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Fashion Week – the showpiece of the industry calendar – is a time of great chaos. To outsiders, a constant stream of glamour ensues; runways, fancy parties, pretty people, champagne.
But any hardworking fashion journalist will tell you about the jam-packed schedules, the stress of getting to and from shows, the pressure to file multiple stories in a day full of events, and the very real mental anguish associated with what to wear. I’d like to tell you differently, but truthfully when it comes to sartorial matters, what an editor of a fashion masthead wears to an industry event, well, matters – and you can pull your hair out pulling last-minute looks. Will this be warm enough? Will this be flattering enough? Does it match the vibe of designer showing? Do I like it?
Last week I decided that the best way to silence the mind noise and curb my outfit anxiety was to start with a really great statement bag, and then build my look around that. Enter, the Valentino Garavani One Stud Bag.
The distinctive, timeless envelope silhouette went with everything and went with me everywhere, its gold metal hardware keeping any garment pairing elevated and elegant. The lambskin Nappa leather means the bag really holds its shape no matter what you put inside it, and I wore mine every which way: as a clutch, a crossbody, a swing bag and with the chain doubled.
DAY 1: I wanted to arrive in Australian labels – it is Afterpay Australian Fashion Week after all. I paired the Ellsworth cut-out bodysuit from Camilla & Marc and a pair of wide-legged Tate trousers from Aje with my Valentino Garavani One Stud in yellow. I added an Aje X Local Supply Cat Eye Sunglasses a pair of Pearl Octopussy Les Grand recycled silver and gold-plated crystal hoop earrings. (The latter is stocked on Net-A-Porter, but Camilla & Marc also have them on their website! You can also wear them as just gold hoops as well.)
A moving visual for you all:
Shop my bag here:
Valentino Garavani One Stud Nappa Bag With Chain, SHOP NOW
DAY 2: I was attending the New Zealand designer Wynn Hamlyn’s show so I decided to have a Wynn Hamlyn day in two of his creations! The first, was a long, black woollen knitted dress which was perfect for the dreary weather. The second, was a sexier WH take for the show: an LBD with cut-outs and metal detailing. I paired this with crystal-encrusted earrings from Kyha (the exact ones here). Read my colleague Ben’s Wynn Hamlyn show report here, it was held in an underground tunnel.
DAY 3: Anna Quan was my go-to on this day. The designer always has a focus on clean, sleek, minimalist designs – but she does so with really interesting cuts. This stand-out blush pink dress – with straps and strips – was one of my favourites for the week. While I wore a coat over it during the day, the evening shows and a dinner called for this showstopper to be seen in all its look-at-me glory. Just look at how it moves. It’s called Athena and you can shop it in a “snow” colourway now.
DAY 4: I was getting very tired by this stage and really needed this next colour burst. I only had one evening show to attend on this day, and I thought I’d go for this bright lime gown by Valentino. If I could tell Pierpaolo Piccioli how special I felt in it I would – it’s look 55 from the house’s Spring/Summer 2022 runway in Paris. It’s pleats moved as I did, freely and, for the first time all week, without worry. Piccioli is known for being one of the kindest figureheads in fashion. From all accounts he is warm and doesn’t care much for snobbery. For this, I would buy, wear and support Valentino any day, the industry needs more people like him!
Shop my bag in black here:
Valentino Garavani One Stud Nappa Bag with Chain, SHOP Now
DAY 5: I was working from 8am until 10pm on this day so I needed a dress that would take me from day to night. I was attending the Anna Antal show that morning and the brand’s delightful creative director Michelle Tucker gifted me one of her creations, The Brit. I was asked about this dress at least seven times throughout the day. Michelle is very into how her garments make a woman feel, and I would say I felt quite empowered and confident in this dress-belt duo. Teamed of course with my Valentino Garavani One Stud bag in black. You can read my Anna Antal show report here.
