Esse Studios AFW 2026

Precision, restraint, and modern elegance.

There is a particular kind of confidence in designing clothes that do not demand attention, yet command it completely. For Together Journal, ESSE Studios’ return to Australian Fashion Week felt grounded in that exact tension. Presented within the clean architectural surrounds of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The ESSE Editions unfolded with quiet certainty, offering a wardrobe built not around spectacle, but around permanence, precision, and intention.

Backstage Photos

Designer Charlotte Hicks continues to refine the language that has made ESSE Studios one of Australia’s most compelling contemporary labels. Founded on the idea of “wardrobe ESSE-ntials”, the brand has evolved into something far more layered and considered. Resort 2026 explored purposeful dressing through sculptural tailoring, elongated silhouettes, and pieces designed to exist in dialogue with one another rather than as isolated statements.

The collection moved with an assured rhythm. Sharp tailoring softened into fluid draping, while structured coats and sculpted jackets sat alongside sheer layered dresses and fringed evening pieces that shifted delicately with each step. Deep oxblood, espresso, ivory, and black grounded the collection in a restrained palette that felt sophisticated rather than severe. Styling remained equally considered. Slim sunglasses, oversized leather bags, silk neck scarves, and pointed heels gave the runway a distinctly polished mood, evoking a kind of modern dandyism that aligned naturally with the collection’s central themes of control, refinement, and intention.

For Together Journal, the appeal of ESSE lies in its ability to balance pragmatism with elegance. These are clothes designed for real movement and real occasions, yet they retain a strong sense of identity. Many of the looks felt especially relevant for contemporary wedding wardrobes, particularly for brides seeking alternatives to traditional event dressing. Tailored separates, fluid evening silhouettes, and softly dramatic outerwear offered endless inspiration for rehearsal dinners, civil ceremonies, gallery receptions, and after-party dressing.

What stood out most throughout the presentation was the brand’s understanding of proportion and restraint. Waistlines were sculpted without feeling rigid. Silhouettes elongated the body while still allowing softness and ease. Even the more dramatic moments, including cascading fringe and layered textures, felt disciplined rather than performative.

Runway Photos

That balance is what continues to distinguish ESSE Studios within the Australian fashion landscape. In a season often dominated by noise, Hicks presented something far more enduring: a thoughtful wardrobe built for women who value clarity, craftsmanship, and clothes with lasting relevance beyond a single moment or trend.