The style lover’s guide to a weekend of fashion events in Brisbane

Brisbane’s got a new wardrobe – and it’s not found just along the high street and treasure trove of shopping precincts.

Fashion – and flair – has hit the River City big time, with two of the industry’s biggest names celebrated in spectacular fashion events in Brisbane. In an Australian exclusive, QAGOMA’s new exhibition celebrates visionary haute couture designer, Iris van Herpen. And Brisbane Festival returns fiercer than ever, as headlining pop musical-catwalk extravaganza ‘Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show’ makes its Australian debut after wow-ing crowds across Europe – and Brisbane is its only Aussie stop on the world tour.

Ready to visit Australia’s fashion capital?  Spend a weekend or mini-escape here during 30 August – 15 September 2024 to take advantage of both fashion events in Brisbane – and discover the city’s hottest new restaurants, ever-expanding cultural appeal, and endless spring activities.

Come find your fit – this is your season to explore Brisbane.

Fresh off the plane – or road trip – hit the ground running and check into your accommodation.

No matter your style, the city’s best hotels cater to both the luxurious and bargain-hunters among us.

W Brisbane offers on-trend accommodation a short walk from the Cultural Centre and South Bank – which makes attending both fashion events in Brisbane a cinch. Harnessing Queensland’s vibrant energy, the W has teamed up with QAGOMA on an exclusive ‘Sculpting the Senses’ package for those who want to dive right into a fabulous weekend of culture – including a bottle of Champagne on arrive.

Opt to be a part of Queens Wharf’s epic launch season and book your stay at brand-new The Star Grand, or kick back at The Calile – perhaps Brisbane’s most beautiful hotel, which was also named the best hotel in Oceania at The World's 50 Best Hotels Awards in 2023.

Afternoon

Don’t linger too long: you’ve got a 3pm call time at W Brisbane. The W is known for its decadent high tea service that’s all about cool-factor – no stuffy service or nanna’s china in sight – and the chefs have crafted the ‘Water & Dreams High Tea’ inspired by QAGOMA's Iris van Herpen exhibit. Expect exquisite sweet and savoury bites, including edible bubbles, paired with the signature ‘Couture Cloud’ cocktail or a glass of sparkling. The perfect start for what’s to come tonight.   

Evening

What could be better than exploring an art exhibition dedicated to a high-couture visionary? Doing so with a glass of wine in hand. Welcome to GOMA Friday Nights.

This after-dark art experience is your chance to explore Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses alongside beats from Brisbane’s best DJs, film screenings, drop-in drawing, and riverside dining.

An exciting collaboration between QAGOMA and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, the exhibition – exclusive to Brisbane – is a dazzling showcase of van Herpen’s creations that takes visitors deeper into the art and science behind haute couture, and the many influences on her most recognised pieces, from marine biology to quantum physics.

Alongside a soundscape by Salvador Breed and a number of contemporary artworks, discover creations worn by some of the biggest names in entertainment including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Bjork, and Rihanna – and witness how Iris van Herpen pioneered the use of new technologies in the fashion world.

Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses is open every day until 7 October 2024. GOMA Friday Nights are ticketed and are held every Friday night from 12 July – 4 October 2024, from 5.30pm – 8.30pm.

Read more about the exhibition here.

Book tickets here.

Once you’ve filled your fashion cup, flit over to nearby Fish Lane. Home to urban art, bars and endless bustling eateries, it’s the ideal spot to grab dinner – or girl dinner – whether you fancy Euro fare, spicy Asian bites or cocktails. Midtown, Maeve Wine Bar and Julius Pizzeria all serve food late into the evening. Fancy a drink? Maker and Bar Brutus both mix a mean cocktail.

Day 2

Morning

Begin your day in the heart of Brisbane’s most fashionable street, where cafes slinging serious breakfasts, trendy eateries and luxury retailers share space along leafy James Street. The Green is famous for its Middle Eastern inspired dishes, while King Arthur Café offers creative all day brunch – so you can feast on pumpkin waffles with chorizo or salmon tartare smashed avo no matter how long you slept in.

Satiated, this is the place for the best kind of retail therapy – so we hope you packed light.

A fashion and style lover’s playground, James Street is where you’ll find a concentration of Australian designers, whether you want to nail a new fit, or buy a new accent piece for your home.

Use this shopping guide to get started.

Evening

You could easily stay ensconced in James Street for dinner – there’s a host of eateries that taste as good as they look. But if you’re keen to dive into Brisbane’s food scene and try something new, make your way to Naldham House in Brisbane City.

Breathing new life into a 140-year old heritage building, the highly-anticipated venue has just opened its doors – and the spectacular interior designed by Anna Spiro seems fitting for a weekend that’s celebrating all things fabulous. Make a reservation at the Brasserie to taste your way through pan-Euro cuisine and fine wines.

Now, it’s show time.  

A little eccentric, very funny and extremely fashionable, Brisbane Festival’s 2024 showstopper, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show is part music revue, part fashion show, celebrating 50 years of pop culture.

Held at South Bank Piazza, it promises to be unlike anything you’ve seen before, celebrating the life of Jean Paul Gaultier – one of the world’s most recognisable fashion and haute couture icons. The dazzling show features hundreds of exclusive new outfits alongside some of his most iconic creations - against a backdrop of his generation’s most defining political and cultural changes. In a very special collaboration, Australian artist Grace Lillian Lee will unveil a specially designed sculptural couture costume for the catwalk.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show runs 30 Aug – 15 Sep. Book tickets here.

Fancy a nightcap? Burnett Lane in the CBD is where expertly crafted cocktails can be devoured in dimly lit bars, Antico and Death & Taxes. Or, be among some of the first to check out the sparkling new Queens Wharf precinct on the river’s edge. Opening on 29 August, you’re right in time to check out the views from the Sky Deck or pop into one of the many bars and restaurants that have begun to open.

Day 3

Morning

Discover a new corner of the city today in Paddington, a historic neighbourhood where restored weatherboard houses and workers cottages have been converted into trendy cafes and boutiques.

Sit down for breakfast at Chapter IV, where you can take in city views and the charm of a grand Queenslander while tucking into housemade waffles and eggs benedict.

Paddington’s shopping scene is a 180° jump from James Street, but perfect for those seeking vintage pieces and one-of-a-kind treasures. Trawl the second-hand and vintage trail up and down Latrobe and Given Terraces, or uncover unique souvenirs at record store, Dutch Vinyl, and antiques emporium, Empire Revival. A stop by fashion boutique Hummingbird is must if you love rocking a print.

Afternoon

Close out your weekend of fashion events in Brisbane by dining at Stanley at Howard Smith Wharves – a funky Cantonese restaurant offering platefuls of dim sum, duck pancakes, wok tossed seafood, spicy noodles and more, as well as a yum cha lunch menu.

After a weekend immersing yourself in icons of fashion, a waterfront lunch beneath Brisbane icon, Story Bridge, is a fitting send off.

Staying another night? Grab tickets to Lightscape for a wander through sparkling lights displays in the City Botanic Gardens, or discover the many other enchanting fashion events and shows on during Brisbane Festival to end your weekend with a bang.