May 30, 2012 5:11PM

Exclusive: Romance Was Born 'The Miraculous Mundane' Pre-Collection 12 Lookbook

Willy Wonka-inspired digital prints, boob swirls and Ollie Henderson.

Romance Was Born's collections always have a leaning toward the absurd and fantastical. It’s an obsession that they share with artist Stephen Bush, whose paintings they've reinterpreted in this 'The Miraculous Mundane' offering (with delicious results, might we add). Digital prints adapted from the Melbourne-based artist's work are combined with a Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory inspiration.

Vibrant orange and green shimmery suits, are mixed in with frosted-pink glitter pants and futuristic mod dresses, topped off with psychedelic lashings of metallic taffeta, bursts of acid green lycra and a syrupy dollop of Romance’s trademark theatricality. Violet Beauregarde ("You're turning violet!") is even seen in the collection, with her ballooning physique immortalised in a few of the billowing vinyl and silk pieces.

Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales have created a collection that could give anyone a serious fashion toothache — including Nicki Minaj, who was seen channeling a candy raver while wearing one of the swirly numbers. Also, Ollie Henderson is the hottest Oompa Loompa we've ever seen.

Jerico Mandybur

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