Few events capture the spirit of Australian style quite like Australian Fashion Week. Returning for 2026 and presented by Shark Beauty in a striking new home at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the week once again brought together the industry’s sharpest dressers, emerging talent and established names for a packed schedule of runway shows, presentations and after-dark celebrations. Joining the action was FQ Creative Director Georgia Bramley, travelling to Sydney with Shark Beauty to experience the week firsthand — from windswept beachfront runways to glittering harbour-side spectacles.
Day One
After touching down in Sydney, Georgia checked into the stunning Capella Sydney, where heritage architecture and understated luxury offered a calm retreat before the chaos of fashion week began.
The first stop on the schedule was the long-awaited return of Toni Maticevski to Australian Fashion Week after more than a decade away. True to form, the collection unfolded like theatre: ethereal tailoring, sculptural silhouettes and sheer organza leaves drifting down the runway with the precision of wearable art. Romantic yet sharp, it was a reminder of why Maticevski remains one of Australia’s most revered designers
Before the evening shows, Georgia stopped by the Shark Beauty Glam and Glow Salon for a quick refresh using the new Shark Glam™ Hot Tool Air Drying & Styling System. Designed to take hair from damp to polished in minutes, the multi-styler quickly became an essential between-show companion throughout the week — especially when Sydney’s unpredictable weather had other plans. Combining powerful airflow with heat-controlled ceramic technology, the tool delivers sleek blow-dries, soft bends and glossy finishes without heat damage, making it ideal for fast-paced fashion week mornings and rapid outfit changes alike.
The evening closed with one of the most anticipated events on the calendar: Carla Zampatti’s iconic boardwalk runway show. Set against Sydney Harbour, feathers, sparkle and fluid tailoring swept down the runway in signature Carla Zampatti style. Not even a little rain — or a cruise ship temporarily interrupting the Opera House backdrop — could dampen the mood.
Day Two
Day two began early, with fashion week guests making the pilgrimage to Tamarama Beach for the Commas runway show. Staged on the shoreline where the brand first presented five years ago, the collection reflected Commas’ enduring connection to the Australian coastline — relaxed tailoring, soft neutral palettes and effortless resortwear moving against a backdrop of crashing waves and grey skies. Despite the rain, the atmosphere remained distinctly Australian: laidback, optimistic and impossibly chic.
Between shows, the Shark Glam™ tool once again proved its worth. After a morning spent battling sea mist and damp weather, Georgia used the styler to smooth and reshape rain-soaked hair in minutes before heading to the next presentation. With Gloss Lock Technology designed to seal shine and minimise frizz, it quickly became one of fashion week’s unsung essentials.
The day continued with shows from some of Australia’s most exciting creative voices, including Alix Higgins, whose emotionally charged collections and experimental silhouettes continue to push the conversation around contemporary Australian fashion forward.
Day Three
After two packed days of early call times, back-to-back shows and Sydney’s ever-changing weather, day three began with a slower moment of reset. Before heading out the door, Georgia refreshed using the Shark Beauty CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling + LED Face Mask — a skincare step that quickly became part of her fashion week survival kit.
Designed to work around busy schedules, the device combines infrared LED technology with a cryo-inspired under-eye cooling system to deliver targeted treatments in just minutes. Georgia begins with the Skin Sustain mode — a four-minute combination of red, blue and infrared LED light designed to help maintain radiance between long days backstage and late-night events. The quick ritual slots seamlessly into the space between emails, fittings and end-of-day admin, while the cooling under-eye treatment helps depuff and refresh before another packed runway schedule.
The morning’s highlight came courtesy of Esse Studios, which returned to Australian Fashion Week with The Esse Editions. Presented inside Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the collection reflected the brand’s signature “less is more” philosophy through sculptural silhouettes, refined tailoring and a restrained neutral palette. Adding a distinctly trans-Tasman touch, Kiwi accessories label Yu Mei completed the looks with understated leather bags — a subtle reminder of the strong creative dialogue between New Zealand and Australian fashion.
