*Ring-a-ling-ling*

“Hello?”

“Hi Dion Lee, this is Christine Centenera from Vogue. I want to put one of your designs on our March 2010 cover. You down?”

This is how I image Dion Lee’s conversation with Vogue Australia went down wayyyy back in 2009 when the Aussie native first struck gold. Though it probably happened on a flip phone, and he probably answered with a “G’day mate!” instead of a “Hello”, in this case, the specifics are irrelevant. What does matter is despite the fact that the Sydney-born sartorial mastermind was fresh out of design school, he had already worked his way into the big leagues. His latest collection “Oil + Water” has us bowing down in awe-struck admiration over the interplay of shiny finishes (oil) and wave-y silhouettes (water) – but ultimately, we love him for his down-under flare (which is exemplified by an Aussie twist on the most northern hemispherical textiles. Leather has never looked so beach!!)

If your curiosity is piqued, 1) read on to learn ~all about~ the existence of this Aussie mastermind, and 2) join us in believing that his design mastery is one to watch from now…until the end of time.

Header Image: Dion Lee Facebook

The Man Behind The Magic

Source: Vogue.com.au

D.L.: two initials that usually suggest confidentially or staying mum. You know – “keepin’ it on the DL”? Yeah. Well Dion Lee, another force by the same name, is anything but.

The industry has been buzzing at full volume since the designer’s graduation from TAFE Sydney Institute of Technology. Later, Lee ventured onto the London catwalks annnnd bing-bang-boom: the whole world knew the little Aussie that could. He’s been called “The leading light of fashion down under” by Style.com – a BIG title for someone under thirty. Justifiably, Lee has consistently delivered a fresh approach to traditional tailoring season after season. He specializes in matching up unlikely textiles (who knew felted wool and mesh could rule so hard) all while drawing inspo from the country that gave him his wings. It’s new-age Kiwi dressing 2.0!

The Introduction

Source: Style.com

Throwback to fall 2012: Lee’s ready-to-wear collection is off the charts! His London debut was a introduction of shorts into the big leagues. I spy geometric cut-outs reminiscent of Alex Wang RTW 2013, and enough sheerness + glamour for a Hollywood red carpet. While layered organza and tulle create an optical illusion, it was the designer’s use of reflective fibers that really stole the show. Style.com recommends these ensembles for your late night bike ride home from the party. Just look what it can do:

Against an admiring camera flash, street style photogs will eat that stuff up!

The Rise

Source: Style.com

Since fall 2012, Lee has gone on to garner international accolades from every corner of the fashionverse. He scored the LMFF Young Designer Award present by Woolmark, and caught the attention of major retailers. Within a year, both Net-A-Porter and David Jones were both clamoring for orders.

Lee’s Resort 2013 collection showed no sign of slowing down and the designer entranced critics with laser-cut detailing and neoprene bonded to lycra. Fashion elite fell hard for the mix of barley-there textiles and relaxed Aussie athleticism.

…Still Rising…

Source: Style.com

Just when we thought we’ve seen every trick up his sleeve, Lee unleashed his Fall ’13 collection featuring the magic of felting wool to mesh. The result: some major ombré-gone-sporty in the best possible way. Plus, who could resist a good ~wave-y~ co-ord set?!

Source: Vogue Australia

Newness

Source: Oracle Fox

Continuing his quest for catwalk domination, the man from Oz hit the ground running with the release of his most recent collection: Resort 2014. In true Aussie style, Lee’s broken into the swimwear market at full force. Comprised of both aquatic attire and office-to-eveningwear, the collection is an ode to oil + water. Co-existing, they are in a state of eternal separation, probing artists like Lee to take note of their exquisite shapes and colours.

Source: Oracle Fox

While the swimwear pieces are the only items in the collection that are water-approved, the möbus silhouette of the leather shift (above) has “surfable” written all over it. Digital interpretations of the ocean blue stream for beach time. After all, they are cut out of the same cloth as wet suits…

Celeb Supporters

Source: Dion Lee Facebook/ Into The Gloss/ Rita Ora Instagram

Not just a fashion crowd favourite, Lee has got Hollywoodland’s most stylist starlettes under his spell too. Dree Hemmingway kills it in the free zip skirt at a Vogue party, while Miranda Kerr sports her DL faves on Into The Gloss. Even music maven Rita Ora shows some love on social media style as she sports her DL top backstage. //hashtag fashun//