Audi Fashion Festival highlights local designers alongside international labels

The 2014 Audi Fashion Festival’s press conference. The five-day affair will have a record number of shows. Follow Urban's live coverage here. -- FILE PHOTO: AUDI FASHION FESTIVAL
The 2014 Audi Fashion Festival’s press conference. The five-day affair will have a record number of shows. Follow Urban's live coverage here. -- FILE PHOTO: AUDI FASHION FESTIVAL

Audi Fashion Week came to a close on Sunday night with its biggest show since the event kicked off on May 14.

American fashion house Oscar de la Renta showed more than 50 creations from the designer's fall/winter 2014 collection. There were tweed dresses and pinstripe suits, but it was the designer's signature red carpet-worthy gowns that stole the show. The highlight came at the end, just when the audience thought the show was over. A "bride" and two flower girls took the final walk on the runway to the delight of the packed tent at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza.

The model wore a silk wedding gown with lace applique from the 81-year-old American designer, who could not attend due to personal reasons. But he did make an appearance through a pre-recorded video that was played before the show started. Attending on his behalf were representatives from the fashion house, including Eliza Bolen, executive vice-president and de la Renta's step-daughter.

Hollywood actress Kate Bosworth was among the 650-strong audience last night.

This year's Audi Fashion Festival saw a record number of shows - 17 - held over five days.

Day Five

The final look from the AFF runway- an Oscar de la Renta wedding dress. The two adorable flowering girls sent the crowd into oohs and aahs.

There were tweed dresses and pinstriped suits, but of course the Oscar de la Renta gowns stole the show.

Day Four

The theatrical showcase from Japanese label Dresscamp.

Canadian designer Thomas Tait was drawn to everything that clashed this season. All the colours were a mismatch, but Tait made it work.

Day Three

Designer Priscilla Shunmugam is known for her innovative take on ethnic clothing. For this season, she sent out jumpsuits and cropped tops with mandarin collars. The show started with single-tone dresses and gradually turned into a showcase of prints.

Exhibit's designer Yoyo Cao describes her first collection as minimalistic with an androgynous spirit.

Day Two

No one does fun better than Jo Soh. The local designer sent out her signature knits and wrap dresses in quirky lightbulb prints. We can see these looks on women of every shape and size.

Day One

Videos from Prabal Gurung's show which opened the Audi Fashion Festival on May 14.

Nepalese-American designer took the 650-strong crowd at the Audi Fashion Festival on a trip to the Himalayas. His fall 2014 collection was inspired by the Mustang region in Nepal. Read more about the collection in the May 16 issue of Urban.

The sixth Audi Fashion Festival, which will be held from May 14 to 18, is set to make a statement this year.

Not only will there be a record number of shows - 17 -, there will also be the most number of local labels with their own stand-alone shows.

Last year, there were only two local labels - Zardoze and Raoul - but the number has doubled this year. The four labels are Hansel, Ong Shunmugam, Saturday and Exhibit.

On the international front, veteran designer Oscar de la Renta, Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurung, London-based Singaporean designer Ashley Isham and Canadian designer Thomas Tait will also stage their own solo shows.

All shows will be held at the Ngee Ann City Civic Centre.

Tickets are available at www.sistic.com.sg. Those to the Oscar de la Renta and Prabal Gurung shows are sold out.

For more information, go to www.audifashionfestival.com.

Follow Urban writer Stacey Chia on twitter @ST_LifeTweets and watch this page for daily coverage of the festival

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