Australian Fashion Week has officially kicked off for 2024 and, with it, plenty of fashionable fodder in the form of show-stopping runways and trend-setting street style.
But for those not outside the fashion realm, catching a show at Carriageworks or simply keeping up with the happenings of AFW can be tricky. But that’s where we step in. Consider this your fashionable cheat sheet, with all the unmissable moments from Australian Fashion Week 2024, as they happen.
Albus Lumen Opens The Week With ‘Rebellion’
This year’s coveted opening spot was filled by Sydney-based label, Albus Lumen. Designer Marina Afonina journeyed back through the brand’s archives for inspiration, reinventing and reconstructing past collections and archived pieces through an exciting new lens. The ‘Rebellion’ runway kicked off the week at Carriageworks to a thumping techno soundtrack to match the label’s youthful new energy.
The opening show always generates an eager crowd, and this year was no exception. The collection was presented to 600 fashionable attendees, including Victoria Lee, Maddison Brown, Montana Cox, and Kyah Simon.
Introducing A New Guard Of Australian Designers
One of the most exciting inclusions in the schedule is the Next Gen show, which introduced us to the work of designers Amy Lawrance, Emily Watson, House of Campbell and Potirakis. Watch this space: we’ll be seeing a lot more where they came from.
A New Chapter For P.E. Nation
Day two of AFW marked the start of a fresh chapter for activewear label P.E. Nation, with creative director Pip Edwards solo at the helm. The new era is marked by a neutral palette, and sleek silhouettes that transform effortlessly from gym to day. Count us in.
An Intimate Outing With Alix Higgins
Alix Higgins’ presentation on Wednesday morning felt like the designer’s most personal yet. Marked by his signature bodycon cuts paired with flowing fabrics and bright prints, the collection felt as intimate as it did consumer-friendly.
Beare Park Partners With Paspaley For Gorgeous Pearl Moments
Beare Park’s 2025 Resort collection showcased 30 elegant looks ranging from streetwear to formalwear. “Resort 25 is devoid of transient themes or concepts. It’s about empowering women to invest in pieces they can wear and cherish for decades,” designer Gabriella Pereira said.
Of all the covetable looks to hit the runway, Beare Park made a stunning statement with flowing maxi dresses paired with cascading Paspaley pearls.
“It has been an incredible honour to partner with Paspaley Pearls this year for our AFW show. Paspaley holds unparalleled esteem as a heritage Australian luxury house and the world’s premier producer of pearls. It means so much to me that Paspaley entrusted Beare Park to adorn our AFW show,” Pereira told marie claire Australia. “Beare Park deeply values the close tie of Paspaley Pearls to the Australian natural environment. We are an Australian made brand that champions the use of natural fibres, quality and timelessness, making this partnership one of perfect alignment.”
Hari Nef Celebrates Pandora’s Latest Collection
At lunchtime on Wednesday, friends of Pandora headed off-site to Vaucluse to celebrate the jeweller’s latest release. Local stars including James Majoos and Tyde Levi were joined by Barbie star Hari Nef, who had flown in for the occasion, for an afternoon celebrating Pandora’s new Essence collection.
Romance Was Born Returns With A Bang
Romance Was Born is everyone’s favourite burst of colour amid a sea of grey, and the brand’s Resort ’25 showcase lived up to the excitement surrounding the brand’s Australian Fashion Week return.
A star-studded front row turned out for the affair, including Jessica Rowe, Samantha Harris, PE Nation designer Pip Edwards and Heartbreak High star Ayesha Madon.
The collection by designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, in partnership with indigenous artist Zaachariaha Fielding, was titled ‘The Nothing’ — but was anything but.
The designs were bedazzled with hand-beaded jewels, and glittered down a runway adorned with large-scale moon sculptures. The designers played with proportions and contrasted fragile fabrics like tulle, chiffon and satin, with robust woven and and structured statement pieces.
Verner and UGG Express Debut Collaboration
At Verner’s runway on Thursday morning, models hit the runway in some rather cosy footwear.
For the show, the Melbourne-based brand teamed up with UGG Express for the customisation of three different ugg boots and slippers by the brand EVERAU. The limited-edition capsule encapsulates the essence of Australian surf culture and was inspired by Verner’s Resort ’25 collection.
These bespoke designs will be auctioned off with within the coming weeks, with a potential limited-edition release on the horizon too.
Elaine George Opens Iordanes Spyridon Gogos
Jordan Gogos’ Iordanes Spyridon Gogos is always an injection of joy amid AFW. The designer’s latest utopia was no different.
Opened by renowned First Nations model Elaine George, the show featured a diverse cast of models garbed in Gogos’ signature bright colours and eclectic shapes.
