KEY POINTS:
The Italians have leatherware, the Americans have sportswear, and next summer the Australian fashion industry will have a very short dress as their mascot.
What, a minidress?
Yes, a short, shapely shift dress and it will probably be in silver or metallic grey.
You could hear the sighs
of boredom coming all the way from across the Tasman last week as fashion editors from throughout Australia and New Zealand sat through show after show of mini-skirted shift dresses with a mildly futuristic feeling.
It seems that, like a hungry dingo with a bone, once those Australian designers get their sharp little teeth into a trend they don't stop chewing on it until it's disintegrated.
But every fashion week has its mainstream shows.
And there were certainly some interesting shows by up-and-coming Australians.
Funny actually, because there had been plenty of newspaper stories about how terrible it was that many of the big established names - such as Collette Dinnigan, Wayne Cooper and Akira Isogawa - had decided to pull out out of the event.
But by the end of the week it was clear that some of the best shows were by so-called younger labels, although names such as Alice McCall, Tina Kalivas, Josh Goot and Kirrily Johnston are really more what you'd call adolescent labels.
They've been around for a while and for several this was a second or third solo showing at Australian Fashion Week.
And just like last year, although they all managed to show some fairly predictable "on-trend" garments, at least these Aussie labels are coming up with their own distinctive looks.
After this Australian Fashion Week one thing is for sure: if you like a short dress and you love an Australian label, you won't be short of options come next summer.
TRENDWATCH
Shorten your hemlines
On those slim teenage models the hemlines are going higher and higher.
Take a shift
Dresses, dresses and more dresses, especially if they have a smock-like look or shift-dress component.
Brighten up
Almost every Australian label injected splashes of what one fashion editor called electro-pop colours into their collections. Lime-green and yellow were the most popular shades, then cobalt blue and acidic pink.
Let it shine
Sparkles, sequins and metallics weren't just for decoration, whole mini-dresses were made out of them.
Look forward
It's already happened on international runways - blame Balenciaga for this retro-futuristic trend.
New names
Friedrich Grey, Lee Matthews, Silence is Golden, Romance Is Born
THE GOSS
Best controversy
First the Australian newspapers debated whether enough big-name designers were showing. Then they turned their attention to the models and almost every day of Fashion Week some journalist managed to squeeze out another 'Are models too skinny?" story. Finally, top designer Wayne Cooper told them that Australian models were comparatively "porky" - and that was that.
Most Embarrassing Moment
When Lili tried to put on an unofficial fashion show in front of the Fashion Week tents, the organisers had only got as far as laying down a little red carpet for the girls to walk on when security guards appeared and hustled the models back into their van and sent them on their way.
Worst Fashion Crime
Bali-based Australian Nicholas Morley had his models wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Four Kilo Anti Hero" at his Saturday night show. He was referring to Schapelle Corby, whom he believes is "guilty as sin" and who has, he reckons, "tainted the island's reputation".
Nearest Miss On A Runway
A model at Tina Kalivas' show appeared wearing black adhesive tape all over her face. Was it a gimp mask? Had she fallen into a vat of tape? No, the poor girl had a skin condition which flared up on the day of the show. So Kalivas' cunning stylist taped up her face in keeping with the vaguely bondage style of the clothes.
Best Fashion Joke
The show that relatively new Australian label, Romance Was Born put on was based around 80s teen flick Weird Science, with guys in lab coats wandering around with bras on their heads, kept company by a bearded woman. The crowd loved it, especially Vogue editor-in-chief Kirsty Clements, who usually keeps her poker face on during shows.
Best Goodie
Designer Charlie Brown usually blows her marketing budget on importing some supermodel or celebrity to wear her clothes. Perhaps because she wasn't showing this year and she didn't know what to do with her cash, every Australian fashion journalist who came to her breakfast launch was given a Blackberry phone.
Biggest Crowd
Possibly the eagerly anticipated Ksubi show on Thursday night. Rumour has it hundreds of those sent invitations were turned away while those lucky enough to get in had to wait for an hour for the show to start. But at least while they were waiting they got to perv at American pro surfer Kelly Slater, seated in the front row. Apparently he's buddies with the designers. As for the show, there were no rats, no genitalia and no real surprises. The label's grunge streetwear was possibly most exciting when seen on Texan supermodel Erin Wasson.
Nicest Fashion Label
The kind young people at the One Teaspoon label who wandered around the parking lots at Fashion Week, slipping extra coins into the parking meters when they were about to run out, then leaving their calling cards tucked into the fashionistas' windscreens.
Best Celebrity Moment
Dainty burlesque star and former wife of Marilyn Manson, Dita Von Teese, was perfectly groomed and everywhere. A guest of beauty company M.A.C, she even stripped while riding a giant lipstick as if it were a mechanical bull. Because of various events in Sydney at the same time there were rumours of all sorts of celebrities coming to shows. Fergie, singer with the Black Eyed Peas, made a quick appearance. Nicole Ritchie, Jessica Alba and pop singer Pink were supposed to show - but didn't.
Best Reality TV Moment
The second season of Australia's Next Top Model is halfway through and some of the finalists made it to various runway shows. The Alex Perry show will feature on the programme eventually and New Zealander Charlotte Dawson, who is one of the judges on this season of the telly series, was seen applauding enthusiastically in the front row.
