MBFWA is officially over for 2019, and as per usual the entire fashion industry is exhausted. It’s a big week, with all the major designers whipping out excellent threads for the Resort ’20 season. Yes, it’s weird to see summery pieces sashaying down runways while you freeze your tits off in the first throes of winter – but amidst the longing for lazy beach days is plenty of excitement about new styles to wear once the chill eases off.
[jwplayer sVILPwzU]
This year, instead of telling you about trends I thought I’d just show you some key looks I pretty much drooled over when I saw them stomp down the runway. From 80s prom realness to earth tones, I have a real aesthetics complex now and am thinking of binning my entire wardrobe to re-stock it with only MBFWA styles.
ALICE MCCALL
I am such a die-hard Alice McCALL fan. I’m currently wearing my Quincy overalls even though they definitely need a wash, because I’m so obsessed. Flouncy, ruffled girliness is a signature McCALL aesthetic but goddamn, she does it so well – EVERY season. These pants, I need them.
If someone tells me this wasn’t inspired by the prom scene in Never Been Kissed, they’re lying. I am O B S E S S E D with this shiny pink 80s explosion, the designer used the same material across a few pieces – from fitted “in the clerb” vibes to this angelic creation. This is how you do Prom Queen 1986 and make it fashion, IMO.
I need this like I need air. Like you would wear this if you married a 1975 rock star who’s absolutely going to cheat on you 400 times but you’re young and in love and stupid, and think he won’t (he will).
This is what you wear when you finally divorce your lying cheater of a rock star husband and then hit Studio 54 with a vengeance. Also can you HANDLE THE CUTE BAG? It’s heaven.
I have never wanted a head-to-toe outfit more in my LIFE! I would do very bad things to own this.
BEC + BRIDGE
The shag carpet runway, let’s acknowledge that first. I am a 70s die-hard (as if you haven’t worked that out yet) so this show was killer for me. These pants are the party pants of my dreams, I will wear them any time I feel blegh. You simply cannot be sad in those pants.
Just generally I’m obsessed with the earthy hues from B+B. Like that belt? The one-shoulder tank? Gimme.
BASSIKE
Sometimes I feel like Bassike just have market domination on comfy sack-like outfits that still manage to be flattering. It’s a good vibe to have, and this leather mini nails the brief – it looks comfy as hell while also shaping the waist and keeping things fashionably structured with THOSE shoulders.
ANNA QUAN
Look I SWEAR I’LL QUIT IT WITH THE EARTH TONES SOON, it’s just they were a) a huge trend at MBFWA and b) a true love of mine. This knit dress is ideal workwear for me – it’s got enough smart detail with the panelling through the skirt to avoid looking shapeless, but it one of those minimalist “throw it on in a panic” styles where you look put together when really you just chucked on ONE very well made piece, you know? We all need that in our lives.
See I promised I’d stop it with the earth tones. Let’s move on to white instead! Does this not look like the most heavenly bridal dress for some super minimalist bride who is getting married in a tiny-yet-adorable backyard with just three friends and her dog? The dog is definitely a pound kelpie but it’s got a ridiculously shiny coat. It’s well behaved yet occasionally cheeky. I don’t know why I’ve fixated on the dog so much. The point being – I love the shape here, Anna Quan is a master when it comes to structured-yet-unstructured, she just nails working with materials and I think this dress shows it perfectly.
DOUBLE RAINBOUU
Double Rainbouu are undoubtedly A major vibe, consistently coming out with these shocks of colour and breezy eye-catching pieces every season – I loved their walk-through runway concept, and these swirly pants in particular. If everyone could just embrace swirly loose pants, don’t you think we would all be happier people? I am just obsessed with the idea of fashion actually being comfortable. WHAT A NOVELTY.
THURLEY
!!!! Another “marrying my cheating liar of a rock star boyfriend in 1975” wedding dress! Can also double as your swim throw for a beach-to-bar moment in St Tropez, France on your honeymoon. Christ, I’m obsessed with this material and shape and everything.
More 80s prom party realness, I’m so happy this is a trend because all I want in life is to celebrate my next birthday while wearing a giant frothy mini dress in some garish shiny material. WHAT A VIBE.
TIGERLILY
Power suits are a huge thing right now, they were all over the MBFWA street style set, and I reckon they’ll stick around for summer, so is there anything more perfect than a breezy hot pink one? You’ll win all your work meetings in this and yes I realise you can’t “win” a work meeting, but guess what – this suit will manage it, somehow.
This is so very Hollywood-circa-1950 to me, like something Marilyn Monroe would wear. Probably to swim in tbh, since they were all archaic for so long and like “NO LADY BUMS ON SHOW HIDE YOUR BITS INCLUDING YOUR THIGHS”.
HANSEN & GRETEL
I’m still on the matchy-matchy train and this knit set is dreamy.
JONATHAN SIMKHAI
I would never wear this but I loooooove it – like 1990s Angelina Jolie circa Tomb Raider.
I would also never wear this but ONLY because I could fit one nipple into that top and that’s it (the curse of big boobs, amirite). However, I love the breezy jumpsuits we saw on the MBFWA runways and this is one of my all-time favourites.
WE ARE KINDRED
If you’ve got a floaty sleeve on your blouse, I’M IN. I love this set, high-waisted loose pants are a huge mood and work on literally everyone. I normally steer clear of cropped tops but the pants I reckon would make this set so flattering, even if you’re self-conscious about your tummy area like I am. Just hits the right spot.
Like Alice McCALL, I can’t get enough of We Are Kindred as a brand. This dress is so what I love about them – these bohemian-yet-fashion pieces that are a statement in and of themselves, the kinds of dresses you wear and everyone makes a comment about.
The blue, the gingham pattern… it’s all working for me. Can totally see this as a beach-to-bar sitcho.
KARLA SPETIC
There were a few pieces from Karla Spetic’s MBFWA collection featuring these rope-tie situations, and I’m really into it.
Also a lot of this dreamy holographic fabric, I need a shirt made of this.
P.E NATION
Don’t you think Sporty Spice would have worn this exact outfit in 1999?
CARLA ZAMPATTI
Still so obsessed with silky tailoring. There’s nothing so effortlessly chic, IMO.
Love fashion so much it hurts? MBFWE is happening this weekend, so you can cop a taste of the fashion industry life and get amongst the designer threads. Head here for tickets.
