2009’s graduates from the Melbourne School of Fashion sent fresh collections down the runway in an epic parade at the Palladium Ballroom last week. Pieces ran the gamut from feminine to aggressive, commercial to fanciful and from bridal gowns and clothes for kids to serious works of art. View designs from over 20 of the newly minted designers below.

Ivett Simon uses texture (including macrame-style knits) intricate cutting and unusual fabrics to create refined shapes.

Pom-poms,  pleats and in-built coat hanger details show Lin Zhang is conscious of the design process

Shahrazad Gorji envisions a ‘woodland creatures’ alternative to children’s wear in dappled tie-dye and mossy knits.

Willy Wonka’s feminine alter ego ‘Penny Black’ emerges in Marianthi Stavrakis‘ literal collection in candy coloured felts.

Marc Nanfro creates menswear with elements of grunge, western and different denim styles.

Satin, rosettes details (like the kind you see on top of presents) and soft pink were in order for Billie Tjia’s feminine designs.

Sophie Griffiths makes me wish I wasn’t too old for capes and hoods. Girl-y children’s’ wear with fanciful quirks.

Zoe Taylor and Giulia Flammea team up to produce a men’s and women’s wear collection in bold block colours paired with solid black and touches of gold.

My favourite hue of the moment, lavender, stars in Elise Townsend’s designs alongside florals, soft draping and chunky chains to toughen things up a little.

Designer Ross Cajucom does lean urbanwear for his Imperium by Caju collection.

It’s inspired by the world of bugs but it’s not creepy or crawly; Haydee Davis works with mottled fabrics and the aesthetics of exoskeletons.

‘Little Odd’ girls’ wear by Laura Natale is traditional with folksy patchwork detailing.

Evah Karakatsanis gives French-maid like frills and embroidery an edge in neon brights.

Irvan Wijaya focuses on intricately detailed waistlines and floaty pastels in his evening wear collection.

Jane Jetson in a good way is how I think of Valeria Randello’s retro-futuristic designs with their strong collars and shoulder lines in a striking hot pink.

Rachel Lee works with gothic tone of purple and black (with a shot of vibrant yellow) with out there formal wear. Hair fringing makes pieces even more eccentric.

Bianca Torrealba produced a bridal collection inspired abstractly by seashells. No blue and yellow here, only waves of satin and vaguely shell-like bodices.

Bridal wear designer Bethany Poole sticks to classically simple silhouettes.

Dong Ping Yang conjured up the Victorian era in a thoroughly modern way, turning her theme of blood and grief into beautifully draped pieces.

Tess Joslin adds interest – a gather here, a frill there – to modern classic pieces. I love her sheer, olive green skirt with folds.

Tee shirt hem cut on the diagonal are a design element in Audric Cheah’s menswear line.

And finally, we get a peek at next year’s potential as second year Melbourne School of Fashion students show off their menswear, styling and couture works.

If you have some new favourites or “ones to watch” let me know who and why in the comments below.

Pretty prose by Sarah Willcocks

Inventive images by Vicky U

Dong PingYang & Biance Torrealba images courtesy Patrik Nemes