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If you’re not sure how long fashionably late is this season, Dion Lee is here to help. It’s fifty-nine minutes, which is how long it took for the much-lauded designer’s Resort 2017 show to commence. The impressive location for the waiting game was the rooftop of Sydney skyscraper 1 Bligh St, with equally impressive security and less thrilling elevator access.
After almost an hour of anticipation, shaken and stirred with frustration, Lee served a cocktail of sleek, aggressively sexual and elegantly restrained outfits that were immediately intoxicating and silenced weary grumbles.
Dion Lee Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images
The first few dresses in stiff cottons were like pillowcases with sharp corners turned down by attentive maids, revealing the trim. Narrow sleeves, sometimes with rectangular folds of fabric jutting out took the look from the bedroom to the street. The peeling away continued with skirts that folded over at their cinched top, creating contemporary peplums and concealing pockets. A single-shouldered version over wide-legged trousers looked like origami in motion.
Dion Lee Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images
After an interesting, sometimes unbalanced day two at fashion week it was invigorating to see a designer staying true to his singular vision without being distracted by the work of his peers. It was just as invigorating that there was not a shred of lace on the runway in a day swimming with the stuff.
Dion Lee Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images
The heat was turned up with long sleeved bodysuits with slit thighs. It seemed to all fit in with a theme of revelation which continued with inky blacks and white trims before giving way to acidy lemon versions of the folded dresses in silk and chunky crystal beaded trims. The final show-stopping number was a simple beaded mini-dress with a pleasing Paco Rabanne vibe. At last, all was revealed.
Dion emerged minutes later to applause and 59 seconds after he took his bow the stampede for the elevators began.
See all of the looks from the Dion Lee Resort 2017 show.
Dion Lee Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images
