At the pointy end of Melbourne Fashion Week VoxFrocker Paris “RatParis” Williment reports from the frows of three jubilant runways in the City Square. In the cockle-warming crowds they reflected on that curious thing, why fashion still draws all the right people like magnets to Melbourne. (Special thanks to legendary local phog Ashraf Da Rafsta of Rafstaphotography who shared his shots with RATPARIS when our VoxFrocker was called away.)
Words: RATPARIS Photos: Ashraf Da Rafsta/Rafstaphotography.
What’s it all about?
By what, I mean, Melbourne Fashion Week 2026. And, the why, dear reader, was answered this Saturday in unambiguous terms. Melbourne is what it’s all about.
Melbourne Fashion Week pulls no punches when it comes to using its city as its playground, hosting runways in unexpected and iconic locations. There is nothing more Melbourne than an open-air trilogy of runways taking place in the newly-revamped City Square, under an unpredictable grey sky, trams rattling past, pedestrians clamouring at the standing barriers to see what all the fuss is about.
I see the open-to-public shows of MFW as an opportunity for cultural observation. What does the fashion-forward Melbournian demand of their clothes? What occasions, ambitions, priorities can be extrapolated from these collections? What are we all about? The answers were distilled into three open-air shows: “Street Style”, “After Hours” and, the unexpected but, thankfully harmonious, “Australian Open”.
Initiating us into this cultural bootcamp, “Street Style” featuring a smorgasbord of fan-favourite labels including Clothing The Gaps, HoMie and gammin threads. Bright, bold prints, co-ordinating sets and tongue-in-cheek pop culture references may seem to some a touch repetitive- but nothing is unfashionable when worn in earnest and with conviction, two non-negotiable values at the core of Melbourne’s cultural identity.
“After Hours” was an abundant slew of insights into the evolution of formal and eveningwear. Gone are the days one buys a dress for a bottomless brunch, another for the Melbourne Cup. Elegant, unexpected cuts in rich, lustrous fabrics offering versatile styling, a beautiful canvas to be dressed up or down.
This was no better exemplified than by the jaw-dropping work of Mariam Farah for Collective closets. And yes, Melbourne’s commitment to black continues to evolve, as also exemplified by the slick, simple, tailored versions by ROWLAND VISION.
Seeing these garments on the street; with none of the glamorous runway lighting and surround sounds that deliver collections in a more controlled, fantastical way, offered onlookers a more tangible, down-to-earth experience of our city’s cultural codes. Stripped down, laid bare, one could say this was Melbourne/Narrm fashion at its most unpretentious. But, why do we, The People, fight so hard against accusations of pretentiousness? As Dan Fox so aptly stated, “pretentiousness matters…”. Our staunch commitment to self-expression, from loungewear to sportswear to bespoke, to opulent evening wear, is the cornerstone of Melbourne’s fashion identity.
Meet the VoxFrocker
Paris (a.k.a. RATPARIS) Williment, crew journalist.
