The countdown to L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Week has begun and the fashion savvy bunch here at Scene headquarters are falling over themselves to get front row position for the hottest runway shows in town.

The festival is set to showcase the stunning Autumn/Winter collections of leading designers from Australia and around the world. 

This year Central Pier at Docklands will provide a water-side backdrop for the festival. The pier's heritage-listed sheds 9 and 14 will host major runway parades and parties throughout the week long event.

Fashion festival director Karen Webster said the area was an amazing space to host what has become such a vibrant stamp on the city's fashion scene.

"The entire space will be transformed to create a bustling fashion destination," Ms Webster said.

The main catwalk for the L'Oreal Paris runway shows, the fun independent parades and the Target Rocks Red Market will be custom built inside shed 14, which boasts a 66m-long chandelier.

The pier's bar venue, Alumbra, will host the after-parties in shed 9 where designers, models and celebrities can chew on a Middle Eastern barbecue and DJ-spun tunes.

Stay tuned for festival highlights and full coverage of the L’Oreal Paris Runway shows.