With Australian fashion week well and truly over, one thing is certain: the colours of 2020 consist of two distinctly opposing schools of thought.
As ensembles become as carefully considered for the online space as they are for the real world, this season designers did away with flat, obvious brights, replacing them with off-kilter, acidic tones. A preference for kitsch was obvious on the runways, with designers trading the pastel hues of yesteryear for starkly futuristic colour palettes consisting of neo-mint, purple and near-electric blues.
In contrast, enhanced neutrals—think the rusty oranges of Kata Tjuta, turmeric-yellow and the grey-green of sages—offered an alternative for those partial to a more low-key colour palette. These fresh-take neutrals were most often realised in head-to-toe renditions, with accompanying accessories worn in almost identical hues.
While last season fashion's retreat from all things minimalist was seen throughout, black and white made a notable return to the runways—likely a result of eco-minded shoppers looking to invest in pieces inspired by slow fashion, in shades that rarely lose appeal.
Brands known for their minimalist leanings, like Christopher Esber, Bassike, Matteau and Anna Quan, all presented looks ranging from rust and military green, to aqua and fluorescent yellow (albeit, flanked by pieces in black and white, as per their brand signatures).
Cerulean blue at Joseph Resort 2020
The early noughties staple (famously dissected in The Devil Wears Prada) made a welcome comeback on the 2020 runways, after multiple seasons of paler blues.
Cerulean blue at Camilla and Marc Resort 2020
