Australian Fashion Week

Sometimes it's not simply the clothes, but more the way they're put together than can make a collection look all shiny and new. Fashion week brought with it a cascade of new season trends and colours (you've checked out our mega-galleries by now, right?), but in addition to all of that designers were employing some nifty styling tricks that we're keen to try too (read: blatantly steal). From the unexpected footwear at Dion Lee's exclusive presentation to the new school way of wearing your shirt at Watson X Watson — there's a slew of new school ways to wear. Let's go! 

It's time! Are you ready? Because we're about to distil five days of fashion week madness and 30 plus runway shows into one super-fast, easy-to-click trend gallery. The strongest shapes, the key pieces, the newest looks — they're all here. From sculptural frills that fanned out from the body like 3D waves at Karla Spetic to the sophisticated take on the crop top at Ginger & Smart, to the sexiest skirt shape as seen at By Johnny — if you weren't on the ground at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia, consider this as your one stop shop. Everything you need to know about Spring/Summer 2013-14 awaits you inside . . . 

Pulling a full house on Day Five of fashion week is no easy task, but the eager masses crowded into to the darkened Theatre to see the runway debut from Staple the Label. The street label is an industry go-to for basic but cool wardrobe staples — hence the name — however, there was nothing basic about this catwalk presentation. Michelle Jank presided over the styling and creative direction, setting up a perspex divide and creating an air of expectation via dramatic spotlight choreography. The clothes didn't escape her tricked-up touch either, with clever layering and distinctive combinations put together from the minimal but modernist S/S line. Liquid silvers and shimmering sheer organza shells added futuristic glamour to the streamlined separates and unfussy, sports-inspired jackets and dresses. It was cool, it was wearable, it was everything your wardrobe wants and doesn't yet know it needs. 

• Colours: Black, white, silver, acid yellow and fuchsia pink 
• Trends: Sheer, oversized shapes, suiting, silver, sporty shapes, white on white, jogger shorts, monotone dressing, bold stripes and checks. 
• Key Looks: A liquid-silver three piece skirt suit, grey marle sport separates spliced with white perforated (p)leather and modish organza shell tops and slips worn over simple shapes in white, black and hot pink. 
• Accessories: Punkish nose/ear chains, Nude or white with grey two-tone two-strap heels, wide resin bangles and slick envelope purses.

When you were looking through our Fashion Week coverage did you ever think I want my skin to look exactly like that? Or I wonder what eyeliner she's wearing? Or how did she get that perfect red wine lip shade that I can't find anywhere? Well wonder no more. Sure, it takes a lot of products for a runway look to come to life but there were a few staples that kept popping up time and again through the week so if you want to look runway-ready, add these to your arsenal.

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.

Designers Liberty and Somer Watson (yep, sisters, hence the namesake label), aren't new to the fashion scene, but their Spring/Summer '12 offering marked their debut Fashion Week presentation. As their collection hit the runway you could almost hear the collective gasps from the crowd at what was a revelation of epic fashion proportions — these were clothes every woman craves to own, and wear, on a daily basis. For the working woman, soft tailoring and fuss-free silhouettes were on offer in crisp white and nude, while evening wear was presented with sequins, lace and plunging necklines in everything from dresses to jumpsuits. Weekend wear took a sporty turn thanks to utility-style jackets and relaxed florals, and the palest of pinks lent a feminine edge to slim-fit pants, relaxed tees and slouchy knits. Whether you like your silhouettes kept tight and sexy, or prefer something slightly more oversized and exaggerated, Watson X Watson delivers the goods, and then some.

• Colours: White, pale pink, black, nude and khaki.
• Trends: Exaggerated sportswear, soft tailoring and relaxed '90s style.
• Key Looks: Cropped leather pants in black and silver, the perfect anorak mixed with a fitted white dress, floral-print bomber jacket with pink pants.
• Accessories: Multi-buckle heels in white, tan and black. Tiffany & Co. RUBEDO metal jewels.

Stephen Seago (KMS California) created two different looks for the Toi et Moi show: one up, one down. The up 'do was a "casual, sexy, shabby-chic" top knot which Seago styled using KMS California Root and Body Lift and lots of back-brushing, and the second, natural-looking waves, were created using a 22mm tong and Sea Salt Spray. The makeup, by Maria Gabriel (Make Up Store), was inspired by France (naturellement) and took on a black and white theme with a wash of white on the lids and thick black winged eyeliner. Skin was given that sheer, luminous glow that we've seen almost every show thanks to Base Prep, an primer with pearlescent accents. Picking out a soft coral from the collection, Gabriel used the coordinating Crust Lipstick which looks prettier than it sounds!

Day one of MBFWA provided us with a wide spectrum of hair and makeup looks to add to our inspiration boards, from the pretty pastel shades at Lisa Maree to the bold, superhero looks at Romance Was Born. While we may not be brave enough to wear the thick blue liner and bright red hair from RWB just yet, we do love the softer beauty looks modelled by the celebrities sitting front row at the show. Lara Bingle, Kate Waterhouse, Sophie Lowe and more proved that dewy skin was the celeb makeup must-have of the day, while Jenny Kee and Whitney Port’s red lips were another look to love. See how the stars did MBFWA beauty . . .

Bec Prior (Napoleon Perdis) was inspired by the 1920s when creating the slightly dark and quirky makeup look for Gail Sorronda. It focused on a statement lip that looks as though it's smirking. Faux lashes were also used to balance the look and again emphasise the doll-like feel of the entire look. Jon Pulitano (Redken) countered with an equally striking hairstyle. Theatrical and inspired by "old world charm," Pulitano created "wraps around the contour of the models' heads" that were similar to wig caps. Take a closer look now.