Australian Fashion Week is the most influential fashion event in the Asia-Pacific area. Held annually in Sydney each May, the event features the industry’s biggest names alongside the next generation of Australian designers. The main venue for the runway shows is Carriageworks, a multi-arts urban cultural precinct. This year AFW was held from Monday, May 13 through Friday, May 17, 2024 and these collections will drop in-store during October and November 2024, which is early spring in Australia.
Established in 1996, ‘Next Gen’ is a program that supports emerging designers and helps launch their careers. The program’s winners are given the opportunity to present their collections at Australian Fashion Week. The 2025 program included designers Emily Watson, Amy Lawrance, Abby Potter of House of Campbell and Chris Potirakis.
AFW Resort 25 Trends
Several strong trends emerged throughout the week.
Latte Dressing
As previously reported by FashionUnited, street style trends are often good indications of what consumers will look for in future seasons. This is true of ‘latte dressing’, which first emerged on the streets and was later seen on the runways of New York, Europe and Sao Paulo. Australian designers followed suit.
Look 12: a trench coat, miniskirt and clutch, all in a matching patent leather snake print, a blouse with a large floral print in orange and brown and snakeskin brown and orange print boots.
Look 41: an ankle-length brown strapless faux leather dress and split toe boots.
Navel Gazing
Interesting to note that in contrast to their European counterparts, Australian designers chose to expose the midriff instead of the breasts as a key erogenous zone. Cropped tops with low-slung pants was a popular look in the ‘90s and early aughts, a fashion period being re-visited today.
Look 7: a yellow bralette, silk scarf/hoodie and a black suit with baggy pleated-front pants, shown over fishnet hose. Accessorized by sequined slippers.
Look 7: a pink and orange scarf top, low-slung orange jeans with a second pink waistline, Accessories included a scarf matching the top, sunglasses, raffia earrings and sneakers.
Look 25: a white cotton knit bralette and white wide-legged drawstring matching pants with gold jewelry.
Quiet Luxury
A.K.A ‘Stealth Wealth’ this trend is still resonating almost two years after it was first identified.The key items such as trench coats and tailored separates have the kind of longevity that appeals to consumers.
Look 27: a white sleeveless vest with an off-center buckle and matching knee-length shorts was accessorized with a gold chain necklace and black boots.
Look 40: a pale yellow ribbed tank top with pleated-front pants in the same color. Gold jewelry and split-toe boots finished the look.
Rise and Shine
As the Resort collections drop in-store toward the end of the year, many consumers seek Holiday looks. Several Australian designers used high-shine fabrics, for a series of glamorous evening looks and separates.
Look 29: bejeweled pink and silver panties, a pink knit camisole, hot pink cardigan with patches and accessories that included pink sunglasses and pearls.
Look 42: a long-line white coat over high-waisted panties, a sheer turtle-neck, black hosiery, ankle strap shoes, white pressed leather belt and coin pendant.
