Worried you have nothing to wear now you can go out? Same. We’ve done the legwork for you so all you have to do is look fabulous whatever the occasion.

Channel carefree Italian vibes
Apart from making you wish you were invited to the Amalfi Coast photo shoot for Venroy’s latest collection, its smart spring drop has a stack of options for daytime get-togethers. Inspired by “the perfect Italian summer”, it comprises relaxed-fit linen pants, shorts and shirts in pastels, beige, cream and the colour of now, brown. The roomy lilac/chartreuse ruched bodice midi dress is peak comfort (plus it has pockets), while the cute collared playsuit in baby blue is a good option if your event is centred around a picnic rug. We’re also fans of the oversized woven striped shirt in ivory and green with matching shorts.

Host a pasta party
The Italian theme continues with Alex and Trahanas’s small but beautiful fashion range. The Sydney lifestyle brand is predominantly known for its homewares, but it has always included a couple of pieces to wear. There are lounge pants, shorts and oversized shirts in green and white, and yellow and white stripes, as well as a jumper that was knitted in Italy to pull on or hang over your shoulders when the evening chill descends. Be warned, you might find it hard not to add-to-cart its excellent hand-painted ceramics while you’re perusing the site – also good for your dinner party.

Never miss a Melbourne moment. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Linen, but make it form-fitting
Fitted, formal and with all the comfort of 100 per cent linen, this crop top and pant combo from Melbourne designer Dominique Healy ticks the box for “dressy” when you don’t want to wear a dress. Sold as separates, the Sonia Pant and Carly Crop in cognac are a versatile set. Together, they’re long lunches overlooking the water with bubbles in hand. Apart, they’re date-night drinks and opening night at the theatre. The elasticated crop comes in black and blue silk too, if matchy-matchy makes you cringe. As Dominique Healy makes each item herself, allow time for manufacturing and shipping. All her items are trans-seasonal and ethically made, so they’re worth the wait.

Slip from one party to the next
If there’s a look Emma Mullholland on Holiday (previously Holiday the Label) has down-pat it’s the reckless abandon of a summer vacay, and when your summer social calendar looks like picnics, followed by brunches, followed by sunsets at the beach, you’ll want something to slip on and saunter from one thing to the next. Our pick is the Vacation Slip Dress in a ’90s style bias cut and spaghetti strap. As it’s by Sydney designer Emma Mulholland they’re bold and eye-catching, but simple enough to dress up or down. It comes in a That ’70s Show-style camel check, hot-pink gingham and Hawaiian happy-flower red. The tie-dye blue pattern is particularly nostalgic. Match it with a scrunchie or logo cap and you’re ready to holiday.

Look on the bright side
One of Mexico’s most famous artists, Frida Kahlo, is the muse for Leo Lin’s 2022 resort collection. Spin enthusiastically in this joyful Flamingo mini dress or make a scene – in a great way – with this strapless number. The season drop has lots of rich colour-blocking, floral motifs and romantic undertones and draws on the vibrant and evocative world of Kahlo. There are plenty more fun pieces – all of which are the antidote to months in lockdown.

Lounge like lockdown never ended
Relaxed silhouettes are here to stay, and a label that’s always embraced a loose yet luxurious style is Lucy Folk. The brand’s Utopia clothing range has a sporty, effortless Italian look that has items emblazoned with its signature anchovy buttons and symbolic lettering. Its Mantra Shirt, in wasabi green, has “Utopia” embroidered down the sleeves in a Greek-looking alphabet; the matching pants reject all requests to return to the office. What office? This is a utopian garden. But if you can’t wait for those styles to drop, there’s the longline Atlantis Shirt Dress in a deep, earthy organic cotton. Wear it buttoned up or open and loosely tied around the waist.

Make it fancy
Aussie brand Aje wants us to fall back in love with dressing up, and to once again feel carefree and hopeful about the future. It’s looked to the 1960s for its summer collection, releasing a bold olive leaf design across a number of pieces, including a button blouse, a maxi dress and a mini dress with a sexy cut-out back. Landing late October is a fab golden smock dress with a bold bow at the back and Aje’s signature puff sleeves. The material is also used for a tiered skirt that can pair well with a ruched cropped top for people who want to show off their abs.

When you want to go casual
Sometimes a get-together is super relaxed. If that’s you check out the affordable collab between Uniqlo and British fashion label JW Anderson, which lands October 21. Slide on a pair of blue jeans with pocket stitching, pair it with a 3/4 sleeve shirt in pink or green (which can also work as a shirt to wear over your swimmers). We also like the $79.90 trench coat-style sleeveless linen blend dress with belt in olive and navy.

Full Ferngully
When the only reconnecting you want to do is with the great outdoors, this new collection from Ottway has vintage-inspired unisex pieces in earthy colourways. The Drifters range includes forest-green soft linen shirts, and muddy brown overalls in loose utilitarian shapes with a very handy phone pocket and adjustable straps. Plus, wide ballooning white shirts for light cotton layering. Profits from every purchase go towards installing solar power in community-owned projects around Australia, as part of the brand’s commitment to sustainability. So as you re-enter society you’ll be contributing to bettering it, too.

Sometimes the items Broadsheet editors select sell out quickly – but they may be restocked. If you miss out on something you’ve seen here, we recommend checking in with stockists again in a few weeks.