North Freo designer gets to be so lucky

AN eye-catching outfit by young North Fremantle designer Emma McAndrew is one of the highlights of a Kylie Minogue-inspired exhibition at the WA Maritime Museum.

The museum’s Kylie on Stage exhibition in February was a real crowd-puller, so the South Metropolitan TAFE’s fashion students have put together another extravaganza, paring up and coming designers with hair, beauty and floristry artists.

Tafe creative industries manager Andrew Quintal said the exhibition was more than just pretty frocks, with students challenged to explore meaning and communication in human movement and form.

“Students rose to the design challenge by exploring themes such as fingerprints, deportment and posture, the physical expression of emotions, and primal human reflexes such as goosebumps and  butterflies,” Ms Quintal said.

Ms McAndrew, who’s studying applied fashion and design, said she took inspiration from Victorian undergarments like corsets and hoop skirts.

“This design examines the manipulation of the female silhouette in the Victorian era,” Ms McAndrew said.

“The recycled books used as the headpiece are a comment on the historical emphasis on female deportment and posture.”

The exhibition is at the maritime museum on Victoria Quay until June 30.

by STEVE GRANT