With fashion month in full swing overseas and the fashion calendar increasingly difficult to wrap our heads around as brands big and small recalibrate their production cycles to suit consumer demand, it’s hard to keep track of what’s trending and more importantly, what’s available to buy right now. So with your end of year deadlines looming and the life admin piling up, we thought we’d take the guesswork out of your transeasonal shopping list and present you with the top 10 trends you’ll want to get amongst – and the best, (mostly) local options we’re opting for.
THIN BLUE LINE
Straight and narrow like the latest iteration of Kowtow’s famous Florence dress – a sellout style season after season – or cool and wavy like the Neptune silk slip just landed at Ruby, a baby blue and white striped midi is a must-have for casual spring and summer days.
BIG BOW ENERGY
There’s no better way to remind everyone that your presence is a present than with an oversized bow, and there’s no need to tie yourself up in knots trying to get the look right. Unfussy in relaxed cotton fabrications and embracing earthy, muted tones, try Karen Walker’s Mousieon Organic Cotton Top in Pumice, or Mahsa’s O’Keeffe Dress in Sage.
SKIRT, SKIRT
Coming in hot – or make that perfectly temperate in heat-regulating cotton and merino – are this season’s ultimate easy-wearing skirts. Midi-length, column shaped and crafted from body skimming lightweight knit blends, pair with a crisp white tee and your favourite kicks for a work-to-weekend wardrobe solution.
BIKINI KILL
It might feel a bit premature to start thinking about swimwear, but if you want to avoid the mid-December meltdown in the department store changing room trying to mix and match a vaguely flattering bikini from the random scraps of fabric you just pulled off the sales rack, do yourself a favour and take a look at these ultra-chic offerings. Like, today. Because togs this tasteful won’t stick around for long.
SLIDE TIME
Pedicure? Check. Pool slides? Check. Friend with an actual pool? Note to self – get onto that. At least by the time you’ve got your season pass sorted, you’ll be ready to strut through the front gate in style – especially if you opt for a pair of slides in an on-trend citrus hue, such as La Tribe’s Rubber Pool Slide in Lemon, or the limited edition Buoyant Orange Sugar Slider from Allbirds.
FIRST RESORT
There’s something about a pair of Palazzo pants that transports us straight to the shores of the Italian Riviera, and whether your passport is set to be stamped anytime soon or not, we are big fans of any trend that allows us to leave the house wearing what are ostensibly (or in the case of luxury sleepwear designer, Olivia von Halle, actually) our pyjamas.
PICK OF THE CROP
If the thought of a crop top has you running for the hills, hear us out, because it’s all about proportions. Don’t let the washboard-abbed teens in your life make you think this item isn’t for you. Styled with something ultra high-waisted, you’ll be surprised how little skin need be on display, and how a well-cut crop can elevate an ordinary look into something truly fashion-forward.
DOT, DOT, DOT
Black and white polka dots have been cycling in and out of fashion since fashion was invented, and this year we are all on, with a couple of our fave interpretations being Twenty-Seven Names’ puff-sleeve, oversize-collared 100% silk Disco Blouse, or for something slightly more subtle, Moochi’s best-selling, wear-everywhere Des Pant in Black/White Diamond.
WHITE WALKERS
With classic black and indigo washes doing the legwork for much of the year, the warmer months are white denim’s time to shine. For the perfect fit and tried and true fabrications, we’re heading to denim connoisseurs Levi’s and R.M. Williams for our white denim fix this season. Style-wise, anything goes. Just don’t forget to stock up on stain remover should you have a spaghetti sauce incident at your next BYO.
BLUE CRUSH
With option fatigue a very real thing, sometimes there’s nothing better than snagging your signature piece in a brand new colourway. We’re creatures of habit – we like what we like. And what we really like right now is seeing some of our go-to bags in a new wave of blue hues. Two we are totally crushing on? Georgia Jay’s beloved Bean Baguette in Baby Blue, and Yu Mei’s Scrunchie Vi in Blueprint.
