A winter dawn sky shot with lavender blues and pinks was the genesis of former Dunedin designer Tanya Carlson's powder blue taffeta gown.
Originally designed for a magazine photo shoot, the gown that includes dusty pink silk organza was a reflection of what Ms Carlson felt was the Dunedin landscape, and the city's ''beautiful morning skies''.
The gown has been displayed at the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum as iD Dunedin Fashion Week draws attention to the works of designers.
Museum visitor experience manager Kirsty Glengarry said a contemporary designer was featured each year in the material culture room.
''We decided it would be great to get Tanya to be involved for 2015.''
Ms Glengarry said the museum was interested in showing one of Ms Carlson's couture pieces - couture usually meaning high-fashion custom-fitted clothing.
Ms Carlson said the magazine shoot in which the gown was used was held at Cargill's Castle, and the dress was designed with Dunedin's heritage in mind, as well as the movement of the sea and the landscape.
The design was made in one piece, rather than with a paper pattern, and the single piece of taffeta draped directly on to a mannequin.
As well as showing work at the iD Dunedin Fashion Show at the railway station, Ms Carlson is a iD committee member, and a judge for the Emerging Designer Awards.
