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"    Karen Walker S/S 2014  As an Australian fashionista hailing from Sydney, it comes as no surprise that I&amp;#039;m eager to champion some homegrown designers. But when I got a glimpse of the schedule during New York Fashion Week, I couldn&amp;#039;t help but get even more excited than I normally do (blame it on my shopping addiction, but each fashion week brings a frenzy of I-want-runway-look-#14-now! hysteria).  For spring/summer 2014 there were not one but five designers making a splash on the New York catwalk. Zimmermann, a beloved Australian swimwear label that recently launched their first store on Mercer Street, showed at Lincoln Center for the first time. &amp;quot;In some ways the customer here is no different than our girl in Sydney\u2014they appreciate a casual, sexy aesthetic and they value a point of difference on what you do,&amp;quot; said designers Nicky and Simone Zimmermann. Wunderkind Dion Lee, who is known for his abstract use of digital prints and superbly cut body-con designs (consider him the Aussie version of Ala\u00EFa with a penchant for innovative fabrications), also made his debut, choosing to display his clothes amongst avant-garde light projections. Next up was New Zealander Karen Walker, a beloved fixture at New York fashion week who collaborated with up-and-coming Sydney-based accessories label Benah on a line of bags. Currently only available in Australia, Benah&amp;#039;s creations will remain a permanent collaboration with Walker, available in boutiques and on KarenWalker.com. We couldn&amp;#039;t take our eyes off the lust-worthy pastel-hued confections (pictured above) that strode down the catwalk with Walker&amp;#039;s easy collection of loose pants, patterned knits and cool polka-dot beanies. Not to be outdone was Tome, another Australian label launched by two designers eager to bring a stunning yet wearable collection to the New York market. Inspired by artist Ana Mendieta, designers Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin presented a collection of pencil skirts, silk shirts, and oversize culottes (a standout silhouette in the presentation) in light-as-air sheer, tulle, and lace made all the more beautiful by the pastel-hued color way. &amp;quot;Australia represents perhaps the influence of ease and lightness that always permeates the collection,&amp;quot; said Martin. &amp;quot;We always think of our woman as having a strong idea of her own identity. She knows what she needs and wants to be inspired by fashion, not dictated by it.&amp;quot;    Tome S/S 2014    Dion Lee S/S 2014, Zimmermann S/S 2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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