In partnership with 1800 Tequila
If there’s one thing Mattie Gouman isn’t afraid of, it’s a little something extra. For Melbourne Fashion Week, that means butter-yellow satin, a feathered skirt and a tiny beaded bag – all in one gloriously joyful look.
But first, the all-important question: what to wear? For Gouman, preparing for Fashion Week is something of an art form. Think Clueless, if Cher Horowitz’s iconic wardrobe had a little more Melbourne irreverence, and her outfit selection came with an equally considered cocktail menu. Every colour, texture and accessory has its place. It’s an approach to getting dressed that feels right at home in the world of 1800 Tequila, where craftsmanship, considered design and an eye for detail are part of the appeal. And naturally, every look deserves its counterpart pour.
“I think yellow is such a happy colour,” she says. “I’m obviously a big lover of all things colour and texture. I love anything with a frill, bow or feather.” Gouman is someone who has built a distinctive style around exactly that combination.
Here, a lace-trimmed satin cami meets clouds of feathers and a sprinkling of sparkle, creating an outfit that is equal parts feminine, playful and unapologetically fun. “The feathers with silks creates both a feminine and fun outfit, but still very much like me.”
There’s something to be said for the contrast between all that softness and a more architectural sensibility. Just as Gouman plays with the interplay of lace, satin and feathers, 1800 Tequila’s iconic trapezoid bottle brings a sharper, more sculptural silhouette to the mix. Its distinctive shape and considered design make it feel at home in a world where form matters just as much as finish.
It’s also the kind of look that desires a cocktail pairing. Against the soft yellow palette, a 1800 Margarita feels almost inevitable: pale, zesty and just the right side of celebratory. “It’s basically the outfit version of a margarita,” Gouman says. “Fresh, sweet and citrusy, with a little bit of salt.”
Consider it look number one: a little sunshine, a little sparkle, and a 1800 cocktail to match. The kind of combination that would feel right at home at the Student Collections Runway, where the next generation of designers will bring their own interpretations of the week’s Underground theme to life. But with a calendar of events ahead, one look simply won’t do.
The connection might sound simple, but it captures something essential about dressing for Melbourne Fashion Week: the best looks aren’t necessarily the most complicated. They’re the ones with a sense of joy. For Gouman, that often comes down to a sprinkling of maximalism and an element of surprise that takes the whole thing somewhere unexpected. “Accessories are such an easy way to make an outfit feel more you,” she advises.
It’s a philosophy that extends beyond the wardrobe. In fashion, as in design, the details can make all the difference – from an unexpected accessory to the shape of a bottle or the balance of a cocktail. It’s this shared appreciation for creativity and considered design that makes 1800 Tequila a natural fit for Melbourne Fashion Week, where individual expression and an eye for aesthetics are part of the experience.
And Melbourne feels like the perfect backdrop for that kind of experimentation. Rather than subscribing to one prescribed version of fashion, the city’s style scene thrives on individuality, with emerging designers and independent labels giving MFW a distinctly creative energy. For Gouman, that’s what makes the week so exciting: “I love how open people are to experimenting.”
This October, that spirit of experimentation extends beyond the runway, with 1800 Tequila bringing its own take on good taste to Melbourne Fashion Week. More than just an official partner, the brand shares the fashion crowd’s appreciation for design, culture and the details that make an experience memorable. The brand will be part of the week’s fashion and social calendar, from its launch party at Hotel Nacionale to Drink of the Month activations across participating Melbourne venues and runway moments throughout the city. It’s a natural meeting point for a brand with a distinctive design identity and a week that celebrates creativity in all its forms.
The 1800 Paloma leads the charge as the campaign’s hero serve – refreshing, polished and made for that first-drink-of-the-night moment – while the Margarita has found its way into Gouman’s own MFW fantasy.
And as the Fashion Week calendar moves from afternoon appointments to evening affairs, Gouman’s wardrobe follows suit. Enter look number two: blush pink draping, peachy silk trousers and a hot pink feather bag. A little softer in silhouette, but no less spirited.
It’s a look made for the Womenswear Runway, where a little colour and an unexpected accessory feel entirely appropriate for an evening celebrating fashion’s creative possibilities. It also speaks to the versatility of a week that moves seamlessly between runway moments, social gatherings and the drinks that bring them together – with 1800 Tequila right at home in the mix.
“I love my outfits to feel playful and full of character, but still be really wearable from day to night,” she says. “I’m always drawn to interesting shapes and textures, as I think they can make even the simplest outfit feel a little more special.”
It’s an ensemble that calls for something equally playful in the glass. With its pink grapefruit notes, citrusy kick and refreshing finish, the 1800 Paloma makes for a natural counterpart to Gouman’s tonal pink palette. “Something fruity and refreshing, but with enough of a tang to keep it interesting,” she says, describing the flavour of the look. “Obviously just like a classic 1800 Paloma (possibly my favourite summer drink).”
And then there’s the finishing touch. “Definitely my feather bag,” she says when asked what she wants people to notice first. “I love finding accessories that are a little unexpected that create a statement and are always a fun talking piece!” It’s the kind of detail that takes an outfit from lovely to memorable. Much like the right cocktail, it brings the whole look together – a reminder that personal style is often about finding the right balance between the unexpected and the considered.
“I love when an outfit can take you through the whole day and night without feeling like you need to change,” she says. “I also love an outfit that makes you feel happy as soon as you put it on, and this definitely does that. I think the best outfits are the ones where you can tell the person genuinely had fun getting dressed.”
But for Gouman, a packed Fashion Week itinerary also calls for a change of pace. Enter look number three: a soft sage satin ensemble, all fluid draping and oversized proportions, offset by a gold sequin clutch that catches the light. Where the first two looks embrace colour and playful excess, this one makes its statement a little more quietly.
A fitting choice, perhaps, for the Closing Runway. With its focus on the evolution of femininity, bringing together trend-defining statements and timeless classics, the show’s mood feels particularly aligned with Gouman’s more refined approach to her final look. It’s another reminder that great design doesn’t need to shout; sometimes, the most striking details are the ones that reveal themselves slowly.
“I love how the draping and the oversized shape make the outfit feel elegant without being too structured,” she says. “I’m always drawn to pieces that have interesting shapes and beautiful fabrics, and I love adding a statement bag or accessory.”
It’s a look made for after-dark plans, when the mood shifts from Fashion Week exuberance to something a little more considered. And in the glass? An 1800 Cristalino Highball. Refined, refreshing and beautifully balanced, it’s a pairing that proves simplicity can be just as impactful as spectacle.
“I wanted the outfit to feel a little more refined just like the 1800 Cristalino Highball,” Gouman explains. “Nothing too complicated, just really well balanced.”
Of course, understated doesn’t mean going unnoticed. The beauty is in the movement of the satin, the way the fabric falls and catches the light, and that unmistakable flash of gold. “I would want someone to notice the silhouette first,” she says, before conceding that the sparkling clutch might have other ideas. “It’s high impact with low effort just like the highball.”
Three looks, three distinct moods, and a cocktail for every occasion. From the sunshine optimism of yellow satin and a Margarita, to the playful pink palette of a Paloma, and finally the fluid elegance of sage satin and a Cristalino Highball, Gouman has the Fashion Week dress code covered. It’s a celebration of the things fashion and 1800 Tequila share: a love of design, a sense of individuality and an appreciation for the details that bring everything together.
Drink responsibly.
