graphic, original and never boring. Alexi’s pop-up store is like a work of art itself and we love the spacious changeroom for a movie-style, trying on clothes montage.

Alexi Freeman

For everybody: Cited as being the friendliest designers in the local biz, Nathan and Clea at Limedrop design for the independently minded among the fashion pack. Their pop-up looks like an oasis with a selected range of cleverly designed jewellery and knick knacks in store to complement the fashions.

Limedrop

The space has been transformed into a worldly themed pop-up with the helping hand of Limedrop’s crafty friends at Moth Design. Articles of men’s and women’s clothing hang from pale grained timber, a map has been pasted and transformed into a feature backdrop and miniature succulent plants in pots are dotted around the store for refreshing greenery.

Find Limedrop jewellery and their latest collection “Places I’ve Never Been” (and sometimes the charming Nathan and Clea themselves) in store now. Limedrop will be with us for a limited time only until January 2010.

Acne opened this past weekend and brings their studio store and cult denim and jeans for men and women to the ground floor of Melbourne’s GPO. “Founded in Stockholm in 1996 by four creatives, Acne’s ambition was to create and develop a lifestyle brand through desirable products. This ambition led to diverse assignments in advertising, graphic design, internet games and TV production. Acne was one of the first brands to see the space in the market for denim and used this forward thinking to create 100 pairs of unisex jeans. They were featured in Swedish Elle magazine and soon, Sweden’s leading boutiques wanted to carry the characteristic jeans with bright-red stitching.”

Willow opens late November on our ground floor. It’s another homecoming of sorts for designer Kit Willow Podgornik who, after being born and bred in Melbourne, is now based in Sydney and is conquering the design world fromt here. We can’t wait to get our hot little hands among her gorgeous goddess frocks and sparkling embellished pieces and take some of her signature strong yet feminine looks home with us.

Getting in early on our first floor already (take the elevator) for a couple of weeks only is a Nicola Waite pop-up store. After that Nicola Waite will move in to a more permanent position here. ”In 1999 international opera singer Nicola Waite, feeling frustrated at what she could find for herself, launches her self-titled, high-end fashion label at Australian Fashion Week. Nicola Waite is a cutting edge fashion label in exquisite fabrics for the woman who wants a contemporary, interesting, individual look, irrespective of whether she be a size 10 or a size 20. Nicola Waite’s design focus is a lifestyle one, not a size issue.”

Welcome to Alphaville! Alpha60’s latest iconic boutique will appear on our ground floor in late November. “From a rose farm in Canberra where they spent their childhood, to being synonymous with Melbourne fashion, complimentary brother-sister duo – Alpha60 designers Alex and Georgie Cleary have come along way since emerging on Australia’s fashion scene. Launching their Melbourne-based label in 2005 alongside a Vivienne Westwood retrospective at the National Gallery of Australia, the Alpha60 collection has flourished into a unique, inimitable label known for its fresh take on classic style and cuts, reflecting a ’sophisticated quirk’ unique ot the brand.”

And the team from Limedrop will be here as of today with their very own pop-up store on level one until January. “Limedrop is an Australian fashion label that captures the imagination and spirit of possibilities. Designers Clea Garrick and Nathan Price have created a men’s and womenswear line known for its use of clear lines, bold colours, structured pieces and curious proportions. The duo creates functional and wearable designs, but always peppered with a sense of playful irreverence.”

Keep an eye on our twitter and fanpage for exact dates and further details!