Models on runway at Sao Paulo Fashion Week
The Oscar Niemeyer-conceived Ibirapuera Auditorium played host to events at Sao Paulo Fashion Week.
(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Sao Paulo’s tropical oasis, Ibirapuera Park, was abuzz last week with the vibrant colours, clicking heels and dazzling flashbulbs of Sao Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW). Housed in Oscar Neimeyer’s serene Pavilhão Ciccillo Matarazzo, SPFW is now in its thirteenth year and flourishing.

While officially recognized as a viable alternative to shows in Europe and the US, what really sets SPFW apart is its commitment to Brazilian themes. And it's definitely the richer for it. The oversize shoulders, demure drapery, geometric cuts and architectural shapes of A/W 2010 were revitalized in the hands of Brazilian fashion's great and good.

Saturated colours, tropical tweeds, safari silks, exotic prints and playful styling injected the shows with fresh personality and impressive diversity. Highlights included Fraga’s metallic two-piece; Amapô’s cubist mini dress; Huis Clos’s heavenly drapery, Iódice’s Scarlet Macaw print, Gloria Coelho’s futuristic architecture and Animale’s porcupine trim.

Alongside local flash bulb magnets such as Fernanda Lima and Gloria Kalil, there were also a few international appearances - Jesus Luz and Agnes Deyn at Ellus were highlights - reminding everyone that brand Brazil isn't just a local affair, it's steadily seducing the world.

Good signage sets

Good signage sets the scene for what’s inside...

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Bold and voluminous for Amapô women.

Bold and voluminous for Amapô women.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

National pride lends bold colour at Amapô men.

National pride lends bold colour at Amapô men.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Velvet newspaper prints and extravagant tailoring at Amapô

Velvet newspaper prints and extravagant tailoring at Amapô

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

A standing ovation at Amapô.

A standing ovation at Amapô.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Actress Fernanda Lima leads Amapô design duo

Actress Fernanda Lima leads Amapô design duo, Carolina Gold and Pitty Taliani to take their bow.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Bouncers guard the door at Ibirapuera Park’s Biennale.

Bouncers guard the door at Ibirapuera Park’s Biennale.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Bold and Brazilian

Bold and Brazilian: Carmen Miranda’s style lives on.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

A pair of bright Brazilians.

A pair of bright Brazilians.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Sao Paulo Fashion Week

Cogs...

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Models worn a stylish dress

...and spikes set the tone at Animale.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Red and black stylish dress wore by model.

Factory fabulous at Animale.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Digital diva Erika Palomino gives her expert opinion.

Digital diva Erika Palomino gives her expert opinion.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Digital web: displays suspended within the curvaceous interior of the Biennale.

Digital web: displays suspended within the curvaceous interior of the Biennale.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Nude eyes and blood-stained lips create a vampire look at Erika Ikezili.

Nude eyes and blood-stained lips create a vampire look at Erika Ikezili.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Ramp walk by models.

Finale at Erika Ikezili.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Erika Ikezili takes a bow.

Erika Ikezili takes a bow.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Attentive and stylish at Simone Nunes.

Attentive and stylish at Simone Nunes.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Theatre of the absurd sets the backdrop at Simone Nunes.

Theatre of the absurd sets the backdrop at Simone Nunes.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Fire & ice

Fire & ice: sharp tailoring meets passionate colour at Simone Nunes.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Lace and tattoos in the audience at Neon.

The rough with the smooth: lace and tattoos in the audience at Neon.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

The models performed a ramp walk

Nune’s metallic frills and scallop edges.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Ronaldo Fraga’s Pina Bausch inspired show.

Theatre meets dance meets fashion in Ronaldo Fraga’s Pina Bausch inspired show.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Metallic jersey, exaggerated tailoring and brogues at Ronaldo Fraga.

Metallic jersey, exaggerated tailoring and brogues at Ronaldo Fraga.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Back-to-front, eye-catching headgear for models a Ronaldo Fraga.

Back-to-front, eye-catching headgear for models a Ronaldo Fraga.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Bahian colours and tropical tweeds light up the final leg of Fraga’s show.

Hair they come: Bahian colours and tropical tweeds light up the final leg of Fraga’s show.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Creative heels at Neon.

Perfect scales - creative heels at Neon.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Silken safari at Neon.

Silken safari at Neon.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

A tribal safari suit from Neon.

A tribal safari suit from Neon.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Safari chic, Neon-style.

Safari chic, Neon-style.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Neon’s lion takes centre stage.

King of the jungle: Neon’s lion takes centre stage.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Vestal virginal luxe at Huis Clos.

Vestal virginal luxe at Huis Clos.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Huis Clos’s floating angels.

Pure perfection: Huis Clos’s floating angels.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

A heavenly sequin-encrusted shift dress at Huis Clos.

A heavenly sequin-encrusted shift dress at Huis Clos.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Fashion blogger extraordinaire, gives Huis Clos the up and down.

Gloria Kalil, fashion blogger extraordinaire, gives Huis Clos the up and down.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Vintage neon prints in Oi’s show shop.

Vintage neon prints in Oi’s show shop.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Waiting for the show to begin.

Waiting for the show to begin.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Melissa’s latest sculptural creation in the Cirque-inspired Melissa Lounge.

Give me wings - Melissa’s latest sculptural creation in the Cirque-inspired Melissa Lounge.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)

Footwear duo: Melissa teams up with Vivienne Westwood.

More temptations from the favourite footwear duo: Melissa teams up with Vivienne Westwood.

(Image credit: Kajsa Mclaren)
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