Tassels, Burgundy, Texture and Open Jackets: Shop Four Trends From Australian Fashion Week Now

This Australian Fashion Week felt different. In its 30th year, its second being operated by Australian Fashion Council, the distinguished fashion trade event was revitalised, with a new base at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The calibre of designs was distinctly Australian: laid-back, soft tailoring was paired with statement textures and patterns. Wearability transcended everything, with slouchy silhouettes and relaxed ensembles mimicking the Australian penchant for put-together casualness. On the ground, we selected the standout outfits from every designer. Here, we’ve gathered the biggest trends we think will make an impact beyond the runway.

Open jackets

Arguably the biggest trend we saw on the runway and in the week’s street style was open jackets. Typically with barely-there lapels (see Beare Park’s pared-back white blazer), jackets were buttoned from the top to the middle, leaving a triangle-shaped exposed midriff. Bianca Spender’s silk funnel-neck jacket opened at the decolletage, allowing a visual break in a monochrome look. Emerging designer Rose Guiffre played with proportion with her cape-like jacket, the front beginning under the bust. Esse demonstrated a masterclass in layering, proving that the trend works just as well with your midriff covered. 

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Camilla and Marc’s Tala fitted collarless blazer is a flattering take on minimalist necklines. Try the open-jacket look with Lee Mathews’s Florentine cashmere jacket or PE Nation’s Technique quilt jacket.

Burgundy

There’s no escaping burgundy’s ageless appeal. Across a range of pre-autumn, autumn, winter and resortwear collections, we saw a smattering of the deep red hue. Mariam Seddiq paired an asymmetrical, ruched top with black leather and a single dangly earring, while Bianca Spender complemented a mesh burgundy top with a plum-coloured skirt. L’Idee Woman turned heads with this long-sleeved minidress in a glittery eggplant shade, as did Esse with its show-stopping ankle-grazing number, while Nagnata brought the colourway to athleisure.

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Shona Joy has a number of burgundy-hued garments, like its Tibby silk organza cami. St Agni has restocked its Woven mini tote in deep plum, and Viktoria & Woods is back with its signature Hart merino cardigan.

Micro tassels

Tassels and fringe are back, but have shrunk in size. We saw a half a dozen designers play into the movement-based embellishment. It was a recurring motif in Toni Maticevski’s show; rope-like tassels adding a lively quality to his Melbourne-made pieces. Elongated shoelace ties accompanied Courtney Zheng’s hardware, adding an undone edge to her monochromatic looks. Carla Zampatti’s asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder look sported tinsel-like tassels, while Esse’s fine-haired fringe exuded constrained elegance.

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Aje’s party Aire sequin top and skirt feature delicate sequinned tassels, Ganni’s Tapestry Fringed minidress puts an artsy spin on the trend, and Christopher Esber’s Unravel Macrame wrap top is the perfect going-out top.

Textured black

Despite the burgundy boom, the reigning colourways of Australian Fashion Week were black and white. What can we say? We’re creatures of habit. There was a noticeable amount of contrasting fabric – take Beare Park’s silk and mesh top, or Aje’s mesh dress, where the undergarments create the appearance of material blocking. Over at Lee Mathews, subtle, undone trimmings and raw hems add layers of life to black garments. Esse plays with barely-there black lacework, while Courtney Zheng creates volume and drama through a fur-trimmed black coat, proving that black is far from boring.

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Silk Laundry’s Crinkle skirt has a double-crinkle texture that adds dimension to any outfit, Scanlan Theodore’s Leather Soft Waist trouser is soft to wear and style, and Christoper Esber’s Ignis Parachute top is partly sheer and partly panelled, a sultry take on corporate wear. 

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