Rebecca Lau founder of online shopping website GOSHcelebrity.com.au
The Peplum
Lau
has already seen peplum shapes work well for online sales at
GOSHcelebrity.com.au, believing they flatter a variety of shapes and
sizes. Part of the tailoring trend for AW12/13, which also includes the
return of the three-piece suit, the peplum’s prominence across dresses
will work well for the Australian market, Lau believes. She claims the
biggest challenge for etailers is exclusivity; “A lot of physical stores
are protected by their location. Online stores are not protected in
this way. When brands sell to say 10 online stores, there will be a
price war”. She believes a maximum limit should be set for online
stockists.
Josh Flinn Alex Perry publicist and television personality
Colour & Cut
Agreeing the peplum will sell well in Australia, Flinn also backs the resurgence of jewel shades such as amethyst, sapphire, rubies and emerald as epitomised by Haider Ackermann. He revealed the Perry brand was careful of trends however, often creating custom-made garments for editorial magazine shoots to promote looks for the season. “It’s the classic investment pieces that sell the strongest in terms of ready-to-wear. We will regularly create more aspirational looks for magazine shoots”. Couture and bridal remain a strong part of the business in any case, with high-end customers seeking these one-off creations.
Daniel Avakian bespoke and large-scale private label designer
Leather
As well as creating bespoke suiting for corporate clients and uniforms for premium restauranters such as Neill Perry, Avakian supplies private label collections to a national womenswear retailer. While leather was a strong feature of the AW1213 season through a variety of colours, embroidery and mixed media collages, Avakian believes leather trims, lapels and detailing will work best for the Australian market. “The ‘whole’ looks won’t neccessarily sell well in Australia, but trimmings and details will sell across a lot of different categories and markets.”
Phoebe Garland Garland & Garland Fashion agency co-founder
Texture
With Garland & Garland specialising in the 35+ age demographic, Garland believes textured prints, leathers and fur trims will sell strongest for this market. Trends are more likely to be embraced by Australian women when they are interpreted through prints and fabric texture, as they are reluctant to embrace fashion-forward cuts, Garland says. She reports higher volumes of business in winter. “It’s all about investment pieces. We had a piece retailing for $500, at the upper end of what we sell, and we sold bucket loads”.