Culottes, Shield Sunglasses and More Fashion on Our Editors’ September Wishlists

More sunshine, more colour – at least that’s how our editors see things this month. Aqua, royal purple and leopard print all show up to welcome spring’s arrival, rendered in wearable styles built for warm weather. Local names lead the way to louder hues with Khaos, Ornadia and Permanent Vacation sitting alongside a clutch of Christopher Esber pieces from the label’s new collection.

Considered neutrals still have their place though, and Bassike, Deiji Studios and Five by Flynn are proof, all leaning into trend-forward basics rather than trend-forward palettes. For something with a bit more edge, Mutimer and Pseushi have the Aussie streetwear our editors can’t get enough of. Here’s everything the Broadsheet team is shopping this September.

Maggie Zhou, fashion editor-at-large

When it comes to spring dressing, I’m all about ease. You’ll find my wishlist is full of easy to live in, versatile wardrobe staples. I want elasticised waistbands that still look put together, like Assembly Label’s Riley poplin shorts. The tops I’m eyeing are easy to style, but aren’t your standard T-shirt cut, like Damson Madder’s Posie short-sleeve top, Kowtow’s Geometry tee and Mei Mei Market’s sporty contrast long sleeve. Sweet accessories will do the heavy lifting for me. Alpha60’s Bray double belt is playful, while Radical Yes’s Petit Palais buckle shoe and McIntyre’s triangle merino scarf add a pop of colour.

Emmanuelle Lee, social media coordinator

Jenna Lyons once famously said, “As far as I’m concerned, leopard is a neutral” and I couldn’t agree more. I recently discovered these divine silk and lace capris in the loud animal print, and I know they‘ll become a wardrobe staple. Or, for something more fitted, there’s this high-waisted pair from Melbourne label Fantastic Baby.

Another colour that’s quickly become a neutral for me is turquoise. I recently bought Khaos’s sheer midiskirt and now I’m eyeing Tony Bianco’s ballet flats to match. Maem Disko’s maxidress tones the hue back toward mint, with a racerback cut that’s about to be everywhere this summer. That dress alone has my outfit sorted for an upcoming wedding.

I do actually need some real neutrals in my wardrobe though, so I’m eyeing Pinky & Kamal’s skirt-pant hybrid. It’s an easy alternative when I want the look of a skirt but still need the extra layer. Ganni’s lace-trimmed midiskirt feels like one of those pieces I’d wear on repeat, and a pair of Ray-Ban x A$AP Rocky sunglasses will elevate even the simplest outfit.

Simone Richardson, shopping editor

Jewel tones have taken over. It took a while for this strictly neutrals girl to adjust to the noise of a maximalist palette, but Eckhaus Latta’s recent NYFW show has won me over. The design duo allows bold colour to wink, rather than scream, from beneath layered, texture-heavy ensembles, balanced with muted hues.

So I’m taking the plunge, starting with purple. Permanent Vacation renders it in a tank top I’ll live in through summer, while Oats’ locally made floral brooch will add a hit of interest to tops, pants or bags. Empath strips the shade back in a pair of waxy bootcuts, but they’ve sold out, so I’m consoling myself with a tobacco pair from Christopher Esber. While visiting the Aussie designer’s site, this dazzling teal handbag caught my eye, roomy enough to swallow Port Tanger’s emerald sunnies, handmade in Japan and newly stocked at The Iconic. Old habits die hard though, and Empath’s black silk dress has the same micro V-neck as that Permanent Vacation tank, scratching the same itch all over again.

Scott Renton, Hot List editor

Spring is neither here nor there (it’s still my favourite season), so I always struggle with what to wear. Being in Melbourne, I definitely need utilitarian things and it appears that Wood Wood has me covered. I can never resist knitwear for the cooler nights. Marle, excitingly, has menswear now and its new sweater is versatile enough to pair with most of my wardrobe.

All that being said, the sun is out a little more frequently and I’m looking forward to fewer layers, not more. Underneath it all, you’ll find me in this sketchy Mutimer tee (we love local) and a white tee works with everything, including these ripstop Pseushi pants. What will always be covered though, are my feet. And if these red hot Asics are anything to go by, that’s not changing anytime soon.

Evie Baker, photo editor

Spring attire is my favourite. It’s when “jeans and a nice top” comes to life, and that’s my go-to outfit formula. I’m swapping my usual jeans for the cotton drill pants from Five By Flynn, after falling for the sandstone colour and low-rise, wide-leg cut. They’ll go perfectly with this versatile top from Pinky & Kamal – the scarf styles multiple ways, and the sheer knit is perfect for slightly warmer days spent outside.

The change in season also signals a shift back to my favourite kind of footwear: thongs. These ones from Christopher Esber are high on my wishlist, but I’ve also been gravitating toward another kind of slip-on shoe: New Balance’s 204Vs. Their bold red accents and mule-like style make them an easy choice for evening strolls.

Elsewhere, Kendall Jenner recently put these bug-eyed Crap Eyewear sunnies on my radar and now I can’t stop thinking about them. And perhaps a less conventional pick, but since I don’t leave the house without a lip stain, I’m calling one of Copini’s new lip shades an outfit essential. Sign me up.

Maisy Geddes, junior graphic designer

With a trip to Japan on the horizon, I’m itching to dip into my holiday savings before take-off. I’ll need to leave room in my case for vintage shopping, but I’m nabbing a few new breezy styles to wear while I’m there.

First up is a lightweight, 100 per cent cotton tee from Oroton, paired with pintucked poplin shorts from Deiji Studios. My hair is frizz-prone and humidity never helps, so I’m hoping Olga Joan’s silk headscarf will save me some mirror time each morning while adding a pop of colour to otherwise neutral outfits. I’ve also got my eye on a midiskirt from With Jean in a shade that’ll go with just about everything I already own, and this pair of leather thongs for a more elevated alternative to my trusty Havaianas (and the maximum heel height I’m willing to sacrifice for comfort).

Rounding out the list is a pair of sunnies from Frame Lab, Shade Files’ in-house line. I already own a pair and can vouch for them; they’re durable enough to survive my heavy-handedness, so I’ll be adding the ice blue tinted frames next. And since I’m travelling to celebrate my 30th, a Staud bag covered in confetti-coloured beads feels like a completely justifiable purchase.

Gitika Garg, assistant editor – art, design and style

Anyone who knows me knows my wardrobe firmly sits within an earthy palette of beige, brown and khaki. In fact, when others in our office dress head-to-toe in these hues, they’ve told me it feels like a “GG outfit”. I’ll take the compliment, but lately I’ve been thinking about adding a little more colour to my wardrobe for the warmer months. Consider this my attempt.

I’m starting with this eggplant-coloured ruffled top from Oats the Label and these low-rise corduroy pants from Christopher Esber. I’ve got a particular fixation for this shade of purple at the moment. I’m imagining either of these pieces styled with this two-tone grey leather bag. 

When it comes to heels, few do a sculptural silhouette quite like Alaïa. I’ve long had its wedge heels on my wishlist. This coral shade would be an easy way to inject some colour into a simple outfit. If the real thing is out of reach, this Tony Bianco style makes a convincing, more affordable alternative.

If you’ve read my previous wishlists, you’ll know I’ve been on something of a capri journey. Now I seem to be moving into culottes territory and I think I’ve found the perfect pair: these tailored wide-leg pants from Belle Anna. I’d wear them with this white tee from Deiji Studios and these chunky, slightly square Port Tanger sunglasses. As much as I said I wanted colour, some things just don’t change.

Gabriella Dolfo, sales and partnerships manager

I recently asked a friend how he’d describe my style. “Refined chaos,” he said, and this selection might unintentionally prove his point. I’m currently after versatile bottoms that can withstand all seasons. Reformation’s Sandy shorts top the list, with a metallic finish that would work just as well with knee-high boots in winter as with Heavenly Jelly’s ballet flats in summer. To really lean into the chaos, I’m also loving Maroske Peech’s spiral lace leggings paired with Bloummé’s Drift thongs for an all-purple moment. Then there are Acne Studios’ skinny-fit jeans, which are absolutely not weather appropriate. But anything goes when the pants look this hot.

Up top, I like keeping things simple, but there’s always room for one fun addition. A thick cotton singlet is a hot-weather essential, and Bassike’s Scoop tank is the one currently on my wishlist. A plain black tank can feel a little too simple on its own though, so I’d pair it with a very cute, very fun flower brooch from Vaquera. (She works just as well pinned to a slip skirt or a pair of minishorts!)

Grace MacKenzie, Sydney food and drink editor

Did you know Alemais’s Sydney sample sale is this week? Now you do! I’ve got my fingers crossed to find this floaty silk piece, or something just like it, from the sale section for an upcoming wedding. And I’ve bookmarked the (currently sold out) zebra-patterned Opanka heels from St Agni to mash the patterns, plus Love Isabelle’s sparkly new Lottie hoops. For warmer days, I’ve got Bond-Eye’s shimmery blue cossie, The Upside’s retro-look shorts and a fresh pair of Salomons in the old shopping cart for all my hike-then-swim needs. I’ve been a long-time lover of Daphne Huguette’s pieces too, and an upcoming milestone has me looking at this pear-shaped topaz beauty again and again, and again.

Yulia Frolov, sales and partnerships manager

With the weather finally warming up, my wardrobe is gravitating toward playful textures and touches of colour. I’m always after pieces that transition from office days to summer nights, and Damson Madder’s Becca blouse and Studio Lacerda’s Sao Paulo tank are exactly the kind of relaxed, versatile staples I plan to live in this season.

To elevate what will no doubt be a summer of minimal layers (thank you, El Niño), I’m leaning into fun accessories. The Vera Luxe bead bag from Oroton adds a gorgeous texture to a simple outfit, while MNG’s Nati sandals, with their vibrant red colour and satin puffed straps, bring the playful factor to any spring outing. To tie it all together, I’ve got my eye on the Franny necklace from Reliquia Jewellery, a sweet, subtle detail to finish off any warm weather look.

Pauline De Leon, creative solutions manager

Melbourne spring arrives in half measures, which is really an argument for keeping your options open. Ganni’s brown canvas jacket – elbow patches, a pleat at the back, cut generously – is the throw-on I want for unreliable mornings. I’m pairing it with Assembly Label’s Suzie top in vanilla, a quiet basic I never seem to have enough of, and Rag & Bone’s wide-leg jeans, which manage to feel casual without feeling slack.

I love a brown palette, so I’m adding Loewe’s Pebble ballerina shoes and St Agni’s Origami tote to my cart. When it comes to jewellery, I’m a gold girl through and through, and Mejuri’s Organic Dome Pebble earrings are the drop I’d wear daily. And in case the sun actually decides to show up, Miu Miu’s cat-eye frames have my name on them.