“A gentle way of doing sexy” is how Law Roach, the long standing stylist of Zendaya, describes the work of designer Christopher Esber. A household name in his native Australia for more than 10 years now, Esber was propelled into the global limelight last year when Zendaya walked the red carpet in his designs. Dua Lipa, Emily Ratajkowski and Solange followed in quick succession, spurring a flurry of followers allured to the easy-elegance of the floaty silk trousers or deconstructed knit dresses draped over every fashion-savvy Sydney-ite decamping the beach for dinner.
“I design for a woman who loves fashion but she is not willing to surrender herself to it,” says Esber. “Coming from Australia there is a sense of ease and the undone about what I do. Even if something is more conceptual, there is always a feel of release to it.”
@christopher_esber // Instagram
“I design for a woman who loves fashion but she is not willing to surrender herself to it.”
Christopher Esber
While Esber’s designs nod to a ‘90s nonchalance, tailoring is the backbone of the brand, ensuring them a timeless essence. Esber’s aunt was a seamstress, for whom the designer cut his first pattern for aged eight, and he later trained as a menswear tailor before launching his eponymous brand in 2010. It shows; in impeccably-cut tailoring that incorporates menswear techniques in relaxed cuts, raw accents and sports-inspired finishes.
For his latest collection, presented in faded earthy tones of turmeric orange, sage green and clay, Esber elevates with texture and material, from “mottled, crunchy” linen to hardy chains, coiled metal, and leather. One knit dress features an amethyst suspended in resin in the cutout panel, a compliment to the brand’s new line of fashion jewellery.
