Halston is making turtlenecks and orchids cool again

A new plant cycle

If the fiddle-leaf fig and monstera have dominated Australians’ love of indoor plants for the past two years, are we set for an orchid resurgence? As an orchid tragic, Marco Pereira, of Melbourne indoor plant specialist Botanicah, hopes so. Pereira grows rare and unusual species at his home but has this advice for anyone buying the more common phalaenopsis and the cybidium, aka the “Halston orchid”.

“Choose plants that have spikes unopened as much as possible with at least two opened blooms so you can judge colour and extend bloom period,” he says. And for phalaenopses: “Keep them in very bright conditions without direct sun and in a room that stays above 12 degrees Celsius at all times.”

Pereira says the moss in which many orchids are potted is where homeowners often come undone through over-watering. “Only water when the moss feels dry in the top three inches,” he says.

Although Halston’s office was festooned with orchids, Pereira advises to keep them in odd numbers, for feng shui and optical balance (this rule applies to most if not all cut flowers, too).

Orchids aren’t just popping up in people’s homes via our Instagram feeds, either. Designer Mariam Seddiq used orchids liberally in her show at Australian Fashion Week. In a parallel to a scene in Halston in which a fan is used to shield a model’s breasts, Seddiq sent models down the runway with stems in lieu of bodices on her neon gowns.

Rolling with it

Another key trend to (re-)emerge thanks to Halston is the turtleneck, which was spotted in large numbers outside the shows at Australian Fashion Week. Stylist Donny Galella loves the look for its sophistication and practicality in the cooler months (hello, polar blast!). He recommends black or grey, ideally made from merino wool. “A black or charcoal is as versatile as a black tee is in the warmer months,” he says. “Wear casually with jeans, a bomber jacket and white trainers, or dress it up with a suit or nice coat and dress boots.”

For women, the turtleneck is a great choice for androgynous ’70s styling, as seen on Eleanor Pendleton, who sported several by Scanlan Theodore during Fashion Week. Other brands to consider, says Galella, include Reiss, Politix and UNIQLO.

Disco in the daytime?

Less ubiquitous than the turtleneck but equally inspired by Halston are several other trends with nods to the ’70s and ’80s, such as lurex. Contrary to some preconceptions, these trends are perfectly acceptable in the daytime, even the office, if you know how to balance them, says ELK head designer Amadio Colafella. The key is wearing one statement piece and keeping the rest clean and simple. “Pair a clean leather jacket over a neon skirt,” Colafella says. “Keep it tonal and keep it classic.”

Online fashion retailer Order of Style’s Lana Coppel says leaning into the ’70s can be as simple as adopting an earthy colour palette: oranges, browns and mustards with highlights in bright blue, denim and peacock green.

“The textures range from shining satin to polished leather with touches of crochet-inspired knitwear,” she says. “The easiest way to take this into the office is with a tonal suit … that features a wide-leg pant, or a small kick flare and a single-breasted jacket with a longer length.”

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If you’re not feeling a Studio 54 vibe for the office, Coppel suggests a trench coat, or a chunky-soled loafer. For an even easier hack, try a pair of coloured rhinestone earrings by Valere or Reliquia Collective. Or, for a cheeky nod to Halston, a pair of orchid studs by Cleopatra’s Bling or Meijuri. They’re not much more expensive than a cymbidium but much harder to kill.

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