Gilt-edged designers out to show their fashion mettle DAVID Jones has one message for shoppers this year - time to gilt it up. Celebrating its 175th year, the store turned to texture this season with body-con dresses adorned with gold gilt, sequins, and shimmery brockade embroidery. While homegrown superstar model Miranda Kerr opened the show in a structured Ellery micro-dress, it was Willow's long cut-out gold shimmer frock that had serious sex appeal. Thurley, Camilla, Zimmerman and Bianca Spender all had luxe metallics in their ranges - no glamour shortage. On the other end of the sartorial spectrum was the mono-chromatic trend with almost every designer serving up black and white print offerings. Carla Zampatti, Ginger & Smart and Romance Was Born did them best. There was no shortage of colourful print-on-print combinations either. Easton Pearson's striped separates had a quirky and cool appeal to them while Camilla's bo-ho suiting styles will satisfy local gyp-setters. Another trend at the show was feminine lace overlay. Ginger & Smart's kaleidoscope and Rubik's cube prints will also be versatile for the office. As temperatures drop, expect to see body moulding silhouettes and structured lines from labels like Trelise Cooper and Bec & Bridge. Josh Goot's corset tops and fitted sheath, hemmed at the knee, were a standout. And for Dion Lee's finale, the man labelled the saviour of our fashion industry didn't disappoint, delivering a selection of skirts, separates with shark-gill slits and a plastic moulded jacket with a superhero feel.