How stylist Gideon D. Wilonja prepares for Melbourne Fashion Week

“There’s always a little nervous energy.”

One Melbourne Fashion Week runway, two distinct styles. Styled by Gideon D. Wilonja, this year’s City Square runways on Saturday, October 24, celebrate the diverse cultures and creative communities that make Melbourne what it is.

Blending fashion with theatre, the two shows will tell different stories: one through chaotic creativity, the other through the street style of everyday fashion icons. Featuring a diverse edit from local labels including Gammin Threads, Rowland Vision, Homie and Godwin Charlie, you can expect plenty of personality – and a few surprises.

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Pulling the two shows together is Gideon. “I come from a theatre background, so I’m always thinking about more than the individual outfits. I think about how the whole show feels and how each designer fits into that story,” he tells us. “I’m always thinking about characters, storytelling and making an entrance!”

With almost eight years in the industry, Gideon’s own fashion journey began at M/FW, where he first volunteered. Now, he’s returning for his second year styling a runway, where he’ll bring two different concepts to life. “Each show has a distinct vibe, but both are inspired by different sides of Melbourne and put the spotlight on the individuals who make the city what it is.”

As a long-standing media partner, Fashion Journal will be covering the highlights throughout the week. While most attendees will only see the finished looks on the runway, getting them there involves plenty of behind-the-scenes problem-solving. “A beautiful outfit still needs to fit properly and let someone walk comfortably. You become very invested in the practical details,” he explains.

From pulling pieces and coordinating with designers to castings, fittings and rehearsals, the lead-up is a balancing act of creative vision and logistics. “One minute you’re thinking about the mood of a show, and the next you’re arranging a collection time for a pair of shoes. My phone gets a proper workout,” he says. “I think people would be surprised at how much of [being a stylist] is organising!”

Still, the payoff makes it worthwhile. “The best part is seeing the whole picture come to life. I get to work with so many different voices and ideas, and seeing it all come together when the first model walks out is always so satisfying.” A week out from the show, Gideon shares a glimpse into a busy day of the life.

Today’s pickups take me to Emporium and Melbourne Central, starting with shoes. I’m collecting pieces for the City Square runways, with a stop at Jo Mercer and Vivaia next. I always have a close look at the shoes before choosing the pairs for the runway. There’s a lot to consider, from which looks they’ll work with to the sizes we need for each model. These little details make a big difference to the final runway looks.

124 pairs of shoes collected! Now to get everything back to the collection venue, where we prepare for each runway. Very grateful for my assistant today: the trolley. A quick moment on my phone between pickups and drop-offs. There’s always something to follow up on, an email to respond to or avoid, haha. Even standing on the footpath surrounded by shoe boxes, waiting for an Uber, it never stops.

Back at the collection venue, having a first look through the pieces from Clothing the Gaps. Seeing everything in person is one of my favourite parts. I can start playing with combinations and figuring out how I want to style them.

Catching up with Lindyn, the designer behind Rowland Vision about his collection for runway two: After Hours. I love hearing directly from designers about their vision, it helps me understand what they want to show and how I can bring that vision into the styling.

Checking in with our producer to make sure all my models are locked in. Casting is such a big part of how I build a runway, so it’s exciting to know who I’m dressing as the pieces arrive.

Going through deliveries from my suppliers, with more than 30 shoe, bag and accessory suppliers contributing across both runways, there’s a lot to unpack. Every box holds a potential finishing touch, and I can’t wait to see how these pieces bring the upcoming looks together.

City Square Runways are part of Melbourne Fashion Week, which runs across Melbourne from 19 to 25 October.

Free seating allocations for these runways are exhausted, but standing room is available on the day. Head here to learn more.