Daring to be different is paying big dividends for Salasai with its shows getting consistently stronger each season. To a driving sound track, the latest lifted the sagging spirits of a big crowd at the Hilton's convention space.
After three days of seeing rather too many variations on a theme, it was refreshing to be surprised.
Designer Kirsha Whitcher took a bold approach with a number of garments featuring contrasting sleeves and collars. A man's jacket front came half white, half black and a shirt was bone coloured at the front, white at the back and had a black rimmed patch pocket.
Camel and black also teamed up in knits which featured an arm in one shade and the opposite another. For women teal twinned with black in a jacket with collar contrast.
This was an equal opportunity outing, with a good number of strong designs for both men and women, though the men did end up on top. They even got the chance to stride out in grey kilts, both long and short, the short worn over skinny trousers.
Women got the mini kilt too with its leather toggle side closing, plus an A-line midi in black and white houndstooth A-line midi. A long-sleeved round-necked knit top featured leather panelling laid out as a bustier.
Almost inevitably there were a few of the season's standard drapey georgette dresses, but gold pants and white shirts haven't been seen all over and a watery effect top that graduated grey through green was unique.
Almost inevitably there were a few of the season's standard drapey georgette dresses, but gold pants and white shirts haven't been seen all over and a watery effect top that graduated grey through green was unique. I loved the latticed top on an ecru coloured sleeveless knit.
A giant snowflake was a suitably-sized pattern for an oversized sweater dress. Eye-catching, effective and effortless, it sort of summed up the Salasai dress code.