Top Designers Spill On What We'll Be Wearing Next Season

Fashion week is almost here...

Meaning Australia's leading designers are gearing up to debut their Resort 2018 collections at Sydney's Carriageworks. But before models start hitting the runway, we caught up with the powerhouses behind five top labels to find out what inspired their collections and how this translates into the clothes we'll be shopping next season...

Romance Was Born

Inspiration… “We have worked with artist Del Kathryn Barton on our collection this season.  She is one of our all-time favourite artists and heroes. The collection is inspired by the imaginative worlds that her figurative and animal world co-exist in… a place we want to go!”

You can expect… “Overall the collection is very soft and feminine, with the colours quite pastel. We are using a few of our favourite icons from her [Del Kathryn Barton's] work, one being flowers and the other ribbons. We are using various textile embellishments to highlight the decorative nature of her work, one element is Swarovski Crystal detailing which we are very excited about!”

 —Anna Plunkett & Luke Sales

Ginger & Smart

Inspiration… “We have taken influence from elements of abstract sculpture."

You can expect… “There is a graphic element to this collection with unusual colour pairings.”

 —Alexandra and Genevieve Smart 

Alice McCall

Inspiration… “The colour of the sky on a stormy day—beautiful lavender greys & silvers. The collection plays on the quote “every cloud has a silver lining” and sharp silver lightning bolts that strike the night sky. The collection also nods to '90s Kate Moss meets psychedelic Chanel.”

You can expect… “A strong focus on femininity with cinched waists and micro A-line minis. Also expect to see sculpted circular cocktail dresses, ostrich feathers, lurex, texture-on-texture and tone-on-tone.”

 —Alice McCall

Macgraw

Inspiration… “The last 12 months have been a bit of a dream sequence for us so this collection feels like a show of our gratitude. A love letter of sorts.” 

You can expect… “Our usual opulent play on femininity and of course prints drawn by Tess. We are also looking forward to showing everyone our evolution including some heart felt collaborations and fabric innovations.”

—Beth and Tess Macgraw

Hansen & Gretel

Inspiration… “‘The notion to flourish, spread and run wild. It is symbolic that a spirit of defiance and laissez-faire could be attached to clothes so seemingly uncomplicated.”

You can expect… “The predominant silhouette is slightly undone; a bit easy, a bit loose. Unexpected slits appear in dresses, on shirts and flicker in hems throughout a smattering of progressive prints, twilight-toned silks, ruched cottons and lurex knits.” 

—Ainsley Hansen