A Haunting ‘Hypnotic’ Romance, Gives Us Permission to Dream
Review of Zimmermann Fall 2025 Fashion Show
By Angela Baidoo
THE COLLECTION
THE VIBE
Ethereal Romance, Mysterious Spirits, Dream-within-a-Dream
Romance is never not on the agenda at Zimmermann, and every now and again the fashion world and the world of creative director Nicky Zimmermann collide. At all other times it is the business of femininity in bloom that keeps the founder of the Australian brand, which has found its place on the global stage, busy.
The classic Australian film from 1975, Picnic at Hanging Rock’, made the moodboard for fall with it’s rose-tinted romanticism. It also just so happens that it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A fact which was unknown at the time as the designer told The Impression backstage “When I wanted to do the film as the inspiration I didn’t realise that it was the 50th anniversary, but is been something for me thats been influential for a long time, as I saw it as a young child and it was one of those incredible things that doesn’t leave your memory.”
Rather than make an attempt at rehashing the films costume design as an homage, the general air of hypnotic mystery that is depicted on-screen was instead channeled into ethereal almost weightless chiffon dresses, love letter appliqué, and modern-day pinafores inspired by the school uniforms worn by the films characters.
The transition from carefree childhood to enlightenment was communicated as a journey from the fun of frills to the sturdy construction of denim and leather. Lace which erred on the side of the lingerie you would typically wear under these clothes was spun into dramatic dresses and robes, and was a subtle reminder of who had always represented the bohemian woman, even before it returned to the fashion zeitgeist. The dark side of the Victorian era was explored earlier at Alexander McQueen where a raw type of beauty paired with heavy embellishment made for a dark romantic trip, whereas a more fragile femininity was on display at Zimmermann meaning next season women can choose what side of romance they want to dial into. Although it is highly likely that the ethereal, the lighthearted, and even the spiritual will be in high demand as we escape even deeper into nostalgia.
THE DIRECTION
THE QUOTE
For Zimmermann the most important thing is that we’re unashamedly feminine and that we are about escapism…[and for fall] we tried to do a modern interprtation of Victoriana.”
Nicky Zimmermann, Creative Director, Zimmermann
THE WRAP UP
Titled ‘Hypnotic’ today’s collection was made to have a spellbinding effect, as the creative director explored intangible ideas and mysterious spirits. Understanding her customer as she does, a certain level of romance will always feature prominently. Yet now, as ‘Boho Chic’ is back on the radar (even though for Zimmermann it never went out of style) the slight pivot towards an even more dream-like aesthetic will enable the brand to establish their own point-of-difference among the pretenders to the throne.
