Australian Fashion Week has, in recent years, evolved to become one of the biggest occasions in the style calendar. As a result, the event – and its home at Carriageworsk – has become somewhat of a breeding ground for spectacular street style, with fashion revellers from across the country flocking to Sydney to catch the runways, and putting together enviable ensembles for the occasion. And this year was no exception.

Of coures, ELLE was on the ground for the week-long spectacle, scoping out the style set and eyeing off the trends that are set to dominate our wardrobes for the season to come.

Below, our picks for the biggest and best to emerge from AFW 2024 – and how we’ll be wearing them.

Layers Upon Layers

Layers for winter isn’t exactly ground-breaking, but this year’s take on the trend had a distinctly maximalist edge. Think: skirts over jeans, dresses over jumpers, and skirts over (more) skirts. In other words, more is more when it comes to layering in 2024.

Hello, Hosiery

Hosiery proved the easiest way to jazz up an outfit amongst the style set, with show-goers cladding their legs in tights of just about every colour, pattern, and texture. Importantly, these aren’t the boring black stockings of our school uniform days. Red, white and laec varieties, as well as stocking socks, were among the hosiery sighted at Carriageworks.

All Tied Up

Ties were an unexpected favourite among show-goers this season. Some leaned fully into the business vibes of it all, pairing theirs back with traditional shirting and oversized blazers, while others subverted expectation, balancing out the more masculine elements with mini skirts and short shorts.

Red Reigns Supreme

Our obsession with red is hardly new, but according to Australian Fashion Week, it’s not going anywhere soon. Red was the shade of the hour this week, with some choosing to dip their toes in the trend — from a red sock peeking out from under trousers, to a subtle red ribbon tied in their hair — while others leant in at full pelt, opting to dress in the hue from head to toe.

Put A Hat On It

According to the Australian style set, a hat is the hottest new finishing touch to your outfit this season. Hats of every kind, from caps to berets, were spotted on the heads of fashion week attendees this year, proving that the sun safe accessory serves a (very chic) purpose, even as temperatures drop.

Kirsty Thatcher

Writer

Kirsty is a digital writer at ELLE and Marie Claire.

Having completed a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne (English Literature/Sociology), Kirsty set her sights on a career in the Australian media industry. After relocating to Sydney, she spent time working in print at JONES Magazine, before turning her focus to the digital landscape.

When she’s not dissecting the latest fashion and culture trends, you can usually find her ticking off restaurants on her ever-growing bucket list, or on the hunt for Sydney’s best beach.