After canceling its 2020 lineup due to a pandemic that took runway shows online, Australian Fashion Week is back, with new brands, IRL events, and enough street style to make up for Sydney’s time off from fashion. The week-long spectacle — which included runway shows by Rebecca Vallance, Bassike, Maggie Marilyn, and more — saw fashion’s top editors and influencers from around the country come together in the name of style. And of course, they dressed for the occasion.
On the streets outside of shows, attendees were photographed in colors of the rainbow. Think: Butter yellow berets paired with bright blue leather jackets, mint green skirt suits, and bubblegum pink fur coats. Other standouts included an orange, cut-out maxi skirt paired with a matching cropped blazer, a pistachio-colored suit circa 1986, and a pocketbook the color of orange sherbert. In other words, after a year-long stint in sweatpants, fashion is back — and it’s bolder than ever.
Ahead, let Sydney’s fashion scene teach you a lesson on styling colors for the season ahead.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.Stick-of-butter fashion took the streets of Sydney by storm.
Jolie Nguyen wearing a Prada bag and Bottega Veneta heels.Photo: Hanna Lassen/Getty Images.Orange you glad you saw this outfit, if only so that you can copy it ASAP? We are.
Amelia Marni wearing a Khirzad Femme blazer and a Khirzad Femme skirt.Photo: Hanna Lassen/Getty Images.This look is every viral Instagram trend in one.
Fleur Egan wearing a Ferragamo blue jacket, aFerragamo bag, Paco Rabanne earrings, andLouis Vuitton sneaker boots.Photo: Hanna Lassen/Getty Images.This look proves that it is okay to clash colors — especially when paired with leather pants and red Bottega Veneta heels.
With the official go-ahead from the powers that be (the CDC) and our laminated vax cards in hand, our long-awaited return to IRL activities is finally here. And since our Friday and Saturday nights for the last year-plus have included watching Netflix and cycling through sweatsuits, it doesn’t take much to guess what 2019 practice we’re most excited to get back to: parties. Long, loud, and sweaty parties, where the dresses are short, patterned, and probably covered in sequins.
But, after leaving our wardrobes out to dry for the majority of 2020, many of us aren’t quite prepared (style-wise) for the party season ahead. Don’t fret, though. Thanks to Instagram’s seemingly endless sources of outfit inspiration, you’ll be back to dressing for a night on the town in no time.
From floss pants and crop tops to sparkly dresses and colorful sandals, find a look for every party mood, ahead.
May the dresses be short and the wedges high!It's time to start pairing your parachute pants with heels.It doesn't get much better than this flossy bra-and-skirt set.If you didn't already know, cowboy boots are the party shoe of the summer.Going out bras > going out tops.Turn your favorite quarantine activity (crocheting) into your favorite post-quarantine fashion moment (crochet tops).Skorts are back — just in time for party season.The 2021 version of Carrie Bradshaw's gray mini dress.Check out this 10/10 party 'fit.This look is sunshine in an outfit.Swipe for pillow sandals.More crochet swimwear, please!This tropical set is an ode to all the vacation looks we didn't wear in 2020.It's the chainlink belt for us.From the sheer top to the matching accessories, this look is a winner through and through.Is it just us, or are you already making plans to copy this look, too?We're getting serious "Oops!...I Did It Again" vibes from this red leather look.A good party look doesn't always have to be colorful.When you can't decide between a mini dress and jeans, so you just wear both.The more skin showing, the better, if you ask us.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
If there’s been one major life lesson to take away from living through a global pandemic, it’s to cherish all that you hold close to your heart — a cheesy but profoundly true sentiment that could arguably be extended to the things you own, like, say, a timeless pair of shoes that are worth their weight in wear-count alone (as opposed to a one-season hit).
In the keep pile: sandals so versatile, you could wear them for all occasions and with all outfits. And Reef, the footwear brand that prides itself on all-day comfort, has dreamed up a pair that checks all the boxes. The Water Vista sandal — packaged in sleek, monochrome colorways (we’re partial to the white) — not only boasts a lightweight molded footbed, but it also features adjustable straps and a super durable outsole that can withstand even your hardiest venture. In other words, the water-friendly sandal is impressive for its support, its unparalleled comfort (plus, no breaking-in period), and its transcendent ability to tread both water and land.
But its best feature? The fact that it can be worn day or night, with jeans or a dress, on a boat or at dinner. To prove our point, R29 beauty & wellness writer Karina Hoshikawa took the Water Vista on a 24-hour test-drive, pairing the sandal with three vastly different ‘fits that showcase its remarkable versatility in all its glory.
Perfect for: Running errands, stopping by the farmers’ market, perusing flower stands, meeting friends for brunch Dressiness level: Low-key & casual
Forget striking a balance — embrace a relaxed silhouette by doubling down on loose, easy-to-wear pieces, like an oversized striped button-down with slouchy denim (consider the look a more put-together version of sweats). Together, they exude a level of effortless sophistication buoyed by a cheeky, laissez-faire spirit. To temper excessive bagginess, half-tuck the shirt and cuff the legs — the latter of which also sets the stage to spotlight your shoes: Water Vista strappy sandals that tie the whole look together.
Perfect for: Sailing on a boat, strolling on beaches, hanging out at BBQs, all-around living your best life Dressiness level: Laidback refinement
There’s something so utterly polished about a streamlined, one-shade palette, especially when that color is as pristine as white. The message it inadvertently communicates to the world: You’re an adult, you don’t spill wine on yourself; in fact, you repel stains. Be that person and slip into a sweeping, wind-catching ecru-colored dress that provides a neat, subtle contrast against your stark white, water-friendly sandals.
Perfect for: Dining out with a date, social distancing at outdoor concerts, meeting up for drinks Dressiness level: Alluring, yet approachable
Cute yet sexy, dressy but casual, revealing while also covered — it’s a look that defies all laws of fashion. It’s a sartorial amalgam of everything we could possibly ask for in a p.m. ‘fit: a skin-skimming minidress with cutouts, diagonally slashed from here to there; a denim jacket to offset exposure and to provide a buffer against any surprising dips in temperature; and, best of all, the Water Vista sandal that promises comfort for wherever your night might take you.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
