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Kirrily Johnston

19-05-2009   



She epitomises Australian fashion, relaxed and sophisticated casual, and it is this designers Bohemian and often-tribal style that speaks to all of us living on the sunny island lifestyle.


This year's inspiration was about ‘Synchronicity'- the relationship between two events. It was unclear on how this was explored throughout the collection, apart from the opening video of a man and woman coming together in a serendipitous fashion. Perhaps the collection should have been entitled ‘Synergy'. Johnston successfully melded feminine fabrics with masculine timepieces, and mastered the blend of gender specific designs to form a unisex vernacular. From the layered gold chains, to multiple gold cuffs and the Searching Bags that interchanged between female and male models, the audience became aware that she was designing for not men or women, but PEOPLE.

kirrily johnston

As the lights went up and well-known model, Alyssa Sutherland stepped onto the runway, and since her humble beginnings as the 1997 Girlfriend Magazine finalist, she demonstrated her calibre as a model with every step.

Like many designers at this years RAFW SS09/10, Johnston's colour palette was soft and tame, with colours of blush, tan, white, black and hints of gold foil…and nude, blush and tan all over again. Johnston hit back with a striking orange, that saved the collection from loosing dynamic.

Kirrily


Johnston key signature style this year was draping and wrapping of soft stretch knit fabrics, showcased in the Spacetime Drape T's and Spacetime Drape Tunics. This highlighted an ethnic appeal to her collection, with her Cosmic Gown that was gathered into a buckle at the waist and shoulder, it was reminiscent of an Indian Sari or the Happening Halter Gown remerged ideas of African tribal wear.  Combined with the slicked hair that wrapped around the models necks, it resembled Ndebele women of South African tribes who wear multiple gold bands around their neck.

Johnston is always set apart in her collections, as each design encompasses the greatest of ease. As much as they do speak of a time or era, there is a nomadic air to her style, which translates to the modern world we live in. Her venture into menswear, unisex designs and denim jeans is a great expansion on her style that maybe needs to be considered for her clothing in the future. But it is her seemingly serendipitous approach to her work that makes her a natural talent, giving the label more and more momentum.

By Deborah Burton
Images by Jaqui Mitchell

 




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