Australian Street Style

[Pherber]

Adorefaith, I agree with what you said about the increase of trends spreading until saturation point in Australia. At least places like Topshop has a couple of themes going at any one time. The majority of Australian chain stores see to sell the same thing with a different little tag.

By the way, I am not complaining about Australian fashion- it love it!

 

[misstarshine]

These are all pictures taken from the blog melbourne runway at:

melbourne-runway.blogspot.com/

 

[wanticecream]

I live in London but I'm originally from Australia. I think there are lots of unique and inspirational designers in aust, we are really lucky. It's hard to see what you -do- have until you move away though.

and as to trend clones - I think it's like that in most cities.

In australia there are lots of independent retailers in most cities (stocking Aust and international designers), and it is not too hard to find something 'unique' for a reasonable price. I find living in england most towns and high streets are completely over-run by chain stores - topshop, h&m, zara, etc. Don't get me wrong, they are okay, but it is much harder to find something that isn't totally mass produced and for a reasonable price!

 

[Jungle Baby]

I agree wanticecream about being able to find reasonablily priced "unique" items here. There are quite a few Australian Designers that sell gorgeous pretty unique pieces, that are a lot more affordable than International Designers and a hell of a lot more appealing than the mass produced chain store rubbish.
Now if only there were a few high street stores such as Zara, H&M and Topshop, mixed with the boutiques that sell the Australian and New Zealand designer stuff here and a sprinkling of the Internation designer stuff, perfect wardrobe recipe IMO

 

[katebug]

I've recently moved to Australia. Perth actually, which I think doesn't have as much choice as other cities.

I've been surprised to find the exact same items in several competing chain stores. I don't like the chain stores so much. Witchery is nice but overpriced for what it is.

I would love to see Topshop and Zara, just to mix it up a bit.

I find it hard that there isn't so much variety, especially after coming from London. And I think the weather does make it hard to be original since you're just trying to keep cool!

 

[adorefaith]

interesting to hear your perspective katebug ^

i totally agree . . i think zara / topshop / H&M would be really welcome here
or even something like banana republic or club monaco (i love c.monaco and miss it !)

and there is a lot less variety than europe or nth america - i think that's one of the first things that strikes you
as well as, like you said, the fact that so many shops are carrying the exact same product, or at least very very similar items

 

[justlooking]

^ i think that's it. The lack of variety.
Australia could most certainly benefit from Zara and the rest of them that you mention.

fashion is pretty conservative here also. I feel like there's more of the judgement thing going on if you step out of line (from the big trend of the moment which basically lasts a few years). Visiting other cities, i feel like there's more going on and greater freedom to wear what you want. My friends while overseas completely changed their style. They felt free to try new things and then stuck with them when they got back. Stopping by Japan at the moment and it's just so experimental (well from my point of view- playing with different silhouettes and proportions) There's this freedom that anything goes. And i just love it! We need that.

Australian style is pretty relaxed... i get it. But i feel like in having that attitude, it also prevents us from accepting 'dressing up.'

 

[Deleted member 36123]

or even something like banana republic

Yesssssssssss! I had the biggest chat to a guy who works in BR last time I was in NY about bringing it to Australia. He said they were just opening in London and hopefully will move to Aus in the future!

 

[Sylphide]

^ is there some sort of epidemic of narcissism sweeping Sydney at the moment?

YES

 

[kasumi168]

^ i think that's it. The lack of variety.
Australia could most certainly benefit from Zara and the rest of them that you mention.

fashion is pretty conservative here also. I feel like there's more of the judgement thing going on if you step out of line (from the big trend of the moment which basically lasts a few years). Visiting other cities, i feel like there's more going on and greater freedom to wear what you want. My friends while overseas completely changed their style. They felt free to try new things and then stuck with them when they got back. Stopping by Japan at the moment and it's just so experimental (well from my point of view- playing with different silhouettes and proportions) There's this freedom that anything goes. And i just love it! We need that.

Australian style is pretty relaxed... i get it. But i feel like in having that attitude, it also prevents us from accepting 'dressing up.'

(First post! Yay!)

I totally agree with you in all counts.

After travelling in Europe and Asia, coming back home to Sydney, you pretty feel that our staples in Summer is a tank top and thongs.

If i dare to wear anything the girls in Japan were wearing (such as Harajuku or girly chiffon stuff) , i think i would feel pretty self conscious as it's so out there in comparison.

Where as Europeans are so casually chic.. It's no wonder i spend a fortune on NAP and otheronline retailers and get my clothing there than buying chain store stuff which is so overpriced anyway, and pretty much the same styles from shop to shop.

 

[Sylphide]

I think Australians also tend to think that they are lesser than the rest of the world. Personally i love aussie style because i can dress up if i want, but i can wear jeans and thongs when i can't be bothered spending an hour thinking of what to wear.

True. I'd hate to live somewhere where I can't wear thongs!

 

[chip45]

i really think stores like sportsgirl, witchery, portmans etc. are australia's answer to stores like zara, topshop, h&m etc. it's just that australia is like some seasons behind the rest of the world so the trends that these aussie stores produce will of course be different from the uk.

 

[chip45]

some party pics from sydney





twothousand.com.au

 

[chip45]

continued





twothousand.com.au

 

[superstarjeans]

Cool I like the girls pink nail varnish! (bottom right, above)

 

[Jungle Baby]

I Tend to disagree with the notion of Australia being seasons behind the UK or US, maybe one season behind at the most.
The difference is the attitude in dressing that holds most people back here.
When your younger you aren't encouraged to dress different or individually, you are "suppose" to blindly follow the same trends as all the other teenages in Australia.
If you do choose to go against the grain or even slightly overdress for an occasion you in most cases are singled out for it by your peers.
Here in Australia its very casual style wise, which is great in some cases, but sometimes you just want to wear your pretty outfits and not be put down for it.

i really think stores like sportsgirl, witchery, portmans etc. are australia's answer to stores like zara, topshop, h&m etc. it's just that australia is like some seasons behind the rest of the world so the trends that these aussie stores produce will of course be different from the uk.

​

 

[tulip]

agree with katebug..as much as I love perth i was surprised at limited variety considering its such a growing city
not only with fashion but cafe's and late nite hangouts if ur not into clubbing/pubs

 

[ckashie]

The thing I hate about living in Australia (there's only one thing ) is the cost of buying designer items... Everything is more expensive here compared to UK and US... if you want to buy something, it's a lot cheaper to buy it from the US online and have it shipped. And despite the crap exchange rate and expensive shipping it's still cheaper to buy from the UK. Things are marked up so much here, not to mention that generally when something comes out here it's on sale on all the overseas websites

IMO the bad thing about Aus chain stores is that once they are onto a trend, they stick with it for season after season after season until you are just so completely sick of it and the streets are just saturated with a particular style or look. Example: fluoro. It still hasn't died yet! It's been absolutely everywhere for about a year now. IMO there isn't as much constant evolvement in the chainstores that there is overseas, probably because the vast majority of consumers don't expect it- they just want whatever Mischa, Olsen twins, Lindsay Lohan is wearing whether it is fashion forward or not...

 

[chip45]

When your younger you aren't encouraged to dress different or individually, you are "suppose" to blindly follow the same trends as all the other teenages in Australia. If you do choose to go against the grain or even slightly overdress for an occasion you in most cases are singled out for it by your peers. Here in Australia its very casual style wise, which is great in some cases, but sometimes you just want to wear your pretty outfits and not be put down for it.

yes but this can be said for many other countries throughout the world, not just australia. infact this is what most people experience when going through puberty but i agree with 'casual style'. how many people wearing trackpants or sport shorts and thongs can you spot when you walk down the street how hard is it to at least put on some jeans?

yesterday i went into supre for the first time in a looong time.. and at the entrance 'checking bags' was this very large girl and she was dressed like a bogan (!) wearing a scarf as a headband, an old flannel shirt, tank top, black leggings and dunks. she was like the opposite of everything supre represents.. i didnt get it.

 

[chip45]

twothousand.com.au