I’ve been a Net-A-Porter cart minder of the marabou-trimmed creations of Taller Marmo, and 16Arlington for some time now. There’s something about wearing fluffy feathers that make you feel festive, flirty and fabulous. In December of 2019, peak feather season was among us; The Attico, Saint Laurent, Valentino and Rasario were all banking on a swathe of plumes to bring an extra touch of glamour to a garment (and were all also blissfully unaware that in 12 months time a virus would see those fancy trimmings stuffed into storage.)

But when the lockdowns ended and the time came to dust off our party heels and try to remember what they’re for (read: dancing), it was Hailey Bieber in those bright green Bottega Veneta $23,000 parakeet pants at the 2021 VMAs that made my heart sing. We were brimming on a sartorial era where ‘occasion dressing’ had really taken on new meaning, and the call for high glamour had never been louder. Make no mistake, if Matthew McConaughey’s Benjamin Barry had to spearhead a campaign for “feathering oneself”, his resident how-to girl would have been Mrs. Hailey Rhodes Baldwin Bieber. Andie Anderson, who?

But closer to home, Australian designer Rachel Gilbert was already deftly working on a feathered collection. Combining her signature sequins with a cleverly placed single quill of feathers on a design’s hem, sleeve, or neckline, Gilbert’s garments are my current obsession. In fact, my very first RG experience came at the 2012 Logie Awards when I was loaned a black sequinned mini to wear to interview One Direction. It was a mini at a time where maxis were considered the dress code – but my dress got so much attention (including from one, Harry Styles). It was an LBD so timeless that, a decade later, it still stands the test of fashion’s harshest critics. In fact, that dress looks very similar to Rachel Gilbert’s current Samarah Mini, now updated with, you guessed it, a feathered hemline. The other evening, I attended an industry event in a Rachel Gilbert Frenchy Mini and the reaction from those around me was the same as that night 10 years ago. Perhaps the allure of a sparkly, feathered mini come down to how special its wearer feels in one.

Yes, there is something about wearing fluffy feathers that makes you feel festive, flirty and fabulous. But wearing them knowing an Australian designer made them makes you feel even better. It makes you free proud. I plan to have multiple people ask me the origin of my Scout Dress – the one with the feather trimmed sleeves – when I’m in New York next month. “No it’s not Taller Marmo, nor 16Arlington”.

I’ll report back.

In the interim, here’s my favourite Rachel Gilbert feathered minis.

Rachel Gilbert Scout Dress Ivory, $899, SHOP NOW

Rachel Gilbert Frenchy Mini Nude, $1390, SHOP NOW

Rachel Gilbert Florence Mini Gunmetal, $1390, SHOP NOW

Rachel Gilbert Linc Mini Dress, $1250, COMING SOON, GET NOTIFIED