Susie Bubble wraps up day four at RAFW, with highlights from Dion Lee, the TAFE show and ELLERY.

There's always a BUMPER day at any fashion week where show after show becomes a spectacular must-see and your stress levels start to increase because you become increasingly anxious about getting to the shows, getting to your seat, getting pictures, getting backstage scoop and just 'getting' stuff in general. Thursday at RAFW was fortunately one of those days.  I say fortunately. I secretly love fashion week stress.

Dion Lee began proceedings with weather being on his side for a second year running.  I recall his last show being so utterly beautiful in setting and execution so there were high expectations.  His latest collection didn't falter although perhaps the light this time was even more intense due to the mirrored catwalk which reflected light back into the guests' faces so much so that we all had to use our press-releases as make-shift sun shields. 

That may have actually enhanced the experience of seeing Dion amp up his signature modes of intricate tailoring where lines are drawn on the body in an angular way through cut-outs and precise shirting and jackets. 

The prints that resembled shattered crystals or crumpled paper as well as a rubberised texture that added an extra dimension to Dion's collection…

The finale comprised of a series of white dresses with built in panels of pleats and sheer organza tucked and folded around in a seemingly haphazard but clearly orchestrated way…

It proved to be the multi-sensory experience we now expect out of a Dion Lee show and we came out slightly dizzy but perhaps also grateful that we were...

Seeing the graduates of TAFE provided a respite after the intense experience of Dion's show and for me, Emma Mulholland stood out immediately as someone with specific point of view that revolved around a cartoonish take on underwater sea life and beach-memorabilia.  Beyond the theatrics, Mulholland really honed in on details such as macrame belts, intricate embroidery and beautiful printwork…

Then we hopped it over to the impressive White Rabbit gallery for the much-anticipated Ellery show where I spotted a buyer wearing these amazing Ellery shoes from a previous season.  The Ellery universe was in full force in a magazine entitled 'Ellery Gazette' that was given to guests, summing up her aesthetic and her world.

The show was based on David Hockney's contemporary artwork and entitled 'The Second Marriage', models came out walking in pairs where you could read masculine and feminine aspects in each pair.  The colours ranged from candy pink to peach to sunshine yellow to burnished gold and white, and Kym Ellery's eye for detailing remained at the forefront with highlights of corsetry detailing, diamante speckled collars and peaked padded shoulders.