MBFWA 2016

MBFWA is still fresh in my mind. We’re drawing close to the end of the year and I am finding that I still revel in the euphoria of the clothes I wore, and shows I saw at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, 2016.

As I write this article, I can’t help but be drawn to think what it is, exactly, that holds me captive to the hustle and bustle of Fashion Week (MBFWA). I find myself continuously glamoured by what the Fashion world holds, and its swift anchoring once a year for nothing but a week keeps me crawling back for more.

I used to sit at school, at home, or at work scrolling through ‘#MBFWA’ on Instagram on the hour – at a minimum – to discover everything I possibly could. I’d sit down in a state I’d rightly describe as a type of melancholic lust (commonly referred to as FOMO) for the event I’d never thought I’d attend. Now, I can’t quite seem to put the idea or feeling of how incredible it is to see everything happen (IRL) into words.

There are times throughout this week that leave me lost for words; feeling incredibly small and invisible. You may believe this is to be sad, but to me it’s beautiful. I compare this feeling to being 5 years old and being taken to a new candy store. There are so many sweets and treats that you’ve never seen before and – naturally – you need to inspect every lolly in store. It’s exciting, invigorating, and although the lollies don’t see you, you see them.

I found myself perched inside Carraigeworks, against the wall of glass, watching the who’s who, fashion’s elite, and the incredible, beautiful people being snapped and pap’d as they stroll in. The perfectly poised pink dressed that stole the air from my lungs (Tanja Gacic), the monochrome beauty that caused many to double-take (Gabriella Bjersland), the stylist that stole the show in fur, and the dapper gentleman that continues to school my ability to piece together mix-matched suiting attire (Sam Wines) – these are only to name a few of the memorable glimpses from this spot. Click on the descriptions to see what I’m talking about here.

Although watching the Fashion Forward make their entrance is fun, making your own entrance with whatever you choose to wear for the day is even more so. I’m going to highlight one outfit that added to my euphoria of MBFWA. From my absolute favourite brand, wearing a double blue Jac+Jack outfit and being snapped by the gorgeous Sara Heaven – it was a definite change to what I wore last year! And a beyond-positive one at that.

In 2016, my highlights go out to Bondi Bather, my local legends who incorporated the famous Running Man into their show, and Ten Pieces, the knits and seasonal wear all year round that turn surf to city in 10 garments flat.

Australian brand Model Citizen was a standout and deserves some heavy recognition. The visionary behind the brand, Eeshaal Niranjan, was named GQ’s Australian Emerging Menswear Designer – with this collection, you can see exactly why as he perfectly captures the median of street and sophistication.

I got an exclusive MBFWA backstage look with Eesh to talk everything Model Citizen. The wait for these street-luxe pieces is almost over, as Model Citizen gear up to have their forthcoming launch by early December, 2016. You check out some of the exclusive images for a sneak peak with MR. TURNER and Model Citizen at the end of the post.

There’s a very special mention due to two beyond talented designers, Anna Quan and Ahmad Taufik. Both of whom created cuts, shapes, and tailoring in their collections that were all innovative, fresh and new. They both have set a bar in Australian fashion that will defy how I see design going forward. These two are ones to watch, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

MBFWA here’s to continuing the events that make my heart skip a beat. The long days, the street style, meeting icons, networking, and hitting back-to-back shows that all add fuel to my eternal flame of love for the art form.

So, I will say again: there are times throughout MBFWA that leave me lost for words; feeling incredibly small and invisible. You may believe this is to be sad, but to me it’s beautiful.

It’s in this moment of feeling small and invisible that I get to see the art that is MBFWA. It’s at this moment that I get to watch Fashion constantly reinvent itself. And it’s at this moment that I, enveloped in beauty, dream it to last forever.

Sincerely,