That's because they're made of discarded fish skins, tanned and sourced by the 19-year-old fashion student.
The fish leather pieces are part of three looks Macleod showed on the sold-out student collections runway, as part of Melbourne Fashion Week on Friday night.
To make the material, she sources salmon skins from a fishmonger at the South Melbourne market, then spends a day de-scaling and washing them with vinegar and soap, before a two-week tanning process.
"That does mostly get rid of the smell ... it's not fishy as such but it smells like the ocean, it smells salty," she said.
The skins are small - one of her bodices requires 25 of them - but the Launceston-born designer has found fish to be a fascinating material to work with.
"It's quite durable and it's got this really unique texture from the scales and beautiful tones of greys and blues," she said.
The Whitehouse Institute of Design student has also embroidered Tasmanian mussel shells onto a high-necked Merino wool top and loosely knitted skirt, as part of her collection.
The student runway show, staged at Younghusband in Kensington, features up-and-coming designers from Box Hill Institute, Holmesglen, RMIT, Whitehouse Institute of Design and LCI Melbourne.
It's the first industry runway for many and a rare chance to see fashion design and innovation outside commercial constraints.
"It's really nice to sit back and enjoy what we've done, it's so inspiring the student runway because there's some crazy cool stuff," said Macleod.
RMIT honours student Stephanie Hookey has already spent two years working as a design assistant and has had mixed experiences.
The ethics and sustainability taught on campus aren't necessarily reflected in the workplace, said Hookey, and it's something she hopes to change.
"A lot of designers my age have a love-hate relationship with the industry for the amazing things it can produce but there are negative impacts," she said.
"The fashion industry could be doing miles and miles better."
More than 1.4 billion units of new clothing come onto the Australian market each year and more than 200,000 tonnes end up in landfill annually, according to figures from The Australia Institute.
The nation has surpassed the US as the world's biggest consumer of textiles per capita, according to the 2024 figures.
But with a generation of designers schooled in sustainability, there's a chance the future could be more different - and more inclusive.
Hookey, 23, who has a sideline in altering and mending used clothing, has long dreamed of doing a Fashion Week runway and the looks she has created are in sizes eight, 12 and 18.
Her outfits were sparked by a childhood doll affectionately nicknamed "Cocaine Barbie".
The doll inspired Hookey to bring a kitsch Barbie aesthetic into womenswear, with bright colours, hidden pockets and velcro fastenings - Â there's also an interactive doll house handbag, with touch sensitive lights.
Another Whitehouse student, Paris Jones, has set her collection after the tipping point of climate change - with fashion becoming an act of remembrance and healing for the natural world.
Key items are a hand-blown hourglass timer clutch complete with sand and a puffer jacket made from upcycled doona wadding.
Designer deadstock fabrics from the likes of Giorgio Armani have been used across her collection.
Melbourne Fashion Week runs until Sunday.
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