The runway moment and refined details shaping a new season of Australian style
If you’re reading this, we’ve officially survived Australian Fashion Week, one of the most thrilling events on the Sydney social calendar.
A week of early wakeup calls, fresh blowouts, rigorous note taking, industry events and dreamy runway collections scattered across Sydney’s glistening landscape.
A ritzy spectacle pursued by rain, champagne and a chaotic schedule… alas we adapt.
This year, Resort was redefined. More glamour, less coastal. Perhaps a direct nod to international sensibilities, where style is both synonymous and timeless. From Carla Zampatti to Aje (who debuted at Paris Fashion Week last year) the wave of Australian design is building, grounded in foundational house codes that aim to resonate on the global stage.
With this in mind, conversations surrounding brand legacy and longevity rivalling a tech driven, rapidly shifting landscape created real tension for designers, raising the question of what it truly takes to secure relevance in an age shaped by AI and global uncertainty.
The Blonde Duo was there, detailing our thoughts from the week.
Discover below.
The Show That Set The Tone
Monday evening was cinematic. The Carla Zampatti runway was set along the boardwalk, the Sydney Opera House and iconic harbour glittering behind it as the city lights caught the water below.
Seated alongside esteemed guests, the rain made itself known, arriving with an almost ethereal presence as it met the opening notes of September Song by Agnes Obel.
As the rain failed to dissipate, the show began. Shanina Shaik opened in a floaty tailored dress reminiscent of an oversized coat. What followed was a study in texture and restraint.
Liquid sequins, silky silhouettes, feathered capes and feminine tailoring moved through the boardwalk effortlessly. Quiet, yet assured glamour.
The collection known as Reflections – quiet dialogue between past, present and future – felt like the perfect synergy for a week that kept asking what fashion carries forward.
A palette of chartreuse, mustard yellow, deep red and soft pink brought modernity to the brand’s monochromatic foundation. Hair slicked, makeup dewy. Strength was signified in the clothes.
We felt this show, in particular, highlighted a new direction for Carla Zampatti, honouring traditional house codes of structured silhouettes, but reemerging with textural moments and modern desires. Absolutely adored the show. A legacy in Australian Fashion.
What The Industry Is Saying
Over the course of the week, esteemed designers teamed together to deliver their thoughts on topics relevant to the future success of fashion.
Themes of AI, personal strategy, profit margins, private equity and global expenditure circulated the room, with designers Carla Zampatti, Camilla and Mariam Seddiq offering their intel on success and failures shaping the brands.
What became clear is knowing your customer better than they know themselves. Whether that’s leveraging AI and programming agents to challenge assumptions, building TikTok communities that convert, or understanding that Australian brands can command significantly more overseas, the message was foundational.
Loyalty and human connection is the long game, data is your compass, and the brands willing to enhance with technology deliberately and authentically are the ones built to last.
Off The Runway
A dispatch of style memo’s as seen from the streets of AFW.
- Drapery and floaty jackets worn effortlessly
- Cropped jackets paired back to midi skirts as the silhouette of the season (emphasis on funnel necks)
- Collared neck ties adding an unexpected detail
- Faux leather and fur textures lending depth to transitional dressing
- Statement bags in polarising colours (the one place everyone took a risk)
Final Observations
One thing Fashion Week globally achieves is community. This year, it felt more intentional. Less noise, and more reality.
The industry is stripping back what once felt like a facade and rather focusing on the industries core foundations of who drives it, builds it, understands it and produces it.
Yes, fashion is made for everyone, but to be in rooms this year with those who understand the language from a global perspective is so influential. Especially for the future of fashion.
PS: We still believe the best post-show debrief is at Clam Bar, but Le Foote was our final destination this year.
Yours truly,
TBD x
