VAMFF recap: Gala Runway

At Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival’s 2018 runway series kicked off last night, giving us a taste of what’s in store for David Jones this winter. As always, there’s a lot to love.

The AW18 opening saw the Royal Exhibition Building glowing in red, shining a light on the sea of lace skirts and floral outfits.

Vera Blue set the scene with a standout performance of her track ‘Lady Powers’, fittingly followed by the night’s first lineup led by Jessica Gomes.

The runway showcased a huge spotlight on oversized silhouettes, setting the mood for a very Melbourne winter with dark coats, black flares, and plenty of Victorian pieces.

Between voluminous sleeves and cinched-in waists, the century-old trend is reimagined for another season – this time styled with a little less choker, and a lot more statement earring.

Feminine touches such as frills and flowing draped cuts were a common element among the line (via Camilla, Ellery and Romance Was Born) whether it was on an off-shoulder dress or pinstripe shirt/skirt set.

Coming in a smaller selection, the range of outerwear was all about functionality and fitted shapes.

Jackets were delivered in leather and bomber cuts, while coats came in wool, suede and silk offerings. Each garment showed off clean tailoring, perfect for pairing with dark jeans and a casual sneaker.

The runway’s line of office-inspired wear focused on blazer sets and checkered patterns. Expect a run of wide-leg cuts at your workplace, paired with berets, ponchos and velvet boots.

A preview of utilitarian-inspired wear saw camo jacket/pant sets, leather pants and badge embroidery along with khaki jumpsuits accessorised with backpacks and military caps.

The ’90’s reminiscent athleisure range featured a selection of silk jackets and track pants in bright colourways.

For the avid coordinators, black, white and grey colourways continued to dominate, although a pop of hot pink and forest green hues are set to be a popular inclusion.

Terracotta and mustard accents also broke up the monochrome affair, taking over last year’s blush and nude palettes.

Shop it all now at vamff.com.au.