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On Day 3 of Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023, Nadia Bartel—the co-founder and designer of the cool-girl-approved clothing label for the Prahran princesses, Henne—took us to church.
Not in the figurative sense that the collection was so moving it was akin to seeing God, but in the literal sense whereby audiences made an uncharacteristic trip to an Anglican church in the inner-city suburb of Ultimo to unveil the latest offering from the minimalist-meets-Melbourne label.
For this GRAZIA writer, this pilgrimage or ‘take me to church’ moment wasn’t similar to the one’s I had experienced in my thirteen years of education at Catholic all-girls school. In fact, it was just like any other journey to an off-site venue, marked by back-seat meetings in our car for the week (a Toyota RAV4 GXL) and peering at the ensembles donned by the street style set.
Nevertheless, the voyage was well worth it to preview the dynamic sophomore presentation for the label.
The latest capsule collection, entitled ‘Chroma’, provided a Hailey Bieber-approved injection of sleek winter warmers into the wardrobes of the Australian style set.
Set against the barren and clinical stark-white walls of St. Barnabas, Henne recontextualised cold-weather staples with an icy approach, playing into 80s corporate cliches and power dressing silhouettes now synonymous with Saint Laurent.
The collection was divided into three sections; enviable outerwear, reliable denim essentials and a tried-and-tested dosage of coveted evening wear. Classic design techniques like tailoring and leatherwork (albeit vegan) found new synergy as Henne emulated bold styling choice that is reminiscent of the Fall/Winter 2023 collections emerging out of Paris.
Sartorially referencing the Patrick Bateman-approved mode of pairing leather gloves with boardroom staples seen in on the runway earlier this year at LGN by Louis-Gabriel Nouchi while simultaneously drawing inspiration from Anthony Vaccalero’s signature fusing of oversized tailored pieces with sensual, skin-clad designs, Henne invited us into a new world of Wall Street chic.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 17: A model walks the runway during the Henne show during Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023 at St Barnabas Anglican Church on May 17, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/WireImage)
This dernier cri was further elevated by the addition of silver briefcases carried by some of the models around the church. They’re clearly not here for Sunday service, they’re here to conduct business.
The combination of Henne’s part-Nordic, part-Australian fused aesthetic paired with sharp accessories like razor-pointed knee-high boots and vintage-inspired sunglasses offered a taste of dressing for both the Bond girls—the stylish vignettes and henchwomen featured in the spy series—and the Bond street woman—the working women about town who are disciples of the upmarket high-street boutiques in fashion capitals around the world.
A real highlight of the show was unexpectedly uncovering the third look on the runway—what the audience assumed to be a cashmere dress with an asymmetrical draped skirt and thick train—was actually a scarf tied around the waist of a sweater.
It’s these hidden details woven into a collection that have supplanted fashion as a religion, offering a new outlook, something good for the soul and providing answers to the big questions in life.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 17: A model walks the runway during the Henne show during Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023 at St Barnabas Anglican Church on May 17, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/WireImage)
Shop the collection now on Henne.
This year, the GRAZIA Australia team travelled between AAFW shows in the refined style of Toyota’s new RAV4 GXL. With its modern and spacious interior, privacy glass, and fast charging portals for our phones, it was the perfect mode of travel for zipping across Sydney town. To find out more, visit toyota.com.au
