Fashion in full force in Perth. Picture: Ryan Ammon

A totally packed house of guests at the Perth Concert Hall were visibly excited as the opening night of the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival (TPFF) got underway in front of WA’s style fiends.

The prospect of sitting front row through a fashion show didn’t even deter West Australian premier Colin Barnett — who had faced that unenviable task of coping with his recent leadership challenge.

“I’m very pleased to be here, I’m also very pleased to still have a job,” Barnett smiled and told the crowd in a short and precise speech before five Aussie designers — two from WA — hit the runway.

The slick show was presented AMP Capital Shopping Centres and featured five of Australia’s best designers — Bianca Spender, Dion Lee, Romance Was Born, Flannel and Zhivago. The AMP Capital show certainly featured a Fab Five of Aussie designers, all shaping the future of Australian fashion.

Models strut their stuff in front of a trendy crowd in Perth. Picture: Ryan AmmonSource:Supplied

The festival will continue throughout the week with a celebration of 50 years of music and a fashion show Wednesday night as well as Myer hosting a smart lunch for style and fashion fans, along with Jen Hawkins leading the charge.

At the opening night launch, the TPFF founder Emma Milner wore a bespoke (and mighty sheer) Ae’lkemi creation (hello, Kimmy K!) while Los Angeles-based WA actress Chloe Hurst dazzled the front row in a spectacular dress by Zhivago.

One person who was missing from The Frow was former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora and his Adelaide-raised guitarist girlfriend Orianthi.

The pair, who play and stay together, were on the guest list and it was hoped they would play an acoustic set, but the pair had to pull out, citing more work needed on their soon to be released new album.

The show featured designs from over 15 designers. Picture: Ryan AmmonSource:Supplied

But that didn’t deter the gathered fashion throng, corporate entities & Perth social set who partied hard afterwards under a specially set-up marquee next to the Concert Hall.

Meanwhile, to celebrate 50 years of fashion, iconic WA boutique Adam Heath looked back into their archives to explore how Australian fashion has evolved over the past half a century.

The unique runway show created a visual timeline of Australian fashion from 1960 to today, brought to life by music from Australia’s most celebrated artists from each decade.

The show featured designs from over 15 designers including Akira, Collette Dinnigan, Jenny Kee, George Gross, Harry Who, Jag, John Cavill, Tour, Prue Acton, Stuart Membery, Billion Dollar Babes, Tea Rose Couture and Third Millennium.

A Myer fashion lunch on Thursday will see guests spending an afternoon indulging in canapés and a two-course lunch accompanied by the finest Australian wines as they enjoy a preview of the latest Spring/Summer looks from Myer’s line up of leading Australian designers including Alex Perry, Morrison and Aje.

Other shows happening over the next few days include Manning Cartell, One Fell Swoop, Empire Rose and Flannel.

Backstage at the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival 2016. Picture: Stefan GosattiSource:Supplied

The closing night, aptly called The Art Of Fashion is mooted to be a real spectacular.

“Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life,” so said the late and famous street style photographer, New Yorker, Bill Cunningham. And individual this show is planning to be.

The eccentric, the avant-garde, the art of design in it’s finest form, The Art of Fashion will feature the most progressive designers will be celebrating in this spectacular showcase to close the 18th Festival.

Like most of the fashion festivals throughout Australia, shows are open to everyone with Perth hosting ‘Fashion Central’.

Some of the show’s featured includes fashion strips and stores like The William Street Collective, Enex, General Pants, Restyle Runway, Hyperluxe, Pigeonhole, Carillon City, Once Upon a Run and the Vivien’s Model Search happening throughout the weekend.

Backstage at the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival 2016. Picture: Stefan GosattiSource:Supplied