The second day of Rosemount Australia Fashion Week opened with the Camilla & Marc Spring 2009 collection presented at the offsite venue of Luxe Studios. The collection’s decidedly 80’s theme sought to balance feminine detailing with masculine tailoring. The brother and sister design-duo ushered out 28 sassy looks as Robert Smith’s quintessential Cure song, “Close to Me” kept friends, supporters, and industry insiders on the edge of their seats.

I've waited hours for this
I've made myself so sick
I wish I'd stayed asleep today
I never thought that this day would end
I never thought that tonight could ever be
This close to me

Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman are the sister and brother team which form their namesake label. According to the company website, the duo shares a similarly creative and driven outlook and each brings differing, but complimentary expertise to the brand. Camilla and Marc first showed at Australian Fashion in 2003, debuting with the Spring/Summer collection “A Warm Summer’s Afternoon”. The show was an instant success and the label secured super retailer Selfridges in its first season. They have subsequently shown seven times and were honored to be offered the coveted position of opening Australian Fashion Week in April 2007. The modern-day period collection was presented at the Sydney Theatre Company along a 2,000-meter runway, allowing each guest to have a front row seat. The collection received successful reviews from both buyers and media alike, cementing the brand’s reputation for beautiful and innovative women’s clothes. Over the development of the label, Camilla and Marc has become renowned for an unerring ability to produce beautiful dresses and exquisite tailoring. The designers have set a benchmark with pieces that are both wearable and at the same time effortlessly elegant with an interesting twist.

The program notes expanded on the Camilla & Marc Spring 2009 vision—an articulated collection of feminine fragility balanced with sharp tailoring. From a sweet ruffled starting point, the collection flows coherently on. Placing detail next to detail, a path forward to a new complexity emerges. Gathered ruffles provide a constant: trimming the hem of dresses, adding volume to shoulders and softening the neckline. Smoothed down into tiers, the layers flow into high-waisted skirts and cropped blouses. Cutting into contrasting asymmetrical layers in softly varied colors they become sweet dresses, naively intricate. Turned vertical, layers become pleats of varied depths fashioned into skirts and dresses, executed in a clean and simple color palette of chalk, crème, charcoal and punctuated by blushing pink, Ming blue, scarlet, and royal purple. Used sparingly, an overblown floral printed on georgette further emphasizes the light modern feel of the collection.

 
Strong shouldered jackets nip at the waist, providing a severe frame for the softer separates. Trousers hug the leg hitting just above the ankle, while exposed zips and contrast color inserts ensure the clean silhouettes evoke interest. Similarly, lace inserts are spliced into dresses and camisoles, elevating basic silhouette into something truly special. The introduction of a capsule denim collection lends a playful edge to the sophisticated atmosphere. With sharp lines and clean washes, this is denim styled to be modern and designed to play a supporting role to the mainline collection.

This was Camilla & Marc’s 8th solo show on the RAFW schedule. Having established itself as a firm favorite of women Australia-wide, the label is now developing its position in international markets with a particular focus on the United States, the United Kingdom, and greater Europe. The extremely successful launch of C&M Swim last summer saw the label enter into new territory, C&M Swim is feminine with flattering fits and bright and bold prints mixed with a youthful feel. Both the mainline and swimwear collections will be available in stores in August.

My retro favorites referenced the balanced looks that created a leather and lace appeal, if you will: the Ginger cream frock with cropped leather jacket; the white-sequined Charlie frock; the Adelia frock in dusty rose; the cream Amalie frock with leather cape; the Vannah frock with Rita paper trench; the Freddie Pant in black with rosin top in black jersey top and Lexie vest in sand; the blue and white striped Marsha frock; the long Brandy frock in black; and the Scarlet frock in navy leather. The dichotomy of feminine details and menswear-inspired tailoring has been a consistent design direction on runways around the world; echoing that universal theme of staying strong on the inside, even when we look soft on the outside—because no matter how tough we are, at the end of the day, all women want to feel feminine and pretty.  

For more information please visit, http://www.camillaandmarc.com/
 

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