By Jake Manton
All aboard as the 2018 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival is ready for take-off! Melbourne’s annual celebration of style is back once again bigger, better and now the largest consumer fashion event in the world. All the action begins from 1 March and will continue at a high fashion altitude till 18 March.
To help plan your tailored VAMFF experience we have selected 10 of the hottest events to see this year!
Runway 1

Being a highly anticipated runway each year displaying the most sought after designers in Australia. This year will not disappoint with Bianca Spender, CAMILLA AND MARC, Dion Lee and Scanlan Theodore.
Tuesday 6th March – 7:30pm. Royal Exhibition Building.
Tickets starting at $59. Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/runway-1
GQ Australia Menswear Runway
This one’s all about the guys! Showcasing Autumn Winter must have pieces in street style, outwear and edgy suiting for the modern gentleman from key labels; Autonomy, bassike, Chris Ran Lin, Jac+ Jack, P.E NATION and presentation by: Strateas Carlucci. The runway is followed by a killer after party for the fashion minded crowd at Spice Market.
Fri 9 March, 9pm. Royal Exhibition Building.
Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/gq-australia-menswear-runway
The Plaza
Is the place to be seen with your fashionable friends! Unwind and enjoy your night with refreshing beverages and trendy tapas from pop-up food venues. Key Highlights include; Asahi Festival Bar, Westfield Doncaster Kaleidoscope, Mercedes-Benz moment and premium dinning from Mr Miyagi (bookings required).
Free Entry.
Mon 5 – Sat 10 March, from 5.30pm. Royal Exhibition Building.
Details: www.vamff.com.au/plaza
Runway 2 
Displaying this season’s must have pieces from all time favourite Australian contemporary labels; Hansen & Gretel, Acler, Morrison and BY JOHNNY.
Tue 6 March, 9pm. Royal Exhibition Building.
Tickets from $59. Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/runway-2
Fashion Weekend in Stonnington
This event is on every fashionista’s calendar for a shop-till-you-drop weekend in Stonnington. From Chapel St, High Street on Armadale to Toorak Village with a range of exclusive offers and in-store activities from brands including; Seed Heritage, JAGGAD, Megan Park, A-ESQUE, The Daily Edited and Assembly Label to name a few.
Sat 17 – Sun 18 March. Stonnington.
Details: www.vamff.com.au/fashion-weekend-instonnington
An Evening With: Women in Media
Join a panel of high profile women discussing how they have achieved where they are in their successful careers and the challengers of the ever-changing media sector. The panel includes: Media icon Ita Buttrose along with Kellie Hush and Jackie Frank.
Thur 8 March, 5 – 7.30pm. Long Room, Immigration Museum.
Tickets at $89. Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/an-evening-with
Runway 4 – Exclusive Luxury Bridal
Back by popular demand showcasing the craftsmanship and talent of luxury Australian bridal from Brownlow favourite JASON GRECH and menswear suiting from Dom Bagnato and M. J Bale.
Wed 7 March, 9pm. Royal Exhibition Building.
Tickets from $59. Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/runway-4
High Tea presented by City of Stonnington
As a sold out event every year the popular High Tea designed by Peter Rowland is back. Spend the afternoon with close friends to view a range of contemporary collections from: Karen Millen, Anna Hoffman, Feathers, Diida, Lisa Barron and Megan Park.
Sat 17 March, 11am – 1pm & 2:30pm – 4:30pm. Malvern Town Hall.
Tickets $99 per show. Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/high-tea/
Fashion Weekend Runway
A runway dedicated to unique labels showcasing their latest collections for the upcoming autumn/winter season. The line-up includes The Ark, Friends of Mine, Monte Establishment and Studio MG.
Tickets from $39. Sun 18 March, 1pm at Malvern Town Hall.
Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/fashion-weekend-runway
Future Chaos X Future Wild
This multidisciplinary exhibition, held at the Brunswick Street Gallery, will represent two separate but coexisting characters, Coco – womenswear, and Max – menswear. Enjoy the two universes of light and dark, surreal pop x brutalist futurism.
FREE Event. This exhibition will run from 1 – 13 March.
Opening night is Friday 2 March, from 6PM – 9PM, no RSVP required.
Details: www.vamff.com.au/event/future-chaos-x-future-wild/
Let the fashionable fun begin – see you on the runway!