Wedding gowns are going to be a hard sell this year if your big day dress designs are even remotely removed from the one for last month's royal wedding.

So there must have been some furrowed fashionista brows when Vera Wang's latest line in aisle-wear showed at the Audi Fashion Festival last week.

It was frothy and flowy and layered and ruffled and tied in black ribbons. And the general reaction: "Nice, but so old-fashioned."

The collection was presented with Tiffany, in a departure from its clean, clear cut diamonds. It was all baubly bangly and beady. Ditto comments: "Nice, but too different." But the signature blue box and white ribbon were intact.

It was business as usual for serial air-kissers at the annual fash fest held in the big white tent in Ngee Ann City.

This time, there were two entrances - one for invited and one for ticket-holders.

Guests were hothoused in the Belvedere Vodka lounge, and people who bought tickets crammed the Rosemount lounge.

Ticket-holders won. On top of wine, there was Glaceau Vitamin Water (six flavours!) and Nespresso (alas no George Clooney, who featured in its ads).

Italy's Missoni opened the week-long affair, and France's Ungaro closed it.

Fastened between were Swarovski, alldressedup, Redken, Beradi, Erdem, Triumph and Raoul.

Thailand's Greyhound was the most anticipated and did not let the appreciative audience down.

The usual report card ruled. "Too big", "too small", "catwalk too short", "catwalk should be raised". And every show was fashionably late - by an hour. That explains the free flow of drinks.

At the intimate designer dinner - one of four - hosted by St Regis, the official hotel for overseas VIP guests, I asked the Montreal-born, London-based Turkish designer Erdem Moralioglu how many frocks he stitched up for the royal wedding.

His reply: "Just the one, for Lady Helen Taylor (QEII's cousin's daughter)."

"Oh yes, the blue with the flowers below." (I watched all five hours of the telecast).

Home-grown Francis Cheong played to a full house as the women who go to the ball ever so often are often dressed by him.

His chinoiserie collection - a tassel here, a jade piece there - presented by Marie France Bodyline was accompanied by a cacophony of music that could not decide whether it wanted to be opera or Cantonese chatter. Hoe choe, ah, Francis! (Very noisy.)

Star model was actress Christy Chung, who is spokesbody for Marie France Bodyline.

Brave guest models were Irene Ang (keep the day job, dear) and three socialite wives. Guess we'll be seeing you ladies in those dresses at the next do then.

This article was first published in The New Paper.