A day in the life of an FJ editor during Australian Fashion Week

From airports to runways to after-parties.

While I’m no stranger to the delightful chaos that is Fashion Week, this year marks my first time attending Australian Fashion Week (AFW) in Sydney. My previous experiences working as an editor at New Zealand and Melbourne’s respective events has always been positive, despite the long hours and added pressure that comes with on-the-ground reporting.

The fact that I get to run around between shows, catch up with industry friends and celebrate our talented local fashion community and call it ‘work’ is a privilege that’s never lost on me. So I was more than eager to head to this year’s AFW presented by Shark Beauty, and see how Sydney-siders do it.

Discover up-and-coming local designers in our Fashion section. 

For myself and most of the attendees I spoke to, Tuesday was set to be the busiest day on everyone’s schedule. Mine began at the ungodly hour of 5am, in an Uber to Melbourne Airport, wearing 9cm wedge knee-high boots, a skirt over jeans and three jackets. We don’t have time for checked bags today.

9am: Hotel drop-off

I arrived at my hotel in Surry Hills to drop my bags, change outfits and attempt a hair style in 30 minutes. After three years of experience, I always pre-plan my outfits for Fashion Weeks now – there’s an endless stream of decisions to make throughout the day as an editor, so eliminating one of them helps.

Today’s outfit ended up being perfect for a busy day in the rainy but warm weather. I wore a white tank, grey pinstripe jacket and shorts set by Melbourne label Ess.Bee and wedge boots by Kahe, another Melbourne designer who’s showing at AFW this Friday.

Waiting in my hotel room was an exciting package, the new Shark Glam Hot Tool Air Drying & Styling System. Normally my hair routine involves a blowout, curling barrels and a hair straightener to finesse my fringe, and this tool has everything I need rolled into one.

10am: The Frontier show

First up on my agenda was The Frontier, a group showcase of six IYKYK designers, including four making their AFW debut. Held at Sydney Theatre Company, we were ushered into a small theatre, more intimate than I expected, which featured eight looks from each designers. Honestly, I couldn’t pick a favourite – Haluminous, Madre Natura, Ouse, Rose Guiffre, Paris Jade Burrows and Suzaan Stander are undeniable creative forces, each with their own distinct vision.

11am: Create and edit content

After the show it was time to meet our photographer, Suki Deen and assist her with taking street style portraits (you can see the best looks here). Despite the on-off rain, I also got the Rode mic out to film some vox pops, before heading to the media room at Museum of Contemporary Art to edit up footage from the runway.

12.30pm: Quick refresh

Sydney’s humidity had done a number on me so I quickly beelined to the pop-up Shark Beauty Glam & Glow Salon on the MCA’s Tallawoladah Lawn. I always get a little nervous having my hair done but stylist Christopher Hunter nailed the brief and gave me glossy, undone waves – not Real Housewife hair.

This instantly lifted my spirits and as I left, the sun came out and I was able to take in the beauty of Sydney’s waterfront for the first time today. I posted up outside the MCA, camera and mic at the ready to capture the particularly glamorous guests arriving for the Courtney Zheng show.

4pm: Lunch and collection preview

I met a stylist friend in Surry Hills for lunch before we headed to see Pixie McElroy, founder of Dal 1992 at her beautiful light-filled studio in Potts Point. We previewed the new collection, sipped tea and gossiped. It was a lovely pause in the middle of a busy day, and of course I picked up some new tights to wear to the next show!

6pm: Hansen and Gretel runway

Next up was the Hansen and Gretel runway, presented by Shark Beauty. I had a customary champagne with some model agent friends before we were herded in to the stunning MCA gallery to take our seats. The beachy, laid-back vibe of the collection was pure escapism: colourful resort wear, lots of beading and soft, sheer fabrics. The model’s hair was salty and textured with pearly shells threaded through random braids, and their skin was gleaming with a post-holiday flush.

8pm: Alix Higgins runway

Hansen and Gretel had run over-time, so I rushed back to the hotel to change (Kahe jeans and clogs, a knit top by Agati) then walked around the corner to China Heights Gallery for Alix Higgins. The designer’s fifth consecutive solo show at AFW drew an eclectic crowd – it reminded me of Melbourne actually – and we headed up many flights of stairs to the white gallery space, where guests were seated in various rooms.

It was fast-paced and electric, with the music, atmosphere, beauty and fashion working cohesively. There was the classic Alix Higgins signatures like printed graphics, slogans, reworked sportswear and preppy polos, but what really stuck with me were the whimsical hats. Asymmetrical and windswept, they were the perfect accompaniment to the tousled locks styled underneath, thanks to Shark Beauty and Kevin Murphy, the exclusive hair tool and haircare partners of the night.

Alix himself summed it up best: “The collection is ladylike, it’s timeless, it’s animalistic. It’s cool, chic, fun.” After the show, most of us headed up to the Hollywood for a celebratory drink.

10pm: Refuel and recharge

With Uber Eats on the way, I walked back to my hotel to shower, get into a robe and wind down. A session with my Shark CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling + LED Face Mask was absolutely necessary. I always do one round of the ‘Better Ageing’ treatment, which only takes six minutes. Tomorrow I’ll definitely be doing the ‘Under-Eye Revive’ treatment before I go anywhere. Jumpscare below.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

Check out Shark Beauty’s range of beauty tools here.