‘New age of party dressing’: Sexy minis are trending at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week
Racy mini dresses, plunging necklines and sexy cut-outs have ruled Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. These are the hottest looks from the runways.
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After a year where WFH attire and activewear ruled, fashion is well and truly back in glamour mode.
Sexy mini dresses, sparkling sequins, dramatic ruffles and plunging necklines have been seen on the runways, from Alice McCall to Rebecca Vallance, at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week.
As Vogue Australia editor Edwina McCann said: “It’s time to discard tracksuits and ugg boots and put the fun back into getting dressed in sequins, flounce and mega heels”.
Danielle Ragenard, vice president and managing director of IMG Models Asia Pacific, said the party dress trend “(speaks) to an optimistic future ahead”.
Ms Ragenard said the “flirty hemlines, statement boots and bold embellishments gave us all the hope we needed for a post-pandemic world filled with fun times and lots of dancing”.
In a show that marked her label’s triumphant return from financial distress, Alice McCall said her resort ’22 collection – dubbed “Discoteca” – marked a “new age of party dressing”.
“This is the new age of party dressing; a rebirth of how we celebrate,” Ms McCall said.
“I wanted to revisit the idea of disco and that perfect evening captured on polaroid (cameras), which meant creating looks … using textural metallics, ornate hardware and psychedelic marbles to create a feeling of transformation, where disco becomes our church and the dance floor is our altar.”
Ms McCall said she was “heavily influenced” by the ’60s and ’70s and she wanted to “bring to life looks from this era that are still suited to today”.
“I wanted to pair short hemlines with long sleeves, cropped long sleeve jackets with bell bottom fits and feathers and oversized collars – it’s a celebration and a time to be free and excited to wear fashion again.”
Hemlines were also short and sweet (on occasion) at Bondi Born, which presented its minimalist and monochromatic resort ’22 collection on an open-air runway overlooking the Opera House.
In contrast to the luxe looks seen at Alice McCall and Rebecca Vallance, Bondi Born’s “Toco” range kept it clean-cut and simple, with sustainable fabrics in lemon and berry tones.
The eco-conscious, cult label presented strapless minis, wrap dresses and matching separates, as models wore bold matte lipstick from Clarins (the brand’s signature “Joli Rogue Velvet”) and Double Fix Mascara on their brows.
The collections seen at Fashion Week so far have signalled the return of dressing up – in all its fun and frivolous glory.
“As a reaction to a year of wearing sweatpants and rarely any occasion wear, we’ll be dressing up to celebrate socialisation again,” global forecaster Lyst’s Year In Review report – a benchmark for trend predictions – previously stated.
“Think modern-day roaring 20s style – short hems, bright colours, and embellishments.”
And it seems Australian designers certainly got the memo.
Afterpay Australian Fashion Week is on until June 4.
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