If Australian Fashion Week proved anything this season, it’s that fashion is firmly back in its “done” era.
Gone are the days of quiet basics and barely-there styling – AFW 2026 was all about intention. Think exaggerated silhouettes, polished textures, dramatic hair, and accessories that demanded attention.
From the front row to backstage and everywhere in between, there were a handful of trends that appeared impossible to ignore. Some arrived straight from the runway, others evolved organically through the street style crowd over the week, but together they painted a clear picture of where fashion is heading next.
Here’s every trend we spotted at AFW – and the ones you’re about to see everywhere.
Oversized Sunglasses
If there was one accessory dominating both the runway and the pavement outside the MCA, it was oversized sunglasses. Almost every show featured dramatic black opticals or shield-like frames that felt distinctly reminiscent of peak-era Tom Ford glamour.
On the runway, the mood leaned sleek and severe: glossy black frames paired with razor-sharp tailoring, leather trenches, and slicked hair. Off-duty attendees interpreted the trend with a little more chaos – thick aviator-style frames with tinted lenses in amber, smoke and deep cherry tones became the unofficial street style uniform of the week.
The message? Tiny sunglasses are officially over. Bigger is better, and ideally slightly intimidating.
SHOP THE TREND
Miu Miu Sunglasses, $849
Tom Ford Sunglasses, $930
Glassons Sunglasses, $24
Pencil Skirts Are Back (Again)
The pencil skirt revival continued its reign at AFW, but this time with a sharper, more corporate edge. Styled with oversized leather bombers, matching blazers, second-skin tops and knee-high boots, the silhouette felt less “office siren” and more modern power dressing.
Rather than hyper-feminine styling, the week’s best pencil skirt looks played with proportion – slim skirts offset with boxy outerwear or chunky accessories. It was polished without feeling too precious, which is likely why it translated so well from runway to real life.
Expect to see hemlines sitting below the knee and fabrics moving beyond traditional suiting into leather, knit and textured finishes.
SHOP THE TREND
The Garment Skirt, $879
Sylvester Skirt, $329
One of Others skirt, $389
Layered Textures
Minimalism may still exist somewhere, but AFW made a convincing argument for maximal texture dressing.
Furry clutches were tucked under arms alongside leather trench coats. Beaded tops appeared layered over woven skirts. Patent finishes collided with suede, silk and mesh. The styling throughout the week felt tactile in the best possible way — the kind of outfits that practically begged to be touched.
The beauty of this trend lies in its imperfection. Nothing matched too perfectly, which made the combinations feel more personal and collected rather than overly styled.
SHOP THE TREND
Paris Georgia Skirt, $790
Deadly Ponies Bag, $899
Charlotte Simone Jacket, $995
The Aggressive Side Part
The side part is no longer softly making a comeback – it has returned with a vengeance.
Across multiple runways, models wore dramatically deep side parts paired with sharp bobs, many leaning firmly into what the internet has affectionately dubbed the “FAB” (yes, the fuck ass bob). Severe, glossy and intentionally awkward, the haircut added a slightly unhinged energy to otherwise polished collections.
As the week progressed, the look inevitably trickled into street style, with attendees embracing slick side parts and exaggerated volume that felt distinctly anti-clean-girl aesthetic.
Middle parts suddenly looked very 2024.
SHOP THE TREND
Ask your hairdresser idk.
Silk Organza Everywhere
Almost every collection sent at least one silk organza look floating down the runway.
Whether layered into sheer dresses, oversized shirts or softly structured gowns, organza brought movement and lightness to collections otherwise grounded in tailoring and darker palettes. The fabric’s airy transparency created a romantic contrast to the heavier leather and wool seen throughout the week.
Rather than feeling overtly bridal or occasion-focused, AFW designers styled organza with a sense of ease – often paired with flat shoes, oversized outerwear or undone hair.
Soft dressing, but not saccharine.
SHOP THE TREND
Harris Tapper Dress, $829
DISSH Skirt, $226
Staud Dress, $895
Shark Beauty Was the Go-to for Good Hair & Skin
Backstage beauty this season had one obvious common denominator: Shark Beauty.
Between the impossibly glossy blowouts and suspiciously well-rested complexions, it felt like every model, stylist and editor had either touched a Shark Glam or spent quality time under a Shark CryoGlow Mask.
The hair across shows leaned polished yet touchable – smooth bends, expensive-looking volume and softly imperfect texture rather than ultra-set styling. Skin followed suit: fresh, luminous and bordering on unnervingly reflective by the final show of the day.
Australian Fashion Week may not have had an official beauty uniform, but Shark products came close.
SHOP THE TREND
Shark CryoGlow Cooling and LED Face Mask, $849
Shark Glam Hot Tool Air Drying & Styling System, $799
Jorts – But Make Them Fashion
Not all jorts are created equal.
AFW’s interpretation of the trend moved far beyond distressed dad denim and instead leaned heavily into tailored, elongated silhouettes. Think pleated shorts, structured longlines and polished three-quarter cuts & capris that looked more luxury ready-to-wear than weekend barbecue.
The shift feels partly indebted to Margot Robbie and her viral airport paparazzi moment wearing tailored shorts by Beare Park – a look that fashion people have been attempting to recreate ever since.
That’s not to say the micro short disappeared entirely. Tiny shorts were still very much alive across the week, but longer tailored cuts emerged as the more directional option.
The verdict? Your calfs are back in fashion.
SHOP THE TREND
Porter James Shorts, $299
Kookai Shorts, $160
Lorna Jane Shorts, $150
