PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025: Everything to See & Do

Get ready to strut into the new year because the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025 is serving up its most spectacular lineup yet, proving once again why Melbourne is Australia’s undisputed fashion capital.

Running from 22nd February to 8th March, this iconic event is a must for anyone who loves a good runway moment, cutting-edge style, and the buzz of a city dressed to impress.

This year’s programme is turning fashion into what the Festival calls a “spectator sport”, and honestly, we’re here for it. With 15 days of jaw-dropping runways, thought-provoking talks, and a vibrant block party to wrap it all up, the festival promises to be an knockout vibe for seasoned fashionistas and curious newcomers alike. Here’s everything to see and do during Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025: Cocktails, Million Dollar Dresses & More

Christian Kimber & Bar Bellamy Reinvent the Old Fashioned for Melbourne Fashion Festival

Fashion and cocktails—two art forms, one runway-worthy collaboration. Acclaimed designer Christian Kimber and Carlton’s Bar Bellamy have teamed up with Woodford Reserve to craft the Most Fashionable Old Fashioned collection, reimagining the classic whiskey serve with boundary-pushing elegance.

The Amber Stitch is a bold, structured highball infused with corn silk tea, wattleseed, and citrus soda, finished with a beetroot flourish. Meanwhile, the Silken Sprig channels contemporary fluidity, blending marigold-infused whiskey, low-waste pineapple syrup, toasted milk powder, and a caramelised malt cream topper. Stylish, daring, and utterly drinkable.

Monday 3rd March to Saturday 8th March

Woodford Reserve Fashion Bar at Fashion Forecourt, Royal Exhibition Building

Bar Bellamy, 164 Rathdowne Street, Carlton 

A Million-Dollar Moment

Some things have to be seen to be believed, and Alin Lekal’s Million Dollar Dress is one of them. Shipped from Paris, weighing a gravity-defying 150kg, and shimmering with 96,762 Swarovski crystals, this is couture at its most unapologetic. Taking nine months to create, it’s a breathtaking collision of tradition and modern opulence—part fashion, part fever dream.

Making its runway debut as the grand finale of the Glam Up Runway, this is the moment MFF 2025 will be remembered for. Witness the sparkle. Feel the drama!

Sitchu Tip: For a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to wear this gravity-defying masterpiece, check out model Hannah Dal Sasso’s experience in the TikTok above.

Pay a Visit to Stitchin’ Stories: Blak & Threadly

Fashion as resistance. Textiles as storytelling. Stitchin’ Stories: Blak & Threadly brings together nine extraordinary First Peoples artists, redefining what fashion can be. Raw, powerful, and deeply personal, this exhibition—born from KHT’s Blak Design program—dives into culture, identity, and craftsmanship. Free to explore, impossible to forget.

The Birrarung Building, Fed Square, 1st March to 18th May, 2025

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025: The Independent Programme

The Independent Programme at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival offers a vibrant selection of over 80 events celebrating local talent and fashion innovation. From workshops and open studios to performances and screenings, this grassroots programme highlights Victoria’s independent fashion scene. With 30+ free events and many under $100, fashion lovers can explore sustainability, First Nations design, and inclusivity.

Key highlights include runway shows by Arona Katona, exhibitions like ‘Past, Present and Future Threads’, and sustainability panels. It’s the perfect way to experience Melbourne’s diverse, dynamic fashion culture while connecting with emerging designers and creatives.

Paypal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025: Expect Runways Like Never Before

The Premium Runway Series will once again claim its throne at the iconic Royal Exhibition Building—a backdrop as breathtaking as the clothes themselves. From Opening Night’s double-header featuring Australia’s fashion royalty (think Aje, Romance Was Born, Viktoria & Woods) to brand-new concepts like Resort Glam and The Menswear Edit, each evening is poised to be a feast for the eyes.

But the standouts? We’re circling F* the Invisible Runway** (yes, that’s the name), celebrating bold, edgy fashion for women 50 and beyond, and New Again Runway, which gives new life to recycled and upcycled materials. Sustainable chic has never looked so good.

If glamour and rebellion had a love child, it would be Back in Blak Runway, showcasing the fierce designs of First Nations creatives and proving that Australian fashion is as diverse as it is extraordinary.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025: Fashion’s Freshest Faces

The Festival is doubling down on its commitment to emerging talent with a record number of designers in its National Designer Award x David Jones and National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne. For the first time, the prestigious Designer Award will take centre stage on a consumer runway, letting audiences witness the future of fashion up close.

These runways are always a festival highlight—previous winners include Aussie legends like Dion Lee and Toni Maticevski—so grabbing a ticket is quite simply a no-brainer.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025: Beyond the Catwalk

Not a runway person? No worries. The Festival has so much more to offer. The Australian Fashion Business Lunch on 6th March will dive into how purpose-driven brands are shaping the industry, while Fashion Talks promises deep conversations around sustainability and local design.

For the cinephiles, the Fashion Film Awards will screen 12 stunning short films that celebrate the art of storytelling through style. Let’s not forget the fabulous Fashion Forecourt, where you can sip cocktails, soak up DJ beats, and people-watch your heart out.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025: Why This Year is Unmissable

The 2024 Festival saw record-breaking attendance and satisfaction, but 2025 is taking things up a notch. With more designers, innovative new concepts, and that unbeatable Melbourne energy, this is shaping up to be a fashion-lover’s paradise. Whether you’re there for the glamour, the grit, or just to find your next statement piece, PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025 is your ticket to impeccable style.

So, mark your calendars, grab your tickets (from just $69!), and get ready to immerse yourself in a world where fashion isn’t just worn—it’s celebrated. See you on the runway!

Loved our guide to the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2025 programme? Now that your calendar is full of activities, why not book a restaurant in the CBD to eat at before or afterwards? Or, catch a post-work, pre-runway show happy hour.

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

3 March 2025

Kelsey Harrington is a Melbourne-based writer with a sharp eye for the city's ever-evolving food, wine, arts, and culture scene. Her journey into the creative industry took the scenic route—what started as a passion for capturing Melbourne’s energy through a camera lens led her to Sitchu, where she worked her way up to Melbourne Editor. With over four years in the industry, she’s all about uncovering the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Off the clock? You’ll find her diving into a platter of fresh oysters and crudo, gallery-hopping, or sipping an extra dirty martini while plotting her next adventure.