Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town has kicked off with a bang and following the star studded opening night, the second round of shows – including Gavin Rajah's much vaunted collection – had a lot to live up to.

But live up to the first night they did. After Craig Port's brief hiatus from the Cape Town runway, the designer came back with a bang, with a preppy summer collection featuring slim-fit, ready to wear pieces for men and sheer draping with asymmetrical detail for women. The range was flirty and light-hearted, giving the sense of beachwear and summer days spent outside.

Jenny le Roux's collection for fashion house Habits was seen as one to watch – even fellow designer Gavin Rajah watched from the front row – and with its bursts of vibrant floral print, deep colour tones, hypnotic stripes and sheer, light layers, the collection was a smash. Long flowing laters in featherlight fabrics were the hallmark of this collection and the result was an elegant but romantic range that channelled the softest of feminine touches.

Leigh Schubert's collection was an exhibition in orange, bright pink and coral – a stark and bright colour-themed collection that was eye-catching and classy. Trim tines, subtle curves and layered fabrics blended to create this ultra-femme collection, a far cry from the Olympic kit just designed by this premier designer. Riviera-style bags accompanied all the collections on the runway, giving it a chic and sophisticated edge. 

But the prized collection of the night was Gavin Rajah's, with his fifties-inspired collection. Peplum and intricate floral detail meshed with lace fabrics, luxurious black and stiff metallics to give this line a look of sheer opulence. Precise attention to detail is one of the signatures of Rajah's collections and this was no different, with as many elements in the trim as in the body of each item. Feathers and chiffon complemented the range perfectly, its luxury set aptly against a deep forest background as rich as the collection itself.

The second night of the week proved just as star-studded as the first, with a number of show-stopping pieces lining the runway. Over to the next designers, with Thula Sindi and Hip Hop forming the most anticipated shows of the third day of shows.

Image credit: Simon Deiner Photography/SDR Photo/2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Cape Town/Gavin Rajah | Habits | Kluk CGdT | Philosophy | Leigh Schubert | Rosenwerth | Craig Port