What I needed was the sartorial equivalent of jumper leads to reawaken my love of frocking up. I realised I no longer knew how to dress up because I had lost the ability to picture myself in social scenarios other than the weekly grocery shop.
For many of us, it’s going to take some time to find our way back to occasion dressing, and it’s likely to look different than before the pandemic. Perhaps we have less money to spend owing to reduced income or savings, or we’ve decided to make more sustainably aligned purchases after being forced to live with our (in many cases excessive) stuff for months in close quarters.
More than a pretty dress … Misha Collection designer Michelle Aznavorian (right) on the set of her film for Melbourne Fashion Week.Credit:Eddie Jim
Designers, too, are responding to the changing mores by creating smaller collections that are more in tune with this new era of dressing up that prioritises comfort and longevity above what looks good on Instagram.
Michelle Aznavorian built her brand, Misha Collection, on a core of dresses, often sparkly, short or heavily embellished, that women would commonly wear only once. While she thinks there will always be place for pretty dresses, the pandemic has encouraged her to make more pieces in neutral shades with fewer embellishments and more stretch, so they “fit more bodies”.
“Every piece in the collection needs to be versatile, it needs to be able to be worn with heels, or a sneaker and a trench,” says Aznavorian, who will show her new collection in a digital presentation at Melbourne Fashion Week this month. “We are designing pieces girls can wear multiple times, keep in their wardrobe.”
Stylist Sarah Banger, who is working on one of two physical runways at MFW, predicts there will be an “understatedness” to dressing for quite some time. “It’s made it more apparent than ever that what we wear affects our outlook,” she says.
Loading
She foresees a greater emphasis on craftsmanship, movement and colour, and a sense of ease across both women’s and menswear. “At the other end [of the scale], there is that longing for something that’s beautiful and hopeful,” she says.
Designer Jason Grech, who before this year relied on red-carpet events and weddings for most of his income, predicts people will dress “a lot more extra” as they come out of lockdown. His new collection, which he will also present at MFW, is heavy on separates and “a lot of things aimed at parties – New Year’s Eve, Australia Day”.
Grech says it’s time to ditch the leggings. “I get that people love activewear but I think we may now find a [separate] place for what we wear out and what we wear at home – the return of a definite line. I wouldn’t expect people to wear a gala gown to go shopping but a beautiful blouse is better than a jumper.”
Melbourne Fashion Week is on November 23-29. mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au
