Oversized sunglasses are front-row staples at fashion shows if you want to pass off as an A-lister.

At Francis Cheong's Glitter show last Thursday, held as part of the Singapore Fashion Festival, shades also saved many from being blinded by the bling.

Presented by Lee Hwa Jewellery, the fashion show featured $3 million worth of baubles from the home- grown jeweller and bejewelled gowns.

No wonder celebrities like Fiona Xie and Jacelyn Tay and other fashionistas in the crowd were dazzled.

'I managed to show a new way of wearing jewellery,' says Cheong, 43, Singapore's own couturier.

Clad in an all-black ensemble with a simple diamond choker from Lee Hwa, he adds: 'We showed gold and diamond in chunkier styles so that people who are used to simple diamond pieces can see jewellery in a new light.'

The collection took more than two months to create.

'We were looking for a designer whose couture designs can accentuate our bold jewellery collections,' says Kean Ng, senior marketing manager of Lee Hwa Jewellery.

'It had to be someone who has the ability to create not only elegant and glamorous pieces, but also exudes a dash of flamboyance. Who else can do it better than Francis Cheong?'

The show, easily the most dramatic of the festival line-up, opened with a model poised on a rotating platform, reminiscent of those teeny ballerinas that spin in musical boxes.

Cheong showed 26 bejewelled outfits set against a black vinyl runway because 'black's my favourite colour and what better way is there to bring out the jewellery and colours?'

The highlight of the collection, based loosely on a floral theme, was a tiered silver concoction which stood out against the ebony skin of Kenyan model Antoinette Ataro (below, right). The strapless gown was topped off by pearls, diamonds and white gold, with an arch of crystals dotting her brows.

Another show-stopper, a simple slip gown in graduated shades of lilac worn by Singapore model Sheila Sim (main picture), was encrusted completely with sequins. The sparkling sequins accentuated the flawless cut of the dress and shimmered with the model's every move. It was paired with a choker of dangling purple gold, white gold and diamond orbs.

The show's pièce de resistance was a white gown with Cheong's signature feathered trim. It was donned by socialite Chiang Yu Lan (below, left), who closed the show with a waltz.

Crystal straps criss-crossed her back while a delicate diamond tennis necklace was adapted into a head-piece.

'It's a new experience for me. I've never worked with a jeweller to such a scale before,' says Cheong. 'I enjoyed balancing design and diamonds such that both elements could shine.'