“Fashion illustration as an art form in itself is something I’ve always been drawn to,” begins Nicky Zimmermann, creative director of the Sydney-based fashion powerhouse. Known for its romantic patterns, ladylike shapes, and whimsical designs, Australian sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann’s resortwear label is taking a sweet but potent turn for their Fall 2024 collection. The extremely feminine shapes and botanical designs open room for a more experimental, sensual, and cool-girl aesthetic, as the creative director delves deep into her own personal collection of fashion magazines for inspiration. “I have a collection of fashion magazines from the 1920s, and they’re filled with so many beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. The mood of those drawings, the magazines themselves, and the way fashion was depicted in that era became key reference points for the season,” she shares.

Denim appears in untraditional silhouettes, wide trouser pants, and spacious blouses with pussy bows. Textural layers add warmth for the season with soft knits, fluffy tube dresses, and velvet-draped tops. Ample outerwear offers an eclectic mix of fabrications and styles like a long leopard print silk coat or a buttery leather oversized bomber jacket. “The ’20s and the dramatic way the illustrations highlight volume, texture, and movement are themes that run through the collection. We’ve also been fortunate to gain access to some incredible vintage drawings from various eras, and these have been incorporated into some of our key show prints. One of my favorites is the artwork by Barry Otto, which appears in our opening looks. I love the feminine figure and the ethereal feel – that the drawing can have a life of its own,” she adds.

In line with her inspiration, the Bloomsbury Group – an informal group of prominent artists and writers in the early 20th century, including Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell – also became a point of influence, infusing the collection with a dusty color palette and nods to a past era, modernized in fabrications and innovative details. Air and volume are key themes of Zimmermann’s Fall 2024, capturing the sense of movement and lightness from the original sketch in the true garment is a point of obsession for the designers.

Check out some of the runway looks below…