oh what is this light that holds us fast?

We scream
chatter prance and
wash our hair! Is
it our prayer or
wish that this
occur? Oh what is
this light that
holds us fast?

An Image of Leda, Frank O'Hara

my meagre photos - forgive me please! :)

I just got back from what can only be described as a breathtaking evening and Ginger and Smart. Their off-schedule presentation of "Anon" Spring Summer 2011 was held at the Finger Wharf in Woolloomoolloo, and was frequented by the beautiful people (hello Emma Lung, you are oh so pretty) and bloggers alike. It was lovely to catch up with Zanita, Margaret, Emily and Sara, as well as meet Amie, Montarna and Nicole for the first time (check out all of their blogs for much better pictures than my measly point and shoot, hmmpph). It was exciting to get a glimpse of what to expect next week at RAFW, and to see what has been going on in the minds of the Alexandra and Genevieve Smart, the creative sister duo behind Ginger and Smart. 

Their penchant for rich, heavy pigment colours, delicate patterns and loose, sheer layering evolved in this collection with laser cut details, 3D textures and embellishment fit for their poetry theme. Skirts and dresses had letters stitched to them and sheer pleats were gathered together like the pages of a book. The mottled, colourful squares of the invitation found themselves on collars, cuffs and shirts. Easy luxe grey marle tee shirts had cut out letters with mesh inserts, matching the sheer print of sentences on dresses. The sisters Smart said that they were inspired by poetry, the beauty of words and the variety of interpretations and meaning that can come about from them. Their languid, loll-about loose dresses juxtaposed against the masculine tailoring of blazers and leather shorts providing a wealth of difference and scope for interpretation - there were equal parts a very "me" silhouette of maxi layers as there were cool girl separates. Shoes ran the gamut of lace up flat brogues to towering grey wedges with neon yellow straps. The colours mixed rust with hot pink, navy blue, my favourite spectrum of milky browns and splatterings of neon brights with everything. Plenty of room for interpretation and something for everyone to gush over afterwards.

It was all about contrast, something that Ginger and Smart do well. They can easily ground a floaty dress with a pair of masculine braces and a huge envelope clutch, just as they can dress up simple cropped pants with a slouchy hot pink blouse. Their command of colour and prints is remarkable and - as evidenced tonight - breathtaking, but they also do a great neutral, just as rich and exciting as their brights. Throw all of these elements together and you have the glorious cacophony of Ginger and Smart. The girl that waltzes by you in her swishy skirt as bright as a star. They said they were inspired by poetry. Well, this is the poem that came to mind after seeing this show. The Image of Leda is one of two poems Frank O'hara wrote about his interpretations and understandings of cinema, then a new medium but it can equally describe this collection. "Oh what is this light that holds us fast"?

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