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TOP AND CENTRE: Leona Edminston. ABOVE LEFT: Akira Isogawa. ABOVE RIGHT: T. L. Wood.

   Plunging necklines, knee-length skirts and dresses and black lace stockings added a certain je ne sais quoi to the ready-to-wear collections, and had fashion journalists planning to immediately start diets, and strategies for combatting hat-hair.
   Confirming the worst fears of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Australian designers followed the trends of the recent Paris Fashion Week and embraced fur, in the form of stoles and trimmings on coats and scarves.
   Melbourne-based designer, Gwendolynne, added a mediæval vibe to the French theme, using delicate black lace, beautiful beaded silks. Her mediæval-inspired headdresses spoke of damsels in distress, but the showstopper was a black lace backless dress, tied delicately at the base of the spine with a black lace butterfly brooch.
   Sarah, the Duchess of York was front row at the fourth ready-to-wear parade, to watch her niece 17-year old Ayesha Makim’s

The crowd who packed the Myer store seemed a tad disappointed that pint-sized diva Kylie Minogue didn’t model her lingerie herself

model ensembles by T. L. Wood, Nicola Finetti and Aurelio Costarella. The Duchess proved to be a real crowd-pleaser, having learned that day of her father’s death, and still facing a swarm of media to support her niece.
   Kylie Minogue dispelled any doubts that French accessories are hot, but chose to leave her new beau, French heartthrob Olivier Martinez at home, while she was in Melbourne showing off her new undies.
   Dressed in a lacy Colette Dinnigan cream dress, Minogue introduced her sexy-yet-sweet lingerie collection to the frenzied crowd, who packed the Myer store and seemed a tad disappointed that the pint-sized diva didn’t model her wares herself. Over at the Regent, though, the lingerie shows were causing a sensation of their own. Gwendolynne, Jain and Alannah Hill showed their charmingly delicate—and skimpy—bras, stockings and suspenders, and French knickers, sending a feminine fashion message.
   Back at the Myer parades, more youth-focused designers, Ty+Melita, Jain and Claude Maus and Wayne Coopers sent the strong message that black is indeed the new black with long leather coats and a military feel. Ty+Melita’s ‘Damned Glamour’ range included trench coats and ragged satin culottes.
   Of course, the fashion world isn’t totally oblivious to current world events and Shem’s parade registered an anti-war protest with models bearing ‘No War’ placards. Some also donned gas masks. Tacky? Hell no, thought the designer’s childhood buddy, actor Heath Ledger who gave the gas masks a smile and nod. Shem also showed T-shirt designs, which included graphics such as the silhouette of Queen Elizabeth II.
   So how does one with an average-sized figure and budget embrace the Frapanese look? To begin with, never leave the house sans beret and matching chunky scarf. Embrace the jersey dress, and team with black lace leggings (fashion statement and fantastic device for holding everything in place). Dress up an ensemble for evenings with an obi sash—thick, wide kimono-style sash—or a chunky, jewel-encrusted brooch.
   Skirts should be figure-hugging, but provide the soften option of a flared or rouched hem, and straight masculine pants should be worn with soft woolen cardigans or wide-sleeved oriental kimono top and matching obi. Finish the look with stockings and ankle-strapped stilettos or pointed toe ankle boots. •

Margaret Ambrose is editor of TheLounge.com.au and a guest contributor to Lucire.