Black is banned: MYER halts the hue . . on the runway anyway . .

Pics from news.com.au

IF you were a big black-wearing fan (and who isn't?) you kind of got the feeling you won't be 'of-the-moment' this season.

After much media fanfare, the Myer department store threw GFC concerns out the door and delivered a refreshingly indulgent spring/summer season show in Sydney.

Not indulgent in the French-flowing and caviar-served kind of way, but selected guests were picked up on-trend Prius cars; were shown a big and bold runway show and momentarily did feel like we were back in the 80s.

Color reigned supreme, on the runway at least, although there was no stopping it on the night's guests . . .well, it still is the easiest color to wear.

A jolly-looking Myer exec team (stock exchange listing anyone?) including the big Kahuna, Bernie Brooks, greeted us at the 'door' of the Carriageworks in Redfern before we wandered inside the cavernous space for a glass, a gawk and a goss.

Myer is the 'people's store' and that vibe came across with 'real' labels _ Country Road, Cue, Blaq (the Myer home brand), Jag, Levi's, Basque and _ nestled around the Myer designer 'offering', as they say in retail land.

Labels like Camilla & Marc, Charlie Brown, Wayne Cooper, Carla Zampatti, Nicola Finetti, Bettina Liano, Leona, Jayson, Yeojin Bae and Toni Maticevksi (which is actually a strong nod to Aussie brands) were styled Thelma McQuillan and made up by Liz Kelsh.

So the trends? Cuffed denim shorts; wearing block colors of yellow, blue and pink; super-sized prints; mega shoulders on jackets and shift dresses and mega killer platforms and spikey heels. So forget any Boho wardrobe hangovers from seasons past, it's all about 80s-inspired, short and sharp tailoring. Guess it is time to go 'shopping' in my own 80s archive . .

And the Myer guest list? A diverse roll-up which included Sonia (Lady) McMahon to Pip Edwards, Dannii Minogue (whose boyfriend, Kris Smith is Our Jen Hawkins' modelling buddy), Michael Klim, Guy Sebastien, Lara Bingle (who looked to her ruffing up her good girl image with a dose of bed hair) and the usual fash-mag posse.

I was surprised to see powerful News Limited chief John Hartigan and dynamic New Mags boss, Sandra Hook relegated to the 2nd row. Yeh Gods! That must have been a seating slip-up . . . or perhaps they had requested the more humble seating position?

Runway virgin, Sunrise's David Koch, gave me a fantastic running commentary as the show went on, saying the always elegant collection from Carla Zampatti was his fave while a few other faces included Skye Leckie, jeweller Carolyn Roberts and her partner John Walton, Alison Veness-McGourty, Jane Ferguson, Mark Vasallo, Kirstie Clements, Louise Milligan, Angela Bishop and Charlotte Dawson.

And an end-of-eve highlight? The miniature toasted sambos, served post-show. Now those really did put us back into the real world.