iD Fashion much more than 'pretty clothes'

Model Angela Gibb presents a creation by Nicole Hamilton. Photo by Jane Dawber.

• Southern Trust iD Fashion Show slideshow

It was once again that exhilarating flurry of fashion and imaginative styling which left the 1600-strong crowd at the Southern Trust iD Dunedin Fashion Show in an elated mood well after the last model and designer exited the runway at night's end on Saturday.

But it is more than just pretty clothes on good-looking models that have seen the show prosper since that first event at the Bennu Cafe and Bar back in 2000.

Rather, it is the diversity of each collection and the wonderfully fresh appeal that the designers inject into their ranges from season to season without compromising their design styles.

This hit home on Saturday night when, as a salute to the event's 10th anniversary, Donna Tulloch and Tanya Carlson showed poignant glimpses of their past work.

As well as intriguing new-season outfits, Tulloch's sculptured Mild Red pieces included spectacular signature garments of other iD shows and seasons and collaborative works with sculptor Graham Bennett that were exhibited in Japan last year.

Alongside winter '09 gems, Carlson's splendid one-off couture gowns she's created through the years wowed the crowd. Some had been seen at the railway station before.

Who could forget the cloud of musky pink georgette or the green velvet gown with its plunging neckline?

Margarita Robertson with her stellar international label Nom*D has over the decade developed wovens alongside her knitwear into an important aspect of the brand.

This came through in the latest collection, "Bedlam", that alludes to the creativity that often comes from chaos.

Continuing to push boundaries with design experimentation of traditional garments, Nom*D showed beautiful men's and women's overcoats, jackets and chunky knits amid the heavy styling.

Juliet Fay, an ingenue 10 years ago, has developed her aduki label into a strong contender in men's and women's dressy casual wear.

Her design confidence is seen through the showy metallic lace dresses and skirts, the cool plaids, and fine knitwear pieces.

First featuring as a young fashion school graduate in 2003, Charmaine Reveley is another who has "grown up" into a skilled, individualistic designer.

In a gutsy winter range entitled "All in a Golden Afternoon", standouts included tailored winter coats of plaid, peacock blue and orange, and softly styled dresses and tops splashed with bold, beautiful floral prints.