In partnership with LEO LIN

There are some afternoons that feel like a holiday in themselves, and LEO LIN's Resort 26 launch was exactly that. From the very first step onto Sydney’s Finger Wharf, you were transported – not just by the harbour views and the sea breeze, but by a collection that felt like a love letter to summer and the romance of travel.

The runway was an ode to escapism. Flowing gowns and sharply tailored nautical suiting moved effortlessly under the light, each piece a testament to Lin’s craftsmanship. Hand beading, appliqué, and painterly nautical prints gave texture and intimacy, while florals were whimsical, worldly, and touched with wistfulness. You found yourself drawn to the palette – coral and bougainvillea pink alongside crisp linen white, deep ink navy, and sunlit bursts of butter yellow and lipstick red. The finale, two fully beaded gowns from Lin’s new Made-to-Order offering, shimmered like reflections on the water, closing the show in quiet awe.

After the runway, the celebration continued with an intimate luncheon at Akti, Woolloomooloo’s newest Greek gem. Guests – including Lilly May Mac, Nikki Phillips, Kathleen Paton and April Rose Pengilly – gathered over a Mediterranean-inspired menu that transported you through a culinary journey, in the same way Resort 26 did on the runway. Roaming oysters and bespoke cocktails set the tone, before share plates of modern Greek dishes invited everyone into a long, sun-soaked meal. Sitting by the water with a glass of Veuve Clicquot in hand, it was impossible not to feel as though you’d been whisked away on a seaside escape.

The mood was joyous, celebratory, and distinctly summery – much like the collection itself. Runway hair was styled into effortless waves and low knots, and Bobbi Brown makeup enhanced fresh skin with a hint of blush, the beauty direction captured an ease that felt both polished and undone. Like transitioning from beach to bar with the glow of the ocean still lingering.

Resort 26 isn’t just a collection; it’s an invitation. To travel, to dream, to indulge in life’s sensory pleasures. Whether through a flowing gown reminiscent of champagne-soaked Mediterranean evenings or the taste of a perfectly seasoned mezze plate, LEO LIN once again distills the spirit of an endless summer into something you can carry with you.

The Resort 26 collection is available now, with new looks open for preorder online – a reminder that summer, at least in LEO LIN'S world, is always within reach.