Lucianne Tonti

Historical cases from colonial New England and Europe show that women’s financial independence, property ownership, healing practices and profitable work could make them vulnerable to witchcraft accusations. Katherine Harrison’s prosecution in Connecticut and Agnes Sampson’s torture in Scotland illustrate how patriarchal inheritance systems, professional exclusion, religious authority, economic tensions and local conflicts turned women’s independence into evidence of wrongdoing. The article argues that although women are no longer executed as witches, the label still carries gendered threats and can be used to undermine powerful women, as illustrated by attacks on Victorian premier Jacinta Allan.

Fashion professionals and a flight attendant recommend packing for winter weekends with a single color palette, lightweight layers and versatile garments. Key strategies include rolling clothes, wearing the bulkiest coat and boots during travel, reusing one adaptable outfit, choosing technical or natural fabrics, and limiting footwear to one or two pairs. Coats are treated as central to both warmth and style, while fine merino, cotton and blended-wool layers reduce bulk.

Beauty packaging generates substantial waste: 95% of cosmetic packaging is discarded and nearly 60% is plastic, much of it difficult to recycle. The article recommends buying fewer, locally made products; replacing liquid products with bar soaps, shampoos and deodorants; choosing glass, aluminium, wood or certified paper packaging; and using refill systems where available. It cautions that refill pouches often require specialist recycling and that shampoo-bar performance varies by hair type. TerraCycle and Close the Loop recycling programs, including drop-off points at Mecca and Sephora, can handle many cosmetic empties, which should be emptied but need not be fully clean.

A new wave of Australian female designers is embracing gothic and dark romantic aesthetics, challenging the country’s traditional association with bright summer fashion. At Australian Fashion Week, The Frontier showcase featured corsetry, body armour, dramatic silhouettes, unusual textures and predominantly black collections from designers including Haluminous, Ouse, Madre Natura, Rose Guiffre, Suzaan Stander and Paris Jade Burrows. Their work combines theatricality, technical experimentation, sustainability and adaptable construction, while Courtney Zheng’s solo debut demonstrated growing commercial confidence and a willingness to take greater creative risks.

Australian designers Caroline Reznik, Ruby Pedder and Bethany Cordwell have created costumes for stars including Shakira, Doja Cat, Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Jennie Kim, often after being discovered through social media. Celebrity exposure can bring global recognition, commissions and followers, but the financial payoff is unpredictable: Pedder’s Charli xcx outfits were never worn and a viral Monphell hat resulted in only one sale. Distance from Australia, shipping difficulties, time zones and inconsistent credit from artists’ teams complicate the work, prompting some designers to consider relocating overseas. Adelaide-based Paolo Sebastian offers a contrasting example of a sustainable Australian couture business serving international stars such as Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.

Australian weddings produce an average of about 21.5 tonnes of carbon emissions, driven largely by guest travel, food, clothing and disposable decorations. Experts recommend smaller guest lists, central venues, shared transport, seasonal local and plant-forward menus, regenerative agriculture, reduced food waste, reusable or hired decorations, locally grown flowers, and clothing made from natural materials or obtained through rental and resale. The article presents sustainability as a matter of setting clear priorities and resisting consumerist wedding conventions.

Australia continues to produce fashion talent but lacks the scale, manufacturing capacity and design jobs needed to retain it. Of 19 Australian Fashion Foundation scholarship winners from 2009 to 2019, only three later held design roles in Australian fashion businesses, while nine remained in major international fashion capitals. Designers describe stronger career opportunities, craft capabilities, budgets and industry networks overseas, though some returnees and locally based designers see creative potential in Australia’s constraints. A new 10-year manufacturing strategy aims to rebuild domestic production, but the sector’s ability to attract and retain world-class designers remains uncertain.

The National Designer award’s judging panel faced a contentious choice between rewarding creative originality and backing a label with stronger commercial prospects. Brisbane-based mother-and-daughter label Joaen, led by Grace and Mandy Kelly, ultimately won the $20,000 prize and David Jones business-development package. Judge Megha Kapoor argued that Sydney finalist Haluminous and designer Hannah Teresa Kim better represented the award’s role in nurturing unconventional creative talent, while other judges emphasized readiness, longevity and the risk of pushing an unprepared label into the market. Beare Park was also considered a strong contender because of its retail footprint and established commercial performance. The debate reflects wider pressures facing Australian fashion, including endangered local manufacturing, instability around Australian Fashion Week and the difficulty younger labels face in achieving financial sustainability.

Simplicity McCall’s is closing its Australian operations and Sydney warehouse as part of a global restructure, ending the dominant local supply of traditional paper patterns from brands including Simplicity, McCall’s, Vogue and Butterick. Sewing professionals say the company failed to keep pace with independent designers offering fast, globally available PDF patterns and more varied sizing, while some sewers fear the loss of an accessible entry point for beginners. Others view the closure as a natural shift toward digital patterns, online tutorials, upcycling and independent retailers. Liquidator McGrathNicol says it did not instruct stockists to destroy remaining inventory and is seeking buyers for it, including Spotlight.

The 2026 Australian Open is attracting a more polished yet inclusive crowd, with spectators embracing tailored shorts, dresses, sneakers, sandals and tennis-inspired styling. Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley’s strategy of turning the tournament into a broader festival has helped drive record attendance and increased hospitality, food, fashion and networking activity. Luxury and sports brands including Gucci, Reebok, Wilson, Mecca and Nike are capitalising on the event’s cultural appeal. The tournament’s relaxed dress code and comfortable styling are contrasted with the more formal, exclusionary traditions and declining relevance of Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival.

Sass & Bide will close its Australian stores, concession stands and e-commerce site for several months before relaunching later in 2026 under Myer’s ownership. The label, founded by Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton, became internationally known in the 2000s for rebellious, embellished clothing and celebrity clientele, but its more recent conservative collections have lost the youthful attitude and artistic identity that once defined it. A relaunch aimed at younger shoppers could benefit from renewed interest in Y2K and rave aesthetics, but its success will depend on restoring originality and design instinct rather than prioritising commercial strategy alone.

With about 110 million shoes imported into Australia each year and footwear being difficult to recycle, extending the life of old sandals can reduce landfill waste. Cleaning, conditioning and protecting different materials, replacing worn soles or cork footbeds, repairing buckles and Velcro, and seeking professional help for valuable or badly damaged footwear can restore sandals and improve their longevity. Careful product selection and spot testing are advised to avoid damaging the materials.

Fashion forecasters and style experts predict a 2026 shift away from monochrome dressing, influencer-driven uniformity and excessive online trend cycling. Bright yellow, pink, blue, purple and orange are expected to return, alongside dressing for physical and emotional experience, informed shopping, eclectic Carrie Bradshaw-inspired styling, grandpa chic, heavily commercialised 2000s and K-pop-influenced looks, and a preference for vintage pieces with visible wear. The broader direction is toward individuality, tactile clothing, durable purchases and personal expression rather than algorithmic conformity.

Fashion experts recommend three easy ways to transition from the beach to a bar: keep swimwear on and style a one-piece with high-waisted trousers or a skirt, add a breathable cover-up such as a crisp white shirt or short terry towelling dress, or turn a sarong into a top, dress or skirt. Light grooming, minimal makeup, simple footwear, and a small pouch of jewellery and essentials complete the look while keeping the outfit practical and relaxed.

Experts recommend reducing Christmas waste by buying fewer, more wanted gifts and discussing budgets and preferences in advance. Sustainable alternatives include experiences, services, donations, subscriptions, memberships and edible gifts, while physical presents should be durable, locally made, ethically produced or made from recycled materials. Shoppers are encouraged to check credible certifications, avoid unnecessary plastic, consider vintage and secondhand goods, and scrutinize vague environmental claims that may indicate greenwashing.

Cricket reconnects Lucianne Tonti with memories of her late father, who taught her and her siblings the game and supported their sporting lives. Watching the Ashes and other international matches with her brother across Australia and Europe creates a renewed family dialogue after years of grieving separately. The sport becomes a continuing space where her father's care, values and humor remain present, while new cricket moments generate shared memories and strengthen the siblings' bond.

Spring office dressing is shifting from rigid corporate formality toward a relaxed but polished smart-casual style. Recommended looks include lived-in blazers, textured suits, knee-length tailored shorts, long trousers with sandals, and breathable shirt dresses layered with trenchcoats. The piece advises avoiding gym wear, flip-flops, overly short garments, sheer fabrics, loud logos and heavy fragrance, while using shoes, jewellery and subtle prints to add personality within conservative dress codes.

Experts recommend cleaning knitwear thoroughly before storage, using a cold wool cycle or brief hand-wash with mild detergent, and drying garments flat away from heat and direct sunlight. Pilling and loose threads can be repaired at home, while holes in valuable pieces may require darning or professional invisible mending. To prevent moths and mould, store completely dry knitwear folded in suitable bags or containers with cedar balls or silica bags, regularly air the wardrobe, and remove larvae through cleaning, brushing, sunlight or carefully controlled heat treatment.

Princess Polly’s B Corp certification has prompted criticism from sustainable-fashion businesses and campaigners, who argue that its ultra-fast-fashion model, high production volumes and reliance on synthetic materials conflict with the certification’s social and environmental values. B Lab defends its holistic, points-based system, while acknowledging that standards will become stricter in areas such as climate action, circularity, waste, overproduction and human rights. The debate raises concerns about whether large companies can use consultants and policies to qualify despite fundamental environmental problems, and whether B Corp can retain credibility with conscious consumers.

Brooches are enjoying a fashion revival, appearing prominently on celebrities at events including the Met Gala, the Oscars and major awards ceremonies, while designers and Australian jewellers incorporate them into current collections. Their appeal lies in combining personal expression and historical meaning with affordability: vintage pieces can be thrifted, inherited jewellery can be repurposed, and brooches can refresh existing clothing without requiring a new outfit. Stylists recommend matching brooch size to lapel proportions and experimenting with layering, unusual placements and accessories such as hats, scarves and bags.