This year's New Zealand Fashion Week was a feast for the eyes, showcasing the very best of local labels from heritage brands to emerging talent and Māori designers with stories to tell.
One thing was abundantly clear: as the world shakes off the constraints of COVID-19, we should all be embracing a newfound appreciation for freedom - particularly in how we dress. Relaxed silhouettes, from flowing maxi skirts to unstructured, lightweight dresses, loose-fitting trousers, and flatter footwear present a shifting focus towards comfort and ease-of-wear.
Many of the collections also posited a juxtaposition between androgyny and overt femininity. Womenswear ranged from pantsuits and tailored blazers to ruffles, pleating, puffed sleeves, tiered dresses, and even hot pants, in the case of Kate Sylvester: running the gamut of what a woman can be, and look like, in 2023. They are the business-owner in a sheer blouse that proudly displays her nips to the world without a care: they are the parent who rocks a sharply tailored trouser with loafers on the school run. Nothing is off limits.
In terms of colour, among the classic neutrals, pops of pink (surprise, surprise), bold blues, reds, and shades of green also made appearances on the runway, from mint to seafoam and sage. Metallic accessories were also in heavy rotation, as were fun florals (queue Miranda Priestly), striking prints, and the occasional shimmy of shimmer and sparkle.
Here are the top trends Newshub Lifestyle is loving.
Ruffles, ruffles and more ruffles
Pleating
Long and loose silhouettes
Statement sleeves (extra points for puff)
Sheer
Wide-leg pants
Suited and booted
Stand-out collars
Shimmer, sparkle and metallics
Bow for bows
