Sheer, sheer goodness - as I love me anything black and sheer. And the latest R. Groove collection delivers all that and more. Designer Rique Gonçalves burst onto the Brazilian fashion scene in 2007, and has since been a rising star. Producing one of the most interesting collections in the Fashion Rio season, he's been collecting numerous awards for his work since he debuted, including what's considered the Oscars of fashion awards in Brazil: being named Breakthrough Fashion Designer (alongside Alexandre Herchcovitch who received Best Menswear Designer that year) in 2008.

This collection includes a number of elements that I have particular soft spots for: black sheer fabrics, boiler suits, and (more recent fave), wetsuits for land-lubbing...AND some Na'vi-esque coiffure action!

Knit shorts and a lightly quilted, zippered water bottle shaped cape. Odd at first glance, but actually clever when thinking of the Brazilian climate.

Love a good boiler suit...

And for all you fashion forward Aqua Men out there - the half wetsuit topped with a sheer hoodie.

GALLERY

Backstage @ Alessa

Being a musicky kind of person, the Alessa show made me smile; bright, upbeat and a little bit shambolic in a sort of happily rock and roll way, Alessa was full of fun pieces destined to draw comment from even the most fashion blind of people.

With prints that were verging on cheesy, in a 90s, Blossom-esque fashion, made up of flowers and musical instruments amongst other things that were haphazardly cut and pasted together. Colourful vinyls were made into neck pieces and earrings, and a plethora of stacked jewellery adorned wrists, ears and decolletages.

Voluminous top-knotted hair and fierce black brows to go along with the collection.

Sweet texture on the knit dresses

Whilst not exactly an original concept, this saxophone printed mini dress is fun.

The keyboard backed ramp down to the runway.

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Claudia Simoes really appealed to me with her cool and casual yet sharp collection. Not too serious; with bright colours and graphic prints, a strong but none too exaggerated shoulder and a good horsey platform boot, Claudia Simoes hit all the main spots enough to satisfy cool urban girls with things to do and people to see.

I felt like the colour ways and the panelled shapes on some looks gave a vague nod to Herchcovitch's last women's collection with it's rich purple, deep orange and shiny blueberry. Coupled with some slick optical illusion stripes, this collection is for strong confident girls who won't let these strong confident clothes wear them. Hot.

Most excellent stripes.

Bold colour, shoulder AND print. Such an 80s power look interpreted for 2010.

Super wide lapels on a blazer with a wicked colour combo.

Herchcovitch summer 09 lite, datchu?

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Lucas Nascimento

all Fashion Rio photographs courtesy of © AGÊNCIA FOTOSITE

Lucas Nascimento was absolutely delightful. I was taken by pleasant surprise on perusing this one - full of great textures, sweet colour gradation, witty layering, it was just an super cohesive collection that simply made sense.

High necklines, turtley necks and rounded shoulders gave a hot water bottle silhouette that I found really satisfying; Nascimento's knitted, below-the-knee length (but also occasionally knitted hot pants) looks on first glance could be mistaken as frumpy.

On closer inspection though, this collection exudes the contradiction in terms of being totally granny chic; but with fresh and oddly sexy statements, what with the nipple armour, figure skimming modesty in lush colour combinations and unexpected textures.

The gradated lurex knit landscape broken up by those brassy nipple guards. Hot.

The sexy faux nana vibe was further felt with the mussed, middle parted and messily rolled nests of hair; bleached brows, what I call 'aged' eyes (the super soft brown colour around the eyes always makes one look more mature) and super blanked out lips.

Your grandma would probably need another hip replacement in these babies by Klaus Jurgen Schmidt.

When having my regular fashwan week pow-wow with Herbie, I mentioned my admiration of this collection and we both immediately queried where Nascimento's head was at in the conceiving of it. A quick google revealed a website under construction stating a Stokey (London) address, before reading Susie dropping that Nascimento has been based in London for some time, and amongst other things, doing knits for Basso and Brooke whom I also adore.

Yay for Lucas on his excellent Fashion Rio debut (though according to Susie, next season might see Nascimento to show in London)!

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backstage @ Walter Rodrigues

all Fashion Rio photographs courtesy of © AGÊNCIA FOTOSITE

And another season of Fashion Rio and SPFW rolls around once more. I'm unfortunately not physically present for either of them, but I've got the cut of my favourite looks from my favourite shows for you.

So let's begin with Walter Rodrigues. I really enjoyed the relaxed, fluid and flowing silhouette of this oriental lite collection. Overly long trousers and maxi length skirts and dresses made up a lot of the looks, which give me the impression of comfort, security and stealth; with a careful kind of effortless low maintenance allure that would come with the imagined mad ninja moves you could potentially break out whilst wearing this collection.

I adore this solid slash of monochromatic red.

Y'all know I lurve anything resembling a kimono...

Full of super wide palazzo pants, perfect for skulking in.

Topped off with a poufy pompadour

Though I didn't much like the stylised conical hats nearly as much as Karl's...