If Vogue’s Forces of Fashion conversation series has proven anything, it’s that the stars will emerge in looks for the books.
From Hollywood heavyweights to certified runway royalty; the Sydney summit brought together the biggest – and most fashionable – names in the biz to discuss the future of style, beauty and culture.
But if there were two women in particular who embodied the “Forces of Fashion” name at the Sydney Opera House this week, it was none other than Hailey Rhode Bieber and Aussie screen queen Sarah Snook.
Hailey Baldwin was a featured speaker at the 2026 event. (Getty Images for Vogue Australia)
The reigning empress of the “clean girl” aesthetic, global skincare innovator and wife to pop sensation Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) proved the authority on fashion as a featured speaker at the event.
Fresh off the MECCA Australia launch for her skincare brand, Rhode, Hailey Bieber stepped out for the 2026 Vogue Summer Ball in a sumptuous archival gown pulled straight from Versace Spring/Summer 2006.
The butter-yellow embellished ensemble was a definitive masterstroke from Bieber, gathered below in oodles of tulle that burst forth from a silk overlay.
Delicate crystal straps and a plunging neckline proved effortlessly timeless, whilst tapping into a current resurgence of vintage silhouettes that have proved a red carpet fixture in recent times.
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During her Art of Collaboration panel with Christine Centenera, Hailey also delved into more personal subject matter, speaking candidly about balancing her booming business with motherhood.
Having welcomed son Jack with Justin Bieber in late 2024, Hailey gushed over her pop star husband, referring to him as a “great partner” – without whom her globe-spanning career and associated business trips would “not be possible”.
“Having a great partner is really important. And sharing responsibilities,” she said of the pair’s parenting dynamic.
“I’m here working and my son is at home with his dad living his best life. Having that support is very freeing and makes the decision a little bit easier.”
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Sarah Snook was also in attendance at the event as a speaker. (Getty Images for Vogue Australia)
Local legend Sarah Snook, meanwhile, took a sharp detour from her characteristic pantsuit power-dressing, looking decidedly chic in a structured obsidian gown with bone detailing and an off-shoulder feathered sleeve.
Fresh off a ‘Trailblazer’ award win at the AACTAs earlier this year, Snook was a featured speaker for the On Fashion and Film: A Character Study panel.
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She was joined by fellow Aussie heavyweights Joel Edgerton and Catherine Martin, who collectively reflected on the role fashion plays in creating their image.
Snook compared clothing to “armour” for an actor, revealing that she often finds her characters through the shoes they wear before she even speaks a line of dialogue.
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