Asking a fashion week stalwart to get out of bed early and travel to the other side of town in peak hour traffic is a tall ask. But ask Manning Cartell did and the crowds came – and they queued, first for their seating ticket, then for a caffeine kick from at the strategically-placed mobile Barista cart welcoming guests as they walked in.

Perhaps it was the spectacular setting – a park under the Sydney Harbour Bridge boasting a view of the Opera House across the water as a backdrop – or the unseasonably warm and sunny autumn morning, but there was a lightness to the affair even before the first model stepped onto the glistening, grey gravel-strewn runway. Finally, a Resort Week runway show that felt, well, really resort-like.

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Manning Cartell Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images

Manning Cartell’s modus operandi is elegant, relaxed clothes that are wearable, and feminine and today’s collection delivered precisely what people expected: a well-curated edit of pieces ideal for the Australia market, but clever enough to be appeal commercially across the pond as well. Models zig-zagged across the square runway in indulgently-layered soft fabrics featuring tassel-like fabric detailing that was more Byron Bay than bondage and wafted behind girls in the harbour breeze.

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Manning Cartell Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images

A gentle earthy palette of tan, khaki and rust was given the occasion shock by electric golds and bold scarlets that were Insta-feed fodder. Stripes in ’80s orange and brown satisfied pattern lust, while models crisp all-white peplum bra tops teamed with wide legged white trousers could have stepped straight onto one of the luxury cruise liners that often sit directly across the harbour.

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Manning Cartell Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images

Anywhere else, a sequined top teamed with satin combat pants would be a fashion cliché, but here it worked in most part thanks to the former’s almost gym-like long sleeve and midriff proportions. Glittering metallic fabrics in bronze and silver off-set clingy long dresses, although the low-scooped on the latter (also seen on GRAZIA Market Editor Nadia Fairfax sitting front row) was sexy in a laid-back, simplistic way.

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Manning Cartell Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images

Sheer slip dresses with shoe-string straps were toughened up with boxy long jackets again reminiscent of the 1980s and a bold gold satin strapless pants suit layered like paper featured raw edges as a playful touch. Cross-strapped open backs reminded us of the season these clothes were intended for, while shoulder-skimming gold, silver and glass earrings teamed with metallic heels ticked the final styling boxes.

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Manning Cartell Resort 2017
Credit: Getty Images

After a day prior filled with edgy, dramatic and sometimes overly serious shows, this collection was a breath of fresh air literally mid fashion week. Daring and disruptive it was not, but everyone left smiling – including the throng of local police making sure the public-space soiree (and the inevitable fleet of chauffeur-driven VIP Mercedes-Benz cars that are part and parcel) went off without too much mayhem.

See all of the Manning Cartell Resort 2017 runway looks.