For the Zimmermann Fall 2017 collection, the brand was inspired by the attitude from the women of the Maples, one of the buildings that housed students of the Women’s College at the University of Sydney after World War I. The designer discovered photographs from the school during that time, which included images of ladies playing around in cricket whites and sport jackets during the day and wearing giant men’s coats over delicate, silky drop-waist dresses at night.

Zimmermann took the idea of a defiant, strong female, showing deconstructed lace with peach-colored bomber jackets and thigh-high leather boots. She also ventured into suiting this season, one of the best examples of which was a striped double-breasted blazer worn over a turtleneck and button-down, with matching cuffed culottes. Textures and silhouettes on the dresses were edgier. The designer juxtaposed her usual fluid floral prints with a miniskirt constructed with off-kilter pleated paneling, as well as a minimalist chevron-patterned black and white knit with drawstring sleeves paired with a tiered white lace skirt.

Lace ruffles may suggest a soft femininity, but cool blazers and suiting show the Zimmermann girl’s strong side.

The stylistic nods to the Maples were well executed with fluttery dresses and the heavy yet feminine outerwear this season incorporating fabrics like shearling and leather.