I grew up idolising the mythology surrounding what fashion week was and what it represented. To me, the idea of being a fashion writer and attending runways, frantically typing out observations into a Notes app and filing stories on the ground was the pinnacle of success and glamour. So, when I first got the call letting me know I was attending Australian Fashion Week (AFW) on behalf of Fashion Journal (FJ), it was surreal, exciting and terrifying all in one.
I’d been lucky enough to attend Melbourne Fashion Week and Melbourne Fashion Festival before, but hopping on a red-eye flight to Sydney and hailing a taxi to take me straight to Carriageworks felt like it was raising the stakes. And this year felt all the more significant given the shakeup in AFW’s new owners (more on this later).
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Now we’re on the other side of AFW, I’ve had time since touching back down in Melbourne to reflect on the whirlwind 48 hours I spent in Sydney. From runways and street style, to AFW’s media room and the social media controversy in the days following, it’s safe to say it was an experience.
Day one: Changing in a taxi, street style and a day of runways
Day one for me was actually day two on the official AFW calendar. I boarded a 7.15am flight from Melbourne on Tuesday morning and sat patiently, despite the creeping time delays. While the thought of being late for my first runway was near panic-inducing, doing Merit makeup touches and getting changed in the back of a taxi to the way to fashion week made me feel like a true editor.
I made it to The Frontier runway with minutes to spare, where some of my favourite Australian and New Zealand designers, including Amy Lawrance, Wynn Hamlyn and Esse, showcased their new collections. When I look at my notes app from after the show, it’s a list of chaotic, disjointed observations: Belts, Sheer, Collars, Burgundy, Frayed, ‘I love Amy Lawrance’ and ‘Floor length leather trench’.
In quick succession, the first runway ended and I emerged onto the entryway at Carriageworks, taking everything in for the first time. As I’d expected, it was a chaotic blend of colour, photographers and Rode wireless microphones. It was overstimulating in the best ways, with eccentric and bold street style looks contrasting heavily with the more neutral tones of those presumably there to work (like photographers, those headed backstage or straight to the media room).
Soon, I found FJ’s on-ground social media producer, Allie Daisy King, and was able to debrief on the morning in between interviews and vox pops. While part of me loves attending fashion events solo and being able to take everything in, seeing a familiar face can be a welcome reprieve. I then tucked myself into a quiet corner and updated FJ’s Instagram stories, before realising the time and speed-walking to the Lee Mathews runway, grateful I’d worn my years-old, comfortably worn-in St. Agni loafers. It didn’t take long to learn that at AFW, there’s always somewhere to be, there’s always something about to happen and time can slip away far too easily.
Celebrating 25 years of the label, the Lee Mathews runway was confident and self-assured, playing with structured tailoring and loose-flowing fabrics. I later read in a piece from Lucianne Tonti that the designer had made the decision to cast her friends as models, as a way of showing what real people look like when wearing the clothing. It was also after the show I realised Nigella Lawson was there, seated front row.
I set up in the media room for the next couple of hours, chatting with people I knew, consolidating my thoughts and prepping an interview with Juanita James, the head of Melbourne label, Joseph and James. I’d had a window into her new collection, so I was especially excited to see it on the runway.
Her show opened with a Welcome to Country and the sounds of a party playing over the speaker. The collection was full of relaxed, oversized silhouettes, butterfly graphics and slogans printed on T-shirts reading “I’m bored, wanna come for tea?”, full of playful and lived-in styles. I updated my article with notes on the show and hit publish before settling in for the Nagnata showcase immediately after.
After tumbling out, ravenous and in need of a shower, I retrieved my suitcase and various bags, trying to dodge people posing for photos and videos, and beelined to my hotel. It was a nice treat arriving there to an AFW survival kit from First Colours, a Sydney label I’d recently written about, so I changed into one of their bamboo singlets and lay down, taking a moment to recover from my 4am wakeup.
The few hours in between that and dinner involved combing through videos and notes, updating FJ’s Instagram stories, touching base with our managing editor and features editor back in Melbourne, and freshening up. Once everything on my list was checked off, I ducked into IGA for some toothpaste (the one thing I’d forgotten) and closed out the day with a glass of chilled red.
Day two: A showroom, unwashed hair and McDonalds
The next morning started off a lot slower, which was a welcome change of pace. I’d brought a Go-To sheet mask with me and put it in the fridge (which I highly recommend), so sat back and had a coffee while it did some heavy lifting. While I’d opted for a matching St. Agni blazer and pants the day before, I chose a pair of vintage jeans, Best blazer and ‘Who’s afraid of Alix Higgins’ T-shirt and skirt/belt hybrid for day two. Comfort is key.
Once I’d packed my bags, I checked into Carriageworks early for a 9am appointment with Shark Beauty for a hair touchup. I’ve been trying to wear my hair natural and I think that, coupled with the fact that I’d last washed it on Monday morning, almost sent the hairdresser into a state. Thankfully, he made do, freshening up my fringe and running a balm through to tame the frizz.
I stationed myself in the media room for the rest of the morning, making the most of the free coffee and putting the finishing touches on a street style piece, before heading outside. This was before the Alix Higgins runway and you could tell. It was the most exciting assortment of outfits I’d seen since my arrival, with dozens of people repping his previous collections, branded with the designer’s signature font. Once the show ended, I ran to my computer to write down every thought for my article reviewing the collection.
Later on, I made my way over to The Atelier, an onsite trade show giving attendees the chance to meet a range of local designers. I saw the team at Re/Lax Remade, whose work we recently featured in a shoot, admired Madre Natura’s new collection and visited Dal1992, a hosiery label I’d written about earlier this year.
After a smoked salmon bowl and time to recharge, I checked into Karla Špetić, my last runway of the day. By that stage, my Ganni flats were starting to blister and I’d foolishly forgotten Band-Aids (a mistake I will not make again). The show started with a breathwork meditation, which I welcomed with open arms.
I collected my bags soon after and ordered an Uber to take me to the airport, where I happily indulged in a solo McDonald’s feast before flying back to Melbourne.
Reflections and closing thoughts
A few months ago, I’d written about AFW’s changing of the guard – longtime backer IMG withdrew and the Australian Fashion Council stepped up to produce the event for 2025, with support from the New South Wales government – which meant there were various changes made to AFW for 2025. One of these was the choice to remove public ticket sales, and another was the decision to pause the student showcases. Given some of my favourite runways in Melbourne have been from design students, I was sad to have missed out on this.
However, the runways in general were a major highlight. Being invited to shows and getting to (occasionally…) sit front row, is exactly what you dream of when conjuring up images of fashion week. Attending as a writer and editor for a fashion magazine known for championing local talent meant that my experience was also about looking at new collections, noting down technical elements, spotting upcoming trends and distilling everything I saw into words. There was a certain purpose driving every runway I attended – I was there to admire and there to analyse.
Street style is another beast entirely. While industry events like fashion week often feel closed-door and exclusive, social media has undoubtedly opened it right up. This translates both livestreams and designers sharing their work online, but also to the street style happening outside the doors of the event itself.
Having the chance to see the creativity that goes into people’s outfits, as well as peeking behind the scenes of all those viral vox pops you see on TikTok, is exciting. It’s fast-paced, chaotic and I’d recommend taking a pastry and coffee break on the sidelines, watching it all play out. When the street style roundups feature local labels, upcycled materials, secondhand finds and diverse talent, it’s a win, and a reflection of the best of Australian fashion.
But with that comes an added level of pressure to dress, or look, a certain way (something FJ contributor, Bianca O’Neill, recently wrote about). Each year, there are always videos online lamenting what people are wearing and having seen this play out in person, it’s fairly clear that events like fashion week toe an interesting line. While some people see it as a chance to look their best, others simply wear the clothes they always wear.
Looking back, I think the most memorable moments at AFW are the times a designer’s work truly moves you, or when you see yourself and clothing designed for you reflected on the runway. Yet for many plus-size creators, this was lacking. Actor and comedian, Milo Hartill and FJ’s own Allie Daisy King were among those who called this out, suggesting that progress has gone backwards.
There are certainly designers out there shifting the dial – some were at AFW, showcasing their work, but there are plenty of others contributing to and shaping Australian fashion. I think AFW will continue to evolve a little more each year and I hope this marks the many of first I’ll be seated at, ready to take notes.
Find more on Australian Fashion Week here.
This article Notes from a newbie: What it’s really like attending Australian Fashion Week as a writer appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-05-19 11:08:00
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