This past year has been a big one for Collette Dinnigan, what with a new baby; her first book, Obsessive Creative (published at the end of October); and a bridal business that s booming. And it got the designer thinking about where she is now and how far she s traveled in her twenty-odd years in the business. "This collection is very much about emotional contrasts, but at the same time I wanted to reach back to where I started," Dinnigan explained backstage before her Spring show. "It s a mix of color with a surprising twist." With that in mind, she named her collection for the Joni Mitchell song "Both Sides Now."
True to her lingerie roots, Dinnigan s first looks out were cotton broderie anglaise, in a wispy dress or a simple, lacy T-shirt worn over eyelet shorts. Cocktail hour came up fast, though, bringing with it a splay of flowers: Diamanté ones spilled over the bodice of a wispy ivory dress or cropped up in a geometric pattern on a couple of short, silky numbers with black shoulder ties. Dinnigan showed six looks based on Woolmark s Cool Wool, which she custom dyed in vibrant harlequin blue for a dress with cherry-red floral appliqués or worked into daisy appliqués to bring texture to a red and beige calf-length dress. Of one look in draped beige wool with Swarovski beading and a plunging neckline, the designer commented: "This woman has the confidence to let her scarlet bra show." And while Dinnigan s finale of breezy maxi dresses would be right at home, in any color, at a wedding, they just might catch on for daytime, too.
