A client trying on some pieces during Calibre’s VIP collection preview. Photography: Eric Yip

MAYBE THE ADVANTAGE to being in a country one season behind the summer trends of the northern hemisphere is that we can pick and choose the best of them. This is often the case for our home-grown designers, who observe trends from their antipodean studios, before crafting interpretations of whatever “-summer” is happening, and then translating it into the Australian vernacular. Still, as menswear finds itself in an ‘anything goes’ mood, one question has persisted for Australian designers: how do you elevate menswear for the warmer weather?

On a recent evening, inside Calibre’s Bondi Junction store, the iconic Australian label hosted VIP clients and friends of the brand for an after-hours preview of their spring-summer 2024/25 collection. Serving plenty of canapés and whiskey to chase, guests perused through pieces of the collection – pieces that marked a fresh new direction for Calibre – while Esquire‘s creative director Grant Pearce shared tips for styling the collection.

Always the destination for contemporary Australian menswear – a purveyor of the slim tailoring movement over the last two decades – Calibre’s spring-summer presentation saw to more relaxed tailoring. ‘Relaxed’ by way of swapping out an easy cotton jersey with a crisp linen jacket, or taking on looser silk shirting, finished with fine embroidery, instead of a shirt bulging at the seams. For Calibre, ‘relaxed’ is being comfortable in the fit and feel of how their garments help you move through the day.

Throughout the night, clients made their way to the back of the store, going behind crushed velvet partitions to try things on and have a feel for the collection. Pearce made a point that statement shirting was a highlight of the collection, eyeing a camp-collared ivory silk-blend shirt with framed embroidery and lace in particular. Knit polos have been one of the pillars of elevated menswear for the past few seasons, and there was no shortage of it at Calibre, too, in neutral tones featuring jacquard geometric prints.

Photographer Eric Yip chronicled the night, with shots of some of the VIP clients in attendance enjoying canapés and drinks by Chivas Regal. For highlights from his photo diary, scroll on.

Clients enjoying some canapés and whiskey. Photography: Eric Yip
Inside the Esquire x Calibre collection preview at Bondi Junction. Photography: Eric Yip
From left to right: Edin Zecezic, Esquire Editor-in-Chief Christopher Riley, Creative Director Grant Pearce, and Commercial Director Matt Nethery. Photography: Eric Yip
Model wears framed embroidery short sleeve shirt in ivory. Photography: Eric Yip
Guests enjoying some canapés during the night. Photography: Eric Yip
The party moving outside the Calibre Bondi Junction store. Photography: Eric Yip

Shop Calibre’s spring-summer 2024/25 collection here.

Related:

Esquire’s ultimate Father’s Day gift guide

The must-have spring accessory? Glen Powell’s cowboy hat from ‘Twisters’