Alice McCall is one of the few Australian designers who has been able to appeal to the mainstream, produce consistently winning collections and remain abreast of current style trends all at once. In the same domain as industry stalwarts like Sass & Bide, Shakuhachi and Kirrily Johnston, Alice McCall has stood the test of time in Australia's tempestuous industry. Decidedly marketable but with subversive hints, Alice McCall's mastery of wearability incorporating trends is genius as the veteran fashion darling manages, in the same breath, to create both progressive and 'safe' pieces, all of which occupy the same collection.

Alice McCall's Spring/Summer 2011/2012 collection, "Cat Of The Duchess" is no exception. An ode to the sophistication of the 70's, McCall embraces old world poolside cocktail hour glamour with the relaxed bohemian aesthetic of the decade. Unsurprisingly, glamour and bohemia are the two contradictory elements that have come to define the designer, season after season. Mastering the paradox deftly, McCall has bridged the divide between decadent luxury and the middle finger attitude of rock'n'roll. And all the while remaining distinctly delicate and feminine; a feat for the most seasoned designers, McCall pulls it off with ease and grace.

Prints, ruffles, lace embellishments, clashing textures and cut outs, the Alice McCall tropes are all here for The Cat Of The Duchess. Dreamy and romantic, the collection finds edge in printed tees, high waisted pants and body con shapes. From the whimsical fairy princess to the sex goddess, McCall embraces the multi-faceted woman, celebrating the many dimensions of femininity with brazen ferocity and and elegant classiness.