While inside Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building models may have been presenting the season's most covetable pieces on March 4, sartorial panache was in no short supply off the runway. Industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts alike flocked to Carlton to greet VAMFF's opening event in style.

2018's unofficial global uniform of it-girls made its way into the new year, with an abundance of slinky bias cut slip skirts. No longer relegated to being worn under heavier skirts and dresses, the form flattering piece was paired with cropped or tied t-shirts, and juxtaposed with bulky furs in matching or contrasting colours. 

The humble headscarf was back with a bang, with an abundance of Hermes twillys, Gucci blooms, and one-off silk scarves wrapped around attendees' heads, tied around ponytails, twisted around bag handles, or secured around wrists with a hair-tie. Immortalised by 50s style icons Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis, the silk scarf was seen in full force in Runway 2, with Kate Sylvester incorporating delicate silk scarves into all their looks. 

Men and women alike employed impeccable tailoring with sharp suiting. The gents tended to gravitate towards plaid looks, whilst the women opted for blazer dresses or miniskirt two pieces in bright colours. The clean, modern silhouettes were particularly striking against the Byzantine and Romanesque inspired backdrop of the Royal Exhibition Building. 

A smattering of jacquard and brocade was spotted around the plaza, with the luxurious decorative fabric making for opulent statement outerwear and thicker skirts contrasted with light silk tops. Fitted corset style tops with puffy sleeves were popular, evoking imagery of a bygone era, but made 2019 appropriate by being paired with cropped straight-leg jeans and red sandals for a Parisian chic look, or with a patent leather mini skirt for something a tad grittier. 

The ubiquitous and always versatile gold double G Marmont Gucci belt was loved by men and women alike, used to cinch dresses at the waist, worn over coats to give shape to otherwise boxy outerwear, provide interest to pared back jeans and t-shirt outfits and break up monochromatic outfits. Speaking of monochromatic; many an all pink outfit was seen, as were all beige and nude suit sets (think a modern day, vaguely work appropriate version of Carrie Bradshaw's naked dress), and an extremely photo worthy head to toe green outfit consisting of a shamrock green bell sleeved sweater, mint green silky slip skirt, and emerald green printed slip on heels. 

Logomania was in full force, with clothing loudly proclaiming their maker; sweaters in shades of lilac and red repeatedly emblazoned with the Balenciaga logo, several Gucci t-shirts (and the rare Guccy), Off-White industrial belts and sheer Fendi and Gucci logo stockings. 

No longer reserved for drag queens, wild nights out and overzealous wannabe fairy princesses under the age of 10, sequins have become a stylish daytime option. Many a savvy sartorialist was spotted in glittery sequin-adorned garments; pleated sequinned skirts were paired with tailored blazers and cinched with thin belts, sequinned pants worn with muscle tees made for rocker chic, and all-sequinned dresses continued to sparkle as the sun set on the first day of VAMFF, reflecting the last few rays of light left on the night.