Australian fashion week 2026 showcased a range of striking looks, with older models taking centre stage. Designer Toni Maticevski presented a dramatic dress with silver leaves that took weeks to prepare, featuring a unique silhouette where the model's head emerged from inside the garment. The designer described the effect as 'weird and kind of dumb but kind of amazing'.
Activewear label Nagnata introduced denim totes as a new item, with show director Joel Piccini and stylist Jessica Dos Remedios creatively looping a tote over a model's head and belting it to form a top. Designer Alix Higgins went back to basics with a newfound sense of fun, reworking polo shirts into bottomwear and adding whimsical touches like ribbons and internet-forward patterns.
Carla Zampatti continued its reign as a go-to label for business leaders, with designer Tanya Emon Beattie pushing customers forward with a refreshing combination of lilac and crimson, moving beyond traditional neutrals. Gary Bigeni showed fluid, draped jersey dresses in a refreshing bolt of blue, a style that has remained popular for 20 years.
Opera gloves, preferably in leather, were a key trend, as demonstrated by Bianca Spender's daywear look incorporating sheer fabrics, drapery, and bubble-hemmed skirts. Christian Kimber infused relaxed Australian menswear with refined European sensibilities, featuring loose fits and tactile natural fibres. Mariam Seddiq's draped bodice with trailing hemline offered a versatile 'going-out top', worn here with leather trousers.
