Ong-Oaj Pairam Spring/Summer 2014 collection

Drew Barrymore’s character Gertie in E.T. was the inspiration for the collection. Fusing Gertie’s childish curiosity, mischief and creativity with the housewife of the 1950s, Pairam’s collection is designed for the new modern woman who became bold and confident without losing her playful side.

 Silver silk satin tea dresses with a subtle hydrangea print were teamed with contrasting skinny belts in canary yellow or pillar box red.  Above image shows a sleeveless tea dress worn over a silk shirt. Tiny red dragonflies are hidden amongst the yellow print. 

 The styles ranged from the more conservative pleated skirt to the sports luxe style Pairam loves to include in his collections such as the baseball shirt dress.

The collection was a celebration of springtime with clusters of large flowers and butterfly appliqués in organza and leather blossoming on dresses and skirts.  Flowers and insects cluster on the hem of a shiny white patent leather skirts teamed with a silk georgette baseball shirt in an ethereal daisy print on the left and gingham silk georgette blouse on the right.
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The flowers and butterflies also landed on figure hugging sheath dresses in bright colours of daffodil yellow and poppy red.  Surrounding the waist of the red dress, the flowers have fluffy red pom poms centres and a scattering of shiny beads as though morning dew.

The opaque silk organza raglan sleeves of the yellow wool crepe sheath dress create a halter neck look.  The hem is studded with silk and suede embroidered flowers and insects with fluffy pom-pom bodies.

Prints were not all what they appeared.  On closer inspection, the soft lines creating the tartan like print on a wool crepe suit, waistcoat and long coat were actually a jumble of little strokes shooting out in random directions.

This composition of this pattern was clearer on the wide nautical bands in contrasting colours of red and blue. The pattern appeared as a print on silk organza skirts and shirts, but was also hand embroidered on worsted twill shorts and shift dresses. This high necked shift dress may look demure but has a large cheeky key hole back.

Epitomising the countryside in springtime is Gingham.  In shades of apple green and sky blue they were a breath of fresh air on dresses and blouses.

Pairam took the country style gingham to new heights as he hand stitched the pattern on to the leather sleeves of patent leather bomber jackets. Here shown as the embroidered body of a short leather bomber jacket with patent leather raglan sleeves, teamed with soft brown calfskin shorts.

The biker style is on trend and this time not only as jackets but also as a style for coats. Pairam goes one step further with this hand stitched embroidered apple green leather biker style dress. Gingham has never looked so edgy!

For the ethereal wood nymph look, both long evening gowns and short playsuits were of floaty silk chiffons in a daisy print or a pattern Pairam calls Hide and Seek.

The playsuit is in the Hide and Seek print.

Look closely and you’ll find insects such as the dragonfly 'hiding' amongst the daisies. With this carefree collection how could E.T. not want to stay?

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