Despite the mostly warranted local criticism of its wafer-thin models, Sydney Fashion Week (aka Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia) quite literally punched above its weight this year. Here are three picks from the week…

Toni Maticevski
A near 15-year veteran of the Australian fashion scene, eveningwear specialist Toni Maticevski took an opulent, feminine-edged sledgehammer to polite society. The designer flashed Sydney the bird in more ways than one, presenting a collection that segued from tailored, top-end-of-town gowns with soft, fluid edges to a casual sweatshirt depicting a subtle yet discernible middle finger. The attitude readjustment worked; Maticevksi’s show was widely acknowledged by local cognescenti as the collection of the week.

Haryono Setiadi
Fresh-faced Sydney designer Haryono Setiadi disproved Oscar Wilde’s maxim that ‘Youth is wasted on the young’ with a gorgeously delicate and sunny origami-style collection. Cropped jackets and soft, well-constructed, short-of-length dresses made from bundles of organza were artfully presented with big swooshes of optimistic color. The soft-spoken designer proved he’s no longer just one to watch.

Di$count
Shown off-site, off schedule and definitely off the charts was irreverent and wacky-liscous Melbourne-based label Di$count (short for Di$count Universe). In their first solo show, designers Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James went big with bejewelled and voluptuous sequins that put the di$co in Di$count.