Oroton, Matteau and Michael Lo Sordo at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week
Transporting guests to locations near and far was key to collections at Australian Fashion Week.
Designers – like many of us – are itching to get on a plane – or simply go to somewhere we’ve never been before.
After two years of pandemic inertia, Day 2 of Australian Fashion Week saw travel emerge as a theme for the resort 2023 collections in Sydney.
Oroton’s breezy early 60s silhouettes in soft candy shades were reminiscent of beachside parties in Capri, while its voluminous maxi dresses were the perfect beach-to-bar attire for today’s jetset.
“Vintage travel tickets were the inspiration,” designer Sophie Holt said backstage after the show, along with ceramic tiles from Portugal. The colourful chits covered silk separates and maxi dresses alike, while vintage botanical prints continued the nostalgic theme that Holt has mined since her first collection of apparel for the 84-year-old brand landed in 2019.
Striped linen beach robes in long and short lengths were accessorised with matching beach towels and bags, while anchor motifs decorated a navy pop-over and matching bags, inspired by her grandmother Dame Zara Holt’s label, Magg.
“(Those pieces were imagining) a Portuguese fishing village and the dressmaker who was sewing labels on those products,” she said. “It had a slight 60s element to it, but a sweetness and a freshness.”
Matteau, too, wanted to “escape”, said designer Ilona Hamer, who now lives in Los Angeles.
“Anywhere,” added sister and business partner Peta Heinsen.
“Life’s been a bit heavy so (we wanted to offer) just a bit of escapism,” said Hamer, “but clothes you can actually wear when you’re at home as well as on an escape.”
Michael Lo Sordo transported guests to the 88th floor of Sydney’s Crown Suites to showcase his latest collection. It could have doubled for a glamorous location in a James Bond film, which is hardly surprising given that Lo Sordo was the first Australian designer to have his work featured in a Bond film.
In perhaps the most memorable – and comedic and action-packed – scene of No Time To Die, actress Ana de Armas wore Lo Sordo’s black satin gown to lasting effect.
“I miss glamour, I miss just something beautiful,” Lo Sord said of his collection, heavy on satin slip dresses and oversized tuxedos with crystal embellishment thanks to jewellery designer Ryan Storer. “Hearing all the models today saying, ‘I feel so beautiful,’ that’s just so inspiring.”
Afghan refugee Nazdana Bakhtiari also took to the catwalk, walking for designer Mariam Seddiq.
Bakhtiari and her mother Zakia were among the thousands who fled Afghanistan last August when the Taliban took control of the country.
“My father came here to give us opportunities,” Seddiq said. “So I’m here to support others.”