White Cashmere Collection Show Brings High Fashion to Bathroom Tissue

The sixth annual 'White Cashmere Collection 2009: Fashion with Compassion' runway show kicked of the yearly slew of fashion-related breast cancer fundraisers and awareness taking place this week.

Distinguishing it from the rest is easy: it's the one with the dresses made of toilet paper.

Or, as it was more daintily referred to at the show, bathroom tissue. But this delicate material posed an intriguing design challenge that lured in some of the country's best talent for the cause, including Greta Constantine, Sunny Fong, Carlie Wong, Paul Hardy, NADA, Tavãn & Mitto, Anastasia Lomonova, and Farley Chatto.

The collection was curated by stylist Peter Papapetrou, who kicked off the runway show that showcased the designers' creations.

While I thought it'd be hard to keep a straight face while viewing fancy gowns and stylish separates made entirely from toilet paper --sorry, bathroom tissue-- some of the pieces on display proved that true talent can work with whatever they're given.

Some of my favourites were the flirty cocktail dresses designed by Carlie Wong and Anastasia Lomonova. The former sent a halter mini dress down the runway adorned with Art Deco-looking, sharply scalloped, lily-like blooms, while the latter managed to create a frankly stunning party-dress covered in tiny, perky rosettes that seemed a kindred spirit with Giambattista Valli's recent ruffled gowns.

The designers weren't restricted to dresses, either--I loved Tavãn & Mitto's chic quilted coat with the giant fold-over collar, and Farley Chatto's sharp, low-cut blazer. Paul Hardy even managed to work the TP into a pair of tight, bright-pink pants that were like the soft, spring-y version of Balenciaga's 3CPO leggings.

October's bursting with breast cancer fashion events, but it's a rare one that actually shows some true style--toilet paper or not.

Photos by Stefania Yarhi.