There’s watching Fashion Week, then there’s actually dressing from it. The kind of looks that leave the runway and quietly make their way into wardrobes, dinners, office drinks and weekends away. This year felt less theatrical and more wearable in the best way possible. The styling still had drama, but there was restraint too.
Pieces that felt designed to live beyond the runway.
So, what are the looks we’re actually taking home from AFW 2026?
Lace, sheer layering, undone resort dressing and corporate style that feels chic. Australian fashion this year leaned into texture, movement and silhouettes that felt sharp without trying too hard.
In five minutes, here’s the low down.
Lace, But Less Precious
Lace was everywhere and not in the overly romantic way we’ve seen before. Designers paired it back with sharper tailoring, relaxed silhouettes and barely there styling. It felt cleaner, cooler and far more wearable.
From delicate white and blush tones to darker sheer layering, lace became less occasionwear and more everyday styling piece. The kind you throw under an oversized blazer or pair back with structured trousers.
Aje Resort 2027 Collection presented a collection inspired by Australia’s landscapes, natural hues and coastal light. True to the brand, it balanced statement dressing with the effortless silhouettes they’ve become known for over the last 18 years. Flowing textures, layered fabrics and soft structure made it one of the most wearable collections of the week.
Hello fringing
Fringing isn’t emerging quietly anymore. It’s officially back.
What stood out this year was the movement. Designers leaned into pieces that shifted and followed the body rather than structured silhouettes that felt static.
ESSE at Australian Fashion Week delivered some of the standout fringe moments of the week, while Courtney Zheng at Australian Fashion Week approached texture differently with dramatic elongated bows and trailing ties woven through garments.
The brief was clear. Fashion that moves.
Anything Sheer, Layer It
If there was one styling cue repeated across both the runway and street style, it was sheer dressing layered with intention.
Mesh tops under oversized shirting, transparent skirts over briefs, soft white sheer fabrics paired back with tailoring. The beauty sat in the contrast.
White and blush toned mesh dominated, with attendees leaning into silhouettes rather than loud prints or heavy accessorising. The look felt minimal, yet confident. Here are some of our favourite finds from Blanca and Apress Studio. Other brands such as Dissh and Aje are nailing the brief too.
Resort Wear, Australian style
Australian fashion has always owned resort wear, but this year it felt more refined in its identity.
Behind us were the heavily polished beauty looks and sculpted updos. Hair was brushed out, soft, coastal and intentionally imperfect. Frizz stayed. Skin looked fresh. Makeup was minimal.
On the runway, basics returned. Singlets, tees and relaxed separates appeared repeatedly, but elevated through texture, sequins, draping and unexpected fabric combinations.
It felt distinctly Australian. Relaxed, but still considered.
Corporate Made Sexy, Again
Corporate dressing continued its evolution this year, but softer.
Feminine tailoring. Workwear staples were layered with sheer fabrics, oversized suiting and pieces that blurred the line between office and evening. The brand to watch for new wardrobe pieces is Beare Park.
Maybe you’re not wearing the full runway look into your 9am meeting, but the influence is already translating. Work trousers styled with a sheer top for drinks. Oversized shirts with lace pants. Structured blazers thrown over almost nothing.
Fashion Week this year made corporate dressing feel less about rules and more about attitude.
Skin Is In
You already knew that glowing skin had become the finishing touch to every outfit, thanks in part to Hailey Bieber and the rise of effortless beauty. But at Australian Fashion Week this year, one glow stood out to us in particular.
Eden Kannourakis arrived with the kind of skin that makes you double take. Fresh, luminous and impossibly healthy. The model and founder of CAMPE let us in on a few skin tips.
1. Clean Makeup Brushes
6. Sleep Quality
A Note From Street Style
Every year, beyond the runway street style is something we are all waiting to see. Who wore what, a moment of people watching from a far or in the flesh. A stand out to us was that being warm is finally cool again. Statement jackets were in full swing. I wouldn’t say there was one single trend happening along the streets of Sydney for Australian Fashion Week but layering different fabrics and textures seemed to be the go to look.
The Final Word
Written by Bailey Doyle.
