Romance Was Born collections that landed the Australian label a Paris couture show – in pictures

As the Australian fashion label launched its latest collection at Australian fashion week, designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales announced they have been invited to show during the Paris couture collections in July 2018 – a high honour in the fashion world. Since the pair launched their label in 2005 fresh out of art college, their eclectic designs have brightened many a runway and red carpet. We look back at some of their collections

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  • Romance Was Born’s latest collection – ‘Opal Goddess’ resort 2018 – is a collaboration with artist Jenny Kee, who designed many of the prints. With more than a touch of Parisian-inspired whimsy, the outfits are embellished with sequins, crystals and flounces.
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    Romance was Born’s latest collection Opal Goddess resort 2018 is a collaboration with artist Jenny Kee, who designed many of the prints. With more than a touch of Parisian-inspired whimsy, the colourful collection was embellished with sequins, crystals and flounces.


  • Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales (pictured here at their ‘Berserkergang’ spring/summer 2012 collection) became friends when they met at a Sydney art college in 2002. As they explain in their new book, they were both outsiders, drawn together by their love of alternative music, fashion and culture. In 2005, they entered international fashion competition ITS#FOUR, flying to Italy to compete under the name Romance Was Born, a phrase seen on a badge in Sydney’s Chinatown. They were the only Australian finalists among 500 international entrants – and a brand was born.
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    Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales (photographed at their Berserkergang spring/summer 2012 collection) have became friends when they met at a Sydney art college in 2002. As they explain in their new book (Thames & Hudson, $70), they were both outsiders, drawn together by their love of alternative music, fashion and culture. In 2005, they entered international fashion competition ITS#FOUR, flying to Italy to compete, under the name Romance Was Born, a phrase seen on a badge in Sydney’s Chinatown. They were the only Australian finalists among 500 international entrants - and a brand was born.


  • Cate Blanchett has long been a champion of the label, first appearing on the red carpet in one of their designs – a bright crocheted patchwork dress – in 2009 at the opening of the Screen Worlds exhibition in Melbourne. When Blanchett was artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, the label collaborated on the eclectic costumes for Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness.
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    Cate Blanchett has long been a champion of the Australian fashion label, first appearing on the red carpet in one of their designs, this brightly coloured crocheted patchwork dress, in 2009 at the opening of the Screen Worlds exhibition in Melbourne. Designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales collaborated with Sydney Theatre Company when Blanchett was artistic director, on the typically eclectic costumes for the play Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness.


  • ‘Nocturnal’ autumn/winter 2007 was their second full collection and Sales has said it was a reflection of their fresh-out-of-art-college lifestyle. The collection included what they described as a pearl balaclava, French lace, antique jet beading and vintage crochet – often all at the same time.
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    Nocturnal autumn/winter 2007 was their second full collection and Luke has said it was a reflection of their lifestyle at the time, fresh out of art college. This collection included what they described as a pearl balaclava, french lace, antique jet beading and vintage crochet - often all at the same time.


  • The ‘Whispering Angel’ 2016 collection shown at Carthona house in Sydney’s Darling Point was inspired by showman Liberace, or at least Liberace’s home – an Italian-style grotto full of artificial froth and flounces. The gowns delighted the fashion press, and the models seemed to be having just as much fun.
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    The Whispering Angel 2016 collection shown at Carthona house was inspired by showman Liberace - or at least Liberace’s home, an Italian-style grotto full of artificial froth and flounces. The gowns delighted the fashion press - and it seemed like the models were having just as much fun.


  • The ‘Cooee Couture’ resort 2015 show was held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the collection was a collaboration with Australian fashion designer and close friend Linda Jackson, inspired by her 70s bush couture. The designs amped up the colours and loaded on the sequins.
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    Their Cooee Couture resort 2015 show was held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the collection was a collaboration with Australian fashion designer (and the pair’s close friend) Linda Jackson, inspired by her 70s bush couture. Given it was Romance, they amped up the colours to full volume and loaded up the sequins.


  • The designers are known for working with artists and friends, and one of their frequent collaborators is artist Del Kathryn Barton. Her eye print is one of their most recognised motifs, seen here at the David Jones parade in February 2018.
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    The designers are known for their frequent collaborations with artists and friends, and one of their frequent collaborators is artist Del Kathryn Barton. Her eye print is one of their most recognised prints, seen here at the launch of the David Jones parade in February 2018.


  • ‘Mushroom Magic’ was their spring/summer 2013 collection, inspired by artists Pip & Pop and filled with references to Strawberry Shortcake dolls and psychedelia.
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    Mushroom Magic was their iconic spring/summer 2013 collection, inspired by artists Pip & Pop and filled with references to Strawberry Shortcake dolls and psychedelia.


  • Energy fields, hippies and long-time collaborator Del Kathryn Barton were the inspiration behind the spring/summer 2017 ‘Aura Aurora’ collection, which was filled with lace, crystals and whirling colours.
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    Energy fields, hippies and long-time collaborator Del Kathryn Barton were the inspiration behind the spring/summer 2017 Aura Aurora collection, which was filled with lace, crystals and whirling colours


  • The graphic ‘Berserkergang’ spring/summer 2012 collection was a riff off Marvel comics, Wonder Woman and Annie Lennox.
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    The graphic Berserkergang spring/summer 2012 collection was a riff off Marvel comics, Wonder Woman and Annie Lennox from the Eurythmics


  • The ‘Renaissance Dinosaur’ spring/summer 2010 collection was one of the pair’s most popular. It started as a joke, after Plunkett visited Italy and was inspired by the Renaissance, and Sales envisaged dinosaurs after a trip to Lord Howe Island.
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    The pair’s Renaissance Dinosaur spring/summer 2010 collection was one of their most popular. It started as a joke, after Plunkett visited Italy and was inspired by the renaissance and Sales envisaged dinosaurs after a trip to Lord Howe island.


  • The final look in the ‘Renaissance Dinosaur’ spring/summer 2010 collection was a ‘dino bride’ on the shoulders of a ‘tottering lace-draped himbo’. Fashion writer Tim Blanks compared the collection to a John Waters film.
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    The final look in the Renaissance Dinosaur spring/summer 2010 collection was a ‘dino bride’ on the shoulders of a ‘tottering lace-draped himbo’. Acclaimed fashion writer Tim Blanks compared the collection to a John Waters film.


  • The ‘Budgie Girl’ dress, made with tulle, feathers and crystals, was one of the many highlights of the ‘Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shells’ spring/summer 2009/10 show. The show was a tribute to the pair’s grandmothers and to growing up near the sea, hence the title. The ‘Cate blanket’ crocheted dress worn by Cate Blanchett (see above) was also part of this collection.
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    The Budgie Girl dress, made with tulle, feathers, and crystals, was one of the many highlight of the Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shells spring/summer 2009/10 show. The show was to be a tribute to the pair’s grandmothers and to growing up near the sea, hence the title. The ‘Cate Blanket’ crocheted dress was also part of this collection.


  • Australian designer Jenny Kee (middle) has long been a mentor, collaborator and close friend to Plunkett and Sales. They were on hand to celebrate when Kee picked up the fashion laureate award in 2017.
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    Australian designer Jenny Kee and her former design partner Linda Jackson have long been mentors, collaborators and close friends of Plunkett and Sales,


  • Another look from the ‘Renaissance Dinosaur’ spring/summer 2010 collection, which also saw collaborations with Melbourne artist Kate Rohde. The pair were inspired by her fantastical handmade work.
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    Another look from the label’s Renaissance Dinosaur spring/summer 2010 collection. They also collaborated with Melbourne artist Kate Rohde, inspired by her fantastical handmade work.


  • During the design process, most of the creations are fitted on Anna Plunkett. The pair often wear their own pieces to events. Here, Plunkett and Sales attend the opening night party for the 2010 Melbourne fashion festival at Government House.
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    During the design process, most of the creations are fitted on Anna Plunkett to see how they fit and fall. They also often wear their own creations to events, and here the pair attend the opening night party for the 2010 Melbourne fashion festival at Government House.


  • The ‘Bush Magic’ autumn/winter 2015 collection was inspired by May Gibbs’ gumnut babies. This intricately beaded gown was purchased by Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum for its design collection.
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    The ‘Bush Magic’ autumn/winter 2015 collection was inspired by May Gibbs’ gumnut babies. This intricately beaded gown was purchased by Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum for its design collection.


  • ‘Kawaii Hawaii’ was the label’s spring/summer 2013 collection, inspired by Japanese wood carvings, Kokeshi dolls and shell art.
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    Kawaii Hawaii was the label’s spring/summer 2013 collection, inspired by Japanese wood carvings, Koreshi dolls and shell art.


  • The ‘obsession applique coat’, made from metallic faux leather, beads and sequins, was part of the ‘Sincerely Yours’ spring/summer 2016 collection. The designers collaborated with artist Sarah Contos and were inspired by the 80s, Las Vegas cabaret and commedia dell’arte.
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    The Obsession Applique Coat, made of metallic faux leather, beads and sequins was part of the Sincerely Yours spring/summer 2016 collection. The designers collaborated with artist Sarah Contos and was inspired by the 80s, Las Vegas cabaret, and commedia dell’arte.


  • The designers got philosophical with their resort 2011 collection ‘The Oracle’, as they thought about life and death, endings and beginnings. They also looked to The NeverEnding Story for inspiration: this look was dubbed the Falkor wedding dress, and it was made from nylon, raffia, silk taffeta and covered in Swarovski crystals.
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    The pair got philosophical with their resort 2011 collection The Oracle, as they thought about life and death, endings and beginnings. Being the artists that they are, they also looked to The NeverEnding Story for inspiration. This look was dubbed the Falkor wedding dress, and it was made from nylon, raffia, silk taffeta and covered in Swarovski crystals.
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