Last week was, predictably, a bigger week for most of us in the fashion industry than we've had for some time. Amid a week of shows where we almost saw it all, the one thing that served as a constant, was skin. Not in an overtly sexy way - although the Resort season meant skin was certainly on display - but in an "I want what she's having" kind of way, where models repeatedly cascaded down the runway sporting little more than a luminous glow. Refreshing runway debuts of reimagined silhouettes were matched by a focus on pared-back makeup and healthy skin, the type frequently brought to us by Hunter Lab - AAFW's official skin sponsor, and our brand of choice for necessary Fashion Week skin maintenance to have us looking and feeling our best. As we look back at the week that was, we are reminded that it was all glow, all the time.
After an early morning session to reset our chakras and crystals with Jeannie from Venustus in preparation for the week ahead, we headed to Carriageworks to kick off with Jordan Dalah's debut runway show, and the moment many of us have been looking forward to since the AAFW schedule had been released. In the words of our own Jess Blanch, "When you begin your debut fashion week show, the opening show at AAFW no less, blasting a song by Lil Asaf & MFKZT you are sending a strong message that you’re not here to mess around. It is true, Jordan Dalah has not come to make dresses we can wear to a summer BBQ. Thank god." With quasi-couture dresses that had us embracing the bustle and hair that spoke literal volumes, Dalah's runway looks were completed with minimal makeup and raw but luminous skin via Hunter Lab, a detail that felt integral to the mood Du Jour.
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The following morning was much of the same freshness. Treated to a sunrise beachside show by Richard Jarman's resort wear label, COMMAS, models floated down onto the sand clad in very little more than raw fabrics, the sea breeze, and the signature, gender-inclusive Hunter Lab glow. RUSSH contributor Kitty Callaghan and I then jumped into the car to head to Carriageworks, stopping for motor oil and flushing facial fluid with the Hunter Lab Aura Facial Sculpting Tool along the way. Sometimes it's not all 'rest and reset'.
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Fast forward to Thursday, and we were headed backstage to the Manning Cartell show where Marine Healing Essence helped to calm and prepare skin for the runway, creating glassy complexions courtesy of Hunter Lab. Once on the runway, true to form, Manning Cartell showed us a diverse, sexy but clean-cut collection inspired by day-to-night.
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On the topic of the night, we then secured our dancing shoes firmly onto our feet and headed to our very own RUSSH Fashion, Let's Dance party, where we blew off a whole bunch of steam from the week with performances from 1300 and DJ sets from the likes of DJ Crabby, Byron Spencer, and Monty Callaghan.
Suffice to say, it was a week filled with dancing, deadlines, debauchery, and really good skin. Until next year, learn more about Hunter Lab here. You can also catch up on our show coverage here and here.
