Day one: Caitlin wears: Shona Joy skirt and blazer, Paris Texas Boots, Deadly Ponies handbag, Jasmin Sparrow earrings. Photo: Ruby Hamilton
I didn’t know what to expect from my first ever fashion week experience but I can confidently say that I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the beautiful and fast-paced spectacle that was Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW).
I had heard about the infamous fashion gauntlet that occurs at Carriageworks – everyone is walking with a purpose, the sunglasses are sitting halfway down the nose, and the fake phone calls are aplenty. As hilarious as watching the whole thing was, I loved it. I wouldn’t be in the fashion or social media industry if I didn’t like the spotlight.
Read on for a daily rundown from Caitlin’s fashion week diaries.
Day One:
Show – Maggie Marilyn
Location – Rushcutters Bay
I couldn’t have asked for a better show to kick off my first AAFW. Maggie presented her ‘Best of It’ collection, inspired by New Zealand coastal living. The whole thing was a brilliant example of the importance of detail when putting together a fashion show. Guests were served fish & chips in custom branded ‘Best of It’ boxes and the show was complemented by the sounds of the waves hitting the shore and the fresh sea breeze. At the end of the show, I looked outside to see a man and his dog rowing his boat into shore – you couldn’t have gotten a more picturesque moment even if it was planned. The collection itself was beautiful. Think: layering, draping, and soft fabrics mixed in with a few eye-catching pieces.
See FQ’s favourite runway looks from Maggie Marilyn’s ‘Best of It’ summer capsule.
Day two:
Day two: Caitlin wears: Wynn Hamlyn macrame blazer and mini dress, YSL heels, Brie Leon bag.
Show – Wynn Hamlyn
Location – Hyper Karting, Moore Park
The best way I can describe this show is that it was very Wynn Hamlyn. The energy was high and vibes were on. We were told to come to a carpark for the show which had me a little bit confused but it turned out to be a go karting track and I don’t think i’ve been to a cooler show location. The Patron bar kept guests happy, the music was pumping and the neon lights were bright – the stage was set for a fast-paced show, collection, and party.
Wynn Hamlyn is one of my favourite designers at the moment, there’s little he could do that wouldn’t impress me and this collection was no different!
View Wynn Hamlyn’s high-octane Resort ’24 collection here.
Day three:
Day three: Camilla & Marc bodice, skirt, and coat, Tony Bianco boots, Cult Gaia Bag, Celine sunglasses. Photo: Ruby Hamilton.
Shows – Sarah&Sebastian, Ngali, The Innovators
Location – Carriageworks
Day three was the first day I had a full schedule of shows at Carriageworks and really got to experience the rush of it all. I started the day at a Sarah&Sebastian short film presentation of ‘NOW YOU SEE ME’ and talk on Australia’s most endangered marine life. It was a refreshing and educational start to my day where I was pleasantly surprised to gain a newfound appreciation and understanding of Australian sea lions.
Following that, I ran over to catch the Ngali show which was a beautiful presentation by a First Nations Designer. In fact it was the first ever standalone show by a First Nations designer at Australian Fashion Week. I felt extremely lucky to be able to experience that. The show itself was filled with soft fabrics, pastel hues, and was a stunning ode to culture. Models walked the runway in a snake formation and the show was closed by the iconic, Samantha Harris.
My last show of the day was The Innovators: Fashion Design Studio TAFE NSW Runway where we were presented with collections from six of the top performing graduates from the Bachelor of Fashion Design program. Names such as Dion Lee, Zimmerman, and Christopher Esber have come out of TAFE and it was incredible to see the collections from the future of Australian fashion designers.
Day four:
Day four: Caitlin wears: Dion Lee pants, Magda Butrym Top, Levi’s vintage jacket, Amina Muaddi shoes, Louis Vuitton handbag, Vehla sunglasses.
Show – Blanca
Location – Carriageworks
My final day at fashion week was an easy one, I had one show on the schedule and Blanca absolutely delivered the perfect ‘fashion week finale’ for me. As soon as we entered the gallery I could see that this wasn’t going to be a typical show. Guests seating was set up in a gallery format where we faced a collection of mid-century style furnishings – from couches, to chairs, lamps and side tables – it felt like we were looking in on the most elegant of dinner parties. The collection was filled with pastel hues and oversized garments that were styled with fuzzy sweaters and oversized knapsack style bags.
Blanca Spring/Summer ’24. Photo: Spotlight.
Final notes:
This is the best people watching exercise I’ve ever undergone and it was a full-body immersion into personal style, fashion trends of the moment, and fashion trends we can expect to see more of in seasons to come.
The style was elevated and chic. Key trends I saw over and over again were small black sunglasses, double denim, micro minis, layering, pops of bold colour and monochrome outfits. As the week went on and the temperature really dropped, there was a shift into oversized coats, lush knits, and skilled layering, but the monochromatic looks and bold pops of colour still remained dominant.
