The second runway show of MMSFW provided a night of experimental fashion and eclectic looks as some of Australia’s most creative labels went head-to-head in Style Wars.

TV kicked off the dramatically staged event as girls clad in copper-red jumpsuits and black visors escorted the models alongside the runway. Dresses with vertical pleat detail in the same shiny fabric gave way to simple shifts and tanks in a black and white geometric pattern.

Moments of tough-girl shone through - tight black pants, cutout tanks and zipper detail all combined to create a don’t-mess-with-me attitude. Color predictions for the spring include shades of yellow, beige and white, while waistlines look set to stay high.

Alpha 60 displayed serious street cred with tee-shirts emblazoned with late rapper Tupac Shakur’s image. Loose tunic dresses contrasted with structured button down-shifts, giving the show a serious yet playful feel.

Matching ensembles in a recurring print created a strong visual impact, with hoodies, shorts and patterned tee’s cementing the label as one of Australia’s most creative streetwear brands.

Claude Maus stayed true to form by depicting the battle between dark and light with their designs, adding a touch of fairytale fantasy.

The color palette stayed mostly neutral, with shades of black, white and grey dominating, and it was left to the garments themselves to do the talking. Loose, billowing tops and jackets were given shape with drawstrings as more floaty materials were kept grounded when paired with tighter pants.

Kate Hurst’s collection of pretty, girly pieces were well-received as some of the most wearable of the night. Splashes of red peppered the collection of simple floral print dresses and blouses and soft ruffle and bow details added a sweet touch.

For the most part the look was breezy and feminine, with a few tough black shifts and zippered leather jackets thrown in the mix.

Friedrich Gray’s frenetic, fast-paced showing was an assault on the senses with an industrial-grade techno thump distracting attention from the garments on parade.

Black, white and grey dominated in simple cuts and shapes. Men sported jodhpur-style pants and vests layered over tee’s while metallic heels, tight skirts and zipper detailing created a no-nonsense look for the girls. The label’s obvious flirtation with the dark side rounded out the show with a vampire-inspired, cape-like black trench.

Models wearing plain white masks sauntered down the runway for Material Boy, where fluro stirrup pants in green and pink were the order of the day. Loose, oversized tanks balanced out the super-tight bottoms in a variety of colors and prints. Leather lace-up shoes were colored to match outfits in a show that could only be described as homeless man meets nu-rave boy.

A matching short and shirt set complete with patterned trim and zippered, stuffed codpiece had the fashion types in attendance amused, typifying the label’s impractical yet fun nature.

Romance Was Born rounded out the night with a collection that undoubtedly created the biggest impact of the week so far. Using everything from tulle to stonewash denim and a huge variety of textures, colors and props, the label put on a show that had to be seen to be believed.

Pieces inspired by organic materials and almost ethnic prints were spattered between the hard-and-fast edginess of metallic silver and gold. Pants were tight, tops were loose and attention to detail was key.

A hooded pink terrycloth playsuit complete with floppy bunny ears and carrot-tipped drawstrings upped the novelty factor, but it was the label’s collection of dresses that really commanded attention – a wonderful mash of home-ec meets haute couture, almost impossible to describe.

The show closed with a mock gay ‘wedding’ as two male models took to the runway, bouquet in hand. While the audience expressed their approval with applause the two played up their roles as the happy couple, appropriately ending an evening of bold statement and creative vision.

View Photos from the Runway Here