International supermodel Gemma Ward, who is 14 weeks pregnant with her second child, looked amazing as she walked the runway wearing a Camilla zebra print kaftan with a beaded v-neck detail.
The look was paired with a huge African-influenced beaded necklace that reached to Gemma’s thighs.
The blonde also wore tribal-inspired earrings and sandals to complete the outfit.
“”You have to stop working at some point during a pregnancy so they [David Jones] got me at the right time,” says Gemma.
It was the first time the event has been taken offsite for nine years, and the venue at Fox Studios reflected the campaign, which was shot against the New York City skyline.
The many VIP guests were wowed by the dramatic monochromatic set with billowed silk adorning the head of the runway playing projected images of iconic New York scenes and motifs to represent the fashion showcased.
The standard bright summer colour palette was muted again this year, with black, neutrals and dusty pastels the dominant shades. Prints did make regular appearances thanks to Zimmermann, Romance Was Born, Manning Cartell and Camilla, with retro patterns a popular pick for local designers.
Embellishment will be this summer’s denim cut-off shorts. Romance Was Born – celebrating 10 years with David Jones – stole the show from the outset, opening with sequin-encrusted jackets and shiny, pleated skirts, reports Fairfax Media.
“Every woman needs that metallic pleated dress from Romance Was Born,” says Damian Burke, the new womenswear general manager.
Expect to see, or be seen in, creations boasting bare shoulders, cut outs, knots, trains and bell sleeves as the weather warms up.
“In Paris everyone is very fashionable. In New York everyone is in their gym clothes but here we’re embracing creativity and people are getting their head around wearing colour and being a bit more individual,” Romance Was Born co-creator Luke Sales adds.
The seventies also dominated the runway, thanks to a wealth of off-the-shoulder peasant tops and dresses and disco-esque metallic fabrics and silhouettes.
And it was this trend which wrapped up the parade; with the four headlining female beauties, including David Jones ambassadors Jesinta Campbell, Jessica Gomes and Montana Cox, all sizzling in this summer’s hottest swimwear.
The quartet channelled retro cult film Xanadu in embellished seventies style ensembles from Zimmermann.
You can watch a video of the full runway show by visiting the David Jones Facebook page here.
