New $20 Kmart item praised as a needed wardrobe staple

Kmart had debuted new designs on the runway, and one item is already standing out as a firm fan favourite.

A $20 item is being touted as the perfect thing to help create the ultimate day-to-night look.

Kmart held it’s Family Day at the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival on Saturday with new designs debuting on the runway, and some members of the audience were also wearing designs that featured on the catwalk.

One major fan favourite that was featured in the crowd was the $20 sleeveless waistcoat, which could be paired with either a matching full-length skirt or trousers, both cost $25. There is also a matching blazer, which is $38.

Sneza Jovanovic, the woman behind the social media account @mums_style_diary, opted for the waistcoat paired with the skirt, white pointed heels and a white bag.

“I love the pinstripe. It’s me, and I love the tailoring,” she told news.com.au at the event.

Kmart fans are loving this suit set. Picture: Instagram/@mums_style_diary

She said she also loved the versatility as the outfit could easily be transformed from a day at the office to a night out.

Kmart Australia’s womenswear buyer Catherine Wringe told news.com.au the soft suiting collection was “her vibe”.

“One of our hero outfits is our Pinstripe suit. The soft suit trend is a must have for this season and we have built a collection for our customers to be able to shop this look at affordable prices.” she said.

“The pinstripe option is available in the vest, blazer, pant and skirt arriving soon. It’s such a key look that you can take from day to night or wear casually with sneakers and a basic T-shirt to elevate an everyday outfit.”

She said one thing the team behind the women’s wear collection were really proud of is that it was a collection, but it also had versatility and functioned as a capsule wardrobe.

There is also a blazer that goes with the look. Picture: TikTok/@what_maria_wears

Many fans wore it in the crowd of Saturday's event. Picture: @kat_laneandco/TikTok

Kmart head of design and forecast Kenny McLaren told news.com.au the collection took a full year to create before its runway debut on Saturday.

“There are 50 designers in Melbourne, and we start by looking globally at different trends and brands, as well as social media, and pull it together,” Mr McLaren said.

He said the team did a great job with this collection as it was a mix of capsule items – which are staples – as well as colour and on-trend pieces.

Some of the items are already on sale, with Ms Wringe saying: “The show this year was really about capturing the now because we wanted people to be able to see either you’re wearing catwalk today, which is always really exciting. It’s not normally (the case).

“But equally, if you saw something you loved you could go into store and buy it today.”