2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

MBFWA has almost come to a close! But not before we saw some stunning hair and makeup inspiration from the likes of Suboo and Akira. We weren’t the only ones wowed by the colour from Suboo’s morning show, as it attracted some gorgeous ladies to the front row. Jesinta Campbell and Zoe Balbi played with pretty pink lip colour, while tousled, wavy locks were seen on the likes of Kate Waterhouse, Casey Burgess and Nikki Phillips. We’re almost at the end so check out some final celebrity beauty looks at Fashion Week, and don’t forget to catch up on all our MBFWA fashion and beauty reports.

Day Five of fashion week can be a struggle. Shows and days blur, and it's hard to muster excitement for an early morning show, let alone one off site! However, Suboo's Friday morning slot proved no barrier all of the above. Suboo may be known for their beachy-lifestyle accessories but their ready to wear debut lifted front row spirits and got us seriously excited about Summer. Cheery abstract prints, shots of chartreuse, and anglaise-like perforated cottons was expertly cut and spliced to make figure-fitting maxi dresses that were cooler than the average resort offerings. Contrasting crochet edging, colour-spliced panels on knife pleated skirts, bustier tops, sexy side cut-outs and racer necklines made the poppy collection of silk jumpsuits, cotton voile dresses and one piece swimsuits modern - but sexily so. These are the sorts of clothes that make you want to skip off to the nearest tropical island STAT, piña colada in hand. Suboo's collection heralds from somewhere we would all rather be.

• Colours: Neon chartreuse, cornflower blue, powder blue, mint green, pale pink, tangerine, white, cream and black.
• Trends: Pyjama dressing, cut-outs, sheer, neon, graphic prints, jumpsuits, peplums, pastels and thigh high splits.
• Key Looks: A strapless chartreuse and white spliced bustier-top maxi dress, mint cotton sundress with cut-out detail peplum, net-spliced printed one piece and one particulary fab tangerine cut-work lace dress.
• Accessories: Two-strap sandals in gelato three way splices, black and white, or plain peach colourways.
• Front Row: Nikki Phillips, Kate Waterhouse and Jesinta Campbell.

We had Christopher Esber on our most-excited-to-see-at-fashion-week list and the 23 year old (yes, really!) certainly didn't disappoint. The same considered concepts, impressive construction and cool-but-wearable aesthetic was present as it was in his critically acclaimed 2011 RAFW show, but this season Mr Esber showed us his dark side. A fetishistic undertone could be detected in his hard-edge leather separates, unexpectedly sexy use of sheer fabrications and the prim-from-the-front but revealing-from-the-back tunic tops and dresses. The neck was the erogenous zone of choice, with high necked collars, leather chokers and plunging V-necks drawing the eye upwards, and slim-cut trousers and knee-to-midi hemlines playing the more modest card. Esber's tailoring skills were showcased via his crisp shirting, structured and slightly over-sized outerwear, and concise but slick collection of menswear. Yet again, Christopher Esber has managed to make our runway-weary eyes light up with his inspired vision. Bravo!

• Colours: Cornflower blue, powder blue, white, charcoal and black.
• Trends: Oversized outerwear, sheer, cropped pants, tailoring, leather, thigh high splits and tunic tops.
• Key Looks: The white and black sheer-spliced dresses, knitted tunic tops, slick tailored separates and that leather dress.
• Accessories: Simple two-strap stilettos in black and nude, and solid silver cuffs worn on each wrist.

We’ve almost reached the end! After five days of runway shows and presentations (not to mention the pre-shows), Fashion Week goers are probably celebrating the end of MBFWA with a drink and flat shoes, but not before checking out the last designers on the schedule. This morning’s Suboo show at the Summit had an impressive 360 degree runway and stylish front row that included Jesinta Campbell, Kate Waterhouse, Zoe Balbi, Casey Burgess and Nikki Phillips. Click through to see their outfits and make sure you check out all our MBFWA coverage, including a fun behind-the-scenes gallery of Sugar’s editors at Fashion Week!

The king of the artful drape delivered a collection filled with light, movement and colour at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia. Gone was the slinky jersey fabrics from last season, replaced by fluid silks in a sorbet rainbow. Wafting down the runway was a parade of parachute capes, asymmetrical hemlines, floor length skirts split to the thigh and the whoosh of wide legged trousers. It was an essay in modern minimalism with sculptural one shouldered sleeves, sleek strapless styles, sharp shoulders and dramatic V-necklines keeping things clean up top, and allowing the diaphanous skirts and trousers take centre stage.  Crisp blazers and suit separates were a structured counter point, but it was the fluid colour play that brought joy to Carl's loyal fan base.

• Colours: Gelati shades dominated; mint, strawberry pink, watermelon and tangerine, tempered with neutral grey, white, stone, khaki and navy blue hues.
• Trends: Asymmetrical hemlines, draping, pastels, thigh high splits and tailoring.
• Key Looks: Any of the longer, draped dresses in sorbet shades.
• Accessories: Two strap, colour spliced stilettos and sculptural sci-fi head pieces.

Suboo kicked off the last day of Fashion Week in style this morning. Liz Kelsh (Max Factor) said that while she wanted to "pay homage to the [beach style] origins of the brand," she didn't want to just create a beachy makeup look. "I wanted it to be fashion forward." That meant a glossy chartreuse eye — a colour picked out from the collection itself — with the pigment being taken slightly underneath the eye too. As well as being used on the lids, Max Factor Vibrant Curve Effect Lip Gloss was also used to highlight the cheeks and make the catch the light. For the hair Robert Ham (MoroccanOil) created a sleek ponytail "that's woven at the sides" to create a macramé effect. "It's not too feminine," Ham said. He used the hero MoroccanOil Treatment, Hydrating Styling Cream and Glamorous Shine Spray to "create a shellac finish."

"She's the beautiful assassin," Kate Squires (Napoleon Perdis) said of the Christopher Esber woman this season. "Think Uma Thurman in Gattaca." Skin was fresh and natural but had a sheen to it. "It's as though she's just been working out," Squires said. She used Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Napoleon Complex Skin Renewal Serum, Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer and the new Off-Duty Tinted Moisturiser to "give skin that glow and hydration." Orange Sherbet Color Disc and Light Patrol Luminzer Palette Rose were used to create a "natural smoky eye" and then clear gloss was added over the top just before models hit the runway to create a glossy sheen "that's almost dripping." Renya Xydis (Wella Professionals) kept things "clean and tailored" at the front of the hair but knitted the back into a 12-braid plait. "It's a basket weave which we then rolled up into a bun" at the nape of the neck. Xydis used Wella SP Elegant Shape, the Cloud Nine Irons, Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray and Sebastian Professional Form Re-Shaper to create the look. Essie's Ballet Slippers was used on fingers and toes.

"It's a modern take on the classic '80s wedge," Alan White (ghd) told us of the Carl Kapp hair look. Citing a "modern Helmut Newton woman" and Rooney Mara in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo as references, White did lots of pre-show prep as there were 33 models who all needed to have wigs fitted and styled. As well as the ghd mini styler, he used Straight and Smooth Spray, Smooth and Finish Serum and Final Shine Spray right at the end to emulate Madonna's wet-look, high-shine strands in her "Rain" video. Bec Prior (Napoleon Perdis) also referred to "'80s and '90s Helmut Newton" as an influence saying of the makeup: "It's the element of contrast. There's a strong, androgynous feel. The hair's quite severe so this is the softer counterpart. It's still strong, but it's got a softer edge." She created an "eye stain" using Brown Sugar Eye Pencil applied with a synthetic brush, applied mascara on the top lashes "to balance the hair" and used Auto Pilot Lip Service on the lips and as a highlighter on the cheekbones. "We're keeping their natural lip colour but, as this has menthol in it, it stimulates the blood flow and really brings that colour to the surface." Here's your access-all-areas backstage pass.

Paspaley's beautiful flagship in Sydney's CBD was the venue for Aje's Spring/Summer collection show, setting a glamorous tone for the event. Dresses were so heavily sequinned they looked almost impasto, hemlines were cut-and-curved for added interst, and out-of-the-box necklines shone the spotlight on decolletages; racer-front, one shouldered and turtleneck lines drawing the eye to those stunning multi-strand pearl necklaces by Paspaley. It was glamorous, but in a modern way, walking that tricky sexy/cool line with ease.

• Colours: Cream, toffee, black, emerald, turquoise and gold.
  
• Trends: Asymmetrical hemlines, peplums, sheer, texture and crop tops.
  
• Key Looks: Heavy-handed sequin dresses, midriff-baring tops and cool cropped jackets. 
  
• Accessories: Flat biker boots and Paspaley pearl jewellery.

"We're trying to create the feel of shipwrecked, so we're creating these mermaids that have just come out of the water, but in a really polished way," Diane Gorgievski (Joico) said backstage at Aje. Extensions were added in and to give the appearance that the hair was wet and had only started to dry at the top, the ends were darker than the roots. She used Joico K-Pak Mousse, Texture Spray, Humidity Blocker and K-Pak Serum and the Joico Gel to create the look. The makeup look was minimal, "It's an achievable beauty," Amber D (MAC) said. MAC Strobe Cream and Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion were key products and, where models' skin tone was even, foundation was skipped. Fresh Brew Lipstick was used to create a sheen on the eye, the artists did the "slightest contouring" and then Lip Conditioner rounded out the look. "It's really nice, refined beauty." OPI Cosmo Not Tonight Honey was used as a base colour for nails with a chevron V of Designer Series Glow and then sparkle powder over that. See it come to life now.