Everything the FJ editors wore to PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival

A week in looks.

This year marked the 30th anniversary of PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival (PMFF). Returning to Carlton’s Royal Exhibition Building for a milestone year, it was another chance to glimpse collections from emerging student designers and Australia’s industry heavyweights alike.

As a proud, long-term media partner, we were seated at every show and scouting the forecourt outside every night, taking notes on themes, styling hacks and our favourite looks on and off the runways.

For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.

When it comes to attending the festivities themselves, especially as media, it’s a fine line between style and comfort, all while supporting local labels. Plus, Melbourne’s street style crowd is notoriously creative, so the bar is set high. Below, we break down our looks from the offical launch to the closing showcase.

Government House Launch

When you’re plus sized, there’s often that familiar dread before an event. The options can feel limited to fast fashion, fast fashion and more fast fashion. But there are designers who are genuinely prioritising diverse bodies and Paris Jade Burrows is one of them.

For opening night, I had the honour of wearing Look Six from her collection, ‘The Void’. There’s something transformative about finding a garment that truly fits, not just physically but emotionally. I’ve never felt more beautiful. – Holly Villagra, Branded Content and Production Coordinator

For the official launch of the Festival, I tried something I haven’t actually done before, despite living in Melbourne’s Inner North for two years: dress over pants. Inspired by our former intern Ariana, I wore this sheer Madre Natura dress over my Jess Grindell satin trousers and felt like I had a styling epiphany. – Lara Daly, Senior Editor

Monday

For the first night of runways, I was heading to both the Joywear and Melbourne Noir shows, so I wanted my outfit to sit somewhere in between the two. A little playful, a little dark.

I wore Chelsea Farquhar’s bicorn hat and bodysuit, which felt like the perfect balance. I added Dal1992 tights for a hit of colour, the Monique wedge heels from Lana Wilkinson, jewellery from Dinosaur Designs and a bag from The Hold Label to pull it all together. – HV

I started the week off in a leather column skirt by St. Agni, with a generous slit up the back for easy movement – necessary when chasing people down for Vox Pops. I jazzed up this silk mesh Wynn Hamlyn top with a silver brooch by Agmes and finished the look with some ’90s wedges by DOF Studios (you’ll see me in a lot this week). – LD

Tuesday

On Tuesday, I attended back-to-back runways: the National Designer Award x David Jones and the National Graduate Showcase. I interviewed many of the student designers presenting collections for the latter show, so it was exciting to see their work in the flesh!

I tried to channel Lily-Rose Depp x Nina Park with my overly dramatic side-part (thanks to Leah Dixon at Salon Spaghetti) and some ultra-dark eyeliner (courtesy of makeup artist, Ivy Reynolds). I was dressed by Wynn Hamlyn in this divine two-set piece, and paired it with my Margiela tabis and favourite Vermeer Studio gold hoops. – Daisy Henry, Assistant Editor

Like the first evening, I wanted to be intentional with what I wore and chose to spotlight a student alum. I was lucky enough to wear a dress by Amelia Carlisle from her label It’s My Roommates. Pulling from its earthy brown tones, I paired it with jewellery from Dinosaur Designs and sported an up-do and smoky eye. – HV

Tonight’s outfit is very me in that it’s a mix-mash of local, emerging designers. I picked up this ‘Fresh Meat’ top at the Object Merchant ball last Friday (held at North Melbourne Meat Market lol) it’s by Agati, a Melbourne label doing seriously fun things with knitwear. I’m wearing my Jess Grindell satin trousers again, and a Hydra Opia bag made from upcycled leather and a vintage belt that can actually be taken off the bag and worn as a belt. Clever! – LD

Wednesday

One of my favourite nights of the week was the Beyond Blak runway. Curated by Mob in Fashion, it was an incredible show and easily a standout.

For this look, I couldn’t have imagined wearing anything other than a First Nations designer. I was so grateful that the very talented Renee, one of the designers featured on the runway, loaned me her Sunrise Corset and Eco Silk Organza Skirt from her label Lychee Alkira. I felt genuinely honoured to wear her pieces. I paired it with the Elas Crochet Gigi bag, Lana Wilkinson Jemima heels and jewellery from Dinosaur Designs. – HV

Thursday

I’m wearing a full Silk Laundry look tonight, excited to see the label’s latest collection on the Autumn Luxe Runway. I’ve always known the brand for its beautiful sandwashed silks, but I love what they’re doing with other fabric blends, like this pencil skirt made from sheer cotton and silk organza. I layered the silk mesh long-sleeve top over an old Paris Georgia bodice, adding a rosette brooch to match the flowers on the skirt. SJP would be proud. – LD

Being the Autumn Luxe Runway, I figured it was the perfect time to experiment with some transeasonal layering. I wore my favourite Essen Foundation flats, a black silk St. Agni dress I picked up for the label’s resort show last year, and a sheer long-sleeve I was gifted from one of my favourite locally-made labels, Madra Natura. I paired it with leather bag I found at an op shop for four dollars and borrowed some orange Cakey Sportsman earrings from Lara for a pop of colour. – DH

For Thursday’s look, I wore Bianca Spender, one of the designers showing that night. I chose the Cloud Jersey top and matching skirt, which genuinely made me feel like a Grecian goddess. As a Melbourne-based publication, we all find it important to spotlight local talent when the opportunity presents itself, and I was lucky enough to wear jewellery from Pleiosien. I paired it with The Hold Label’s Our Longing bag and heels from Lana Wilkinson. – HV

Saturday

First up tonight is the New Again: Metamorphosis Runway x Savers, a cohort of local labels working with upcycled and sustainable materials. I’m wearing a full tonal look by Amy Cottrell, one of the designers showing. She’s such a genius with textures, mixing velvet and lace with snakeprint and sequins. The beaded bag is so special – she’s used bioplastic sequins with repurposed glass crystals, the big teardrops at the bottom chimed as I walked. – LD

Saturday was another night of back-to-back shows. Following the New Again Runway, we also attended the visionary Avant Garde Runway – one of my standouts for the week.

For the final night, I wore a textured mini dress by Wynn Hamlyn from its upcoming collection, paired with leather boots and a belt I’d rescued from my mum’s donation pile. I’m not big on jewellery, so I topped it off with a classic silver bracelet from Agmes. – DH

For more on Fashion Week dressing, try this.