PEDESTRIAN.TV has partnered with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weekend to bring you daily wrap-ups of the best shows, trends, and fashion news direct from the runways at MBFWA. Want in on the action yourself? You can still pick up tickets for the weekend shows here.
After a standout opening show from Dion Lee at the Opera House on Sunday, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia kicked things off with a bang on Monday morning. Carriageworks in Eveleigh was a throng of photographers, influencers, bloggers, stylists, designers, buyers, and passersby just caught up in the whirl of happenings in the highly-snapped courtyard.
Alice McCall, showing at 10am, was clearly *the* event of the day, with the FROW was like a well-styled game of ‘Guess Who: Instagram Edition’ (think: Mimi Elashiry, Kate Peck, Georgia Fowler, Nadia Faifax, Montana Cox, Kate Waterhouse, Terry Biviano & Carissa Walford). The Aussie designer’s 2018 resort collection was described in the show notes as the “archetypal rock chick let loose in her socialite mother’s closets”, and she delivered. Soft ostrich feathers and ruffled skirts in muted pastels of duck egg blue, peach, pale pink and sky grey defined the collection, mixed in with midriff-baring twinsets adding a grunge edge.
The real question is: how does one suddenly acquire oodles of cash to dress like a socialite’s wayward daughter? Asking for a friend, a.k.a. me.
Justin Cassin‘s debut mens collection was a masterclass in sophisticated cuts in every shade of black. The Sydney designer tapped international Aussie model Jordan Barrett to close out the show, fresh from his appearance at fashion’s night of nights, the Met Gala. The dark and moody streetwear was a mix of basic staples and luxe apparel that played with oversizing and subtle details – and the tan ensemble and oversized t-shirt were a definite nod to Yeezy, which this writer at least is extremely here for.
JORDAN BARRETT 
Double Rainbouu‘s showing was always going to put the audience slightly off kilter, and that happened from the moment the first model pushed a trolley around (not in front of) the FROW and the delicately balanced umbrella promptly fell off. This collection was like the cool beach party you were never invited to on acid, with bright shades of red, hot pink, electric blue and yolky yellow fighting for your attention – paired with the dopest fuzzy sandals you’ve ever seen. When the show ended, the models – who at this point had huddled together like bowling pins in an increasingly crowded runway – walked out not to from whence they came but straight out the door, presumably to the pub.
Sass and Bide might be an Aussie staple label, but it’s been absent from the MBFWA runway for FOURTEEN YEARS. Well, it’s back, baby, closing Monday night with nods to its signature style and a froth-worthy FROW to boot. The label’s love of sequins, beading and fringes was on full display, but there was definitely a party-girl-gone-good vibe in the grown-up floor length dresses and high necklines. The monochrome palette was broken up by flashes of bright orange, muted olive, sky blue and dark golds, and tbqh is entirely worthy of hocking your entire wardrobe online to afford just one signature piece. That brand you love has come back in style.
Follow along on Instagram for all the action from Carriageworks, and keep an eye out for Day 2 tomorrow.
