How to nail seasonal dressing with David Jones’ new AW17 collection

Incessant rain did very little to dampen spirits at tonight’s David Jones Autumn/Winter 2017 collection launch at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral. In fact, the downpour created the perfect atmosphere for the aptly named collection - ‘Live Outside The Seasons’ - which spoke to the possibilities of dressing in infinitely adaptable, ever-changing weather.

Guests were greeted in the Cathedral’s square to a cocktail reception (with ample umbrellas on hand, much to the relief of the pristinely dressed), and were quickly ushered into a grandiose, clear marquee set up in full view of the illuminated church.

Set to a hugely dramatic backdrop of the dynamic seasonal shifts in the Southern Hemisphere, the show was opened by the ever-present Karlie Kloss, whose dynamic personality and fluid runway strut was a ray of sunlight on what was otherwise a dreary Wednesday evening.

What followed was a flurry of fashion-forward styles that set our hearts aflutter and had our wallets quivering in our pockets. All three David Jones ambassadors were out in full force - with Jessinta Franklin, Jessica Gomes and Jason Dundas receiving whoops and cheers as they stepped into the spotlight.

Highlighting pieces from both local and international designers – David Jones’ latest offering comprised styled from the likes of Zimmermann, Manning Cartell, Versace, Gucci, Balenciaga, Alexander Wang, Celine, Saint Laurent, Ellery, Camilla and Marc, Christopher Esber, Zanerobe, Bassike, Carla Zampatti, Alice McCall, Lover, Bec & Bridge, and, for the first time, Karen Walker’s ready-to-wear collection, ‘Babou’s Revenge’, among others.

Womenswear turned tough with unexpected leather styles, appearing in the form of pleats, clever cut-outs, and brightly hued panels. Capitalising on the ‘90’s trend, denim embraced luxurious finishes, with brocade, embellishment, velvet and tapestry featuring heavily throughout. Floral print is here to stay this season, with maximalist floral motifs gracing everything from diaphanous dresses to ultra-femme blouses. Forget burgundy, fire engine red is having a moment – best worn head to toe for the brave, or as accents for those wishing just to dabble. The classic bomber jacket takes an edgy twist for both women and men with denim and jacquard iterations reinforcing its street appeal.

For the lads, mismatched suits are the new tuxedo – pair two different tones of the same colour, or team a patterned suit jacket with plain pants. Skinny jeans are off the menu in favour of relaxed fit chinos matched with crew neck tees in shades of grey, white, navy and black. Anoraks have always been a wardrobe must-have for any sartorially-savvy male, and this season is no different, except hem lines should draw attention down to the knee thanks to oversized pockets.

[rev_slider alias="davidjones"]

Check out the campaign video below, or head here for more.