Australian Street Style

[genevica]

I came across this Canberra street style blog a few months ago. It's called 'Capital Style' and it's run by some Australian National University students in Canberra (our nation's capital) and they take pictures mainly of people around the university I guess.

all images from capitalstylenow.blogspot.com

 

[genevica]

a few more that I like, but there are loads more on the site

all images from capitalstylenow.blogspot.com

 

[starsrainsunmoon]

Perth: Two Bucks til Wednesday Vintage Sale, Saturday September 26th 2009

source: my photography

 

[Ryan Weld]

^ I'm sorry but those are terrible

 

[Cammy]

A lot of people really really follow trends in australia. Pretty much every girl i see has on denim short shorts or is going for the indie/cardigan i buy all my clothes at an op shop look or is a hardcore/emo kid. Its really quite boring. But i think its cultural in that peoples genuine eccentricitys arent celebrated here and you are almost looked down on a bit for being too dressed up.

 

[Ryan Weld]

I don't think you don't get looked down on per se, more like people look at you and think you dress like **** while you look at them and think exactly the same lol

Summer is around the corner and soon enough everyone will be wearing thongs (flip flops), they are the bane of my existence

 

[ponytrot]

Alot of the girls I know definitely dress up - we're the Alannah Hill type

but when it comes to the beach - why bother? Its all about the surf, sand and well...bikinis and flip-flops/thongs anyway!

I think there's definitely fashionable people, but less of a culture of dressing up and cultivating a personal style rather than just following trends (ie. surf shops, sportsgirl, country road)

 

[starsrainsunmoon]

i find that even the people who do dress kinda quirky all dress in that 'kinda quirky' way if you get what i mean. i think the photographs didn't really do the outfits justice, which is lacking on my behalf and yeah i probably need to improve on that. however, this is australian fashion, irregardless of trends this is how we dress.

 

[emmaj]

^ I'm sorry but those are terrible

i know everyone has there own opinions and different styles of fashion....seriously if you've got better pictures of aussie style..feel free to post them!

 

[Sea Of Love]

I am really bored of Australian style, it seems like everyone that is 'fashionable' dresses in a really hipster way which becomes more of a uniform than individualistic. I think it is good that lots of people support local designers, but sometimes I personally like to see a bit more of a tailored look than what is usually associated with many Australian designers. I suppose it is different strokes for different folks though and not everyone likes how I dress.
What do you al have planned for summer beach season? I'm thinking cute little summer dresses and big floppy hats for me. I just don't know what type of shoes to wear other than thongs/flip flops?

 

[dazzledbyedward]

i feel kind of restricted when dressing especially in Summer, i feel kinda awkward if i dress differently to what is in style, i would love the confidence to dress like Sasha here!. I'll probably jsut be wearing floaty summer dresses i guess, i want some of those wedge like shoes that have bow up fronts. What else can you wear?

 

[Erzébeth II]

ugh, i'm kind of annoyed by some of these pictures. as an australian, it vexes me to see these people apeing the street style in other countries (fashion people in australia are basically doing what the europeans did years ago, or looking like yesteryear's hipsters). and getting it wrong. especially the people doing the loose/slouchy look but their clothes are cut too short/not loose enough so the proportions look stingy and silly. it's so obvious when people don't have the sophistication to put an outfit together, and just copy the total-look from a magazine. i'm generally proud to be australian but i really wish we would develop our own style and do our own thing instead of being inferior imitations. ok i know i sound like a broken record but it's just something that bugs me.

 

[mrsjamesdean]

We suck at fashion.

There I said it.

 

[bliss_]

Summer is around the corner and soon enough everyone will be wearing thongs (flip flops), they are the bane of my existence

 

[dazzledbyedward]

See i think some people in Australia are fashionable, but i think most people really don't care for fashion and perhaps a bit lazy? and therefore go more comfort and easiness over style/fashion, hence the religious wearing of thongs/flipflops - they are comfortable and easy to put on!

It bugs me though - the french are recognized for their class & sophistication, the English for their eccentricity(?), i wish we could be known for something other than boardshort wearing surfer looking people...

 

[sasscam]

I very rarely see anybody around here that I would consider fashionable, though they are here If you look hard. I do however see alot of tacky Supre (that word makes me vomit into my mouth a little) wearing little girls and hipsters who all look the same.
I don't know If it's because we're so far away from everything and less inspired? I'm not sure, either way I'm also bored out of my mind with Aussie fashion.....

 

[allthatglitters]

wow we really shouldn't have a thread.... it's embarrassing.... we are not a fashionable country :|

 

[Sea Of Love]

I do think that it is part of the Australian culture unfortunately. Generally people are very casual and relaxed which leads to the bogan dressing, also if someone is really well dressed others in the workplace or social life tend to get this idea that they are basically wankers and why would you spend more than $100 on an outfit.
Also, people who are 'fashion concious' trend to be very trend focused so with that comes the uniform rather than true individual style that is seen in other countries. I hate Australian fashion.

 

[bliss_]

Without doubt, the thing I hate most about Australian fashion is this idea of elitism and degrading people who dress in 'a typically Australian way'. We aren't French. We aren't American. We are Australian and what makes us unique is OUR OWN style of dress that suits our climate and lifestyle. I love fashion and adore French Chic, but when it comes down to it, when I'm going to the beach with my friends, I'm going to wear a cute little dress with thongs because it suits my lifestyle.
I think there's a big difference between loving fashion and sacrificing life experiences to create 'a look'. Maybe it's just me, but I'd much rather be the girl you sit here and criticize for wearing thongs - and go to the beach to have fun with my friends - than not go at all because I'll get my Lanvin flats dirty.

Although, that said, Supre =

 

[Erzébeth II]

Without doubt, the thing I hate most about Australian fashion is this idea of elitism and degrading people who dress in 'a typically Australian way'.

I don't think dressing 'australian' is a bad thing at all, and we definitely shouldn't try to be something we're not, but I think the average australian could stand to put in a little more thought when getting dressed for the day. Wearing thongs isn't bad per se, it's how you wear them. Put in the effort to find a nice pair in a colour that works with stuff in your wardrobe, that sort of thing. My favourite australian labels are the ones that do good quality casual wear in easy, simple, surf inspired looks.

Also.. I've seen bums in redfern who have style - they obviously aren't wearing anything expensive, and they look kind of dishevelled/grungy, but you look at how they wear a beanie or a shabby shirt and it works because they've got the proportion and fit down.

Oh, and I saw an amazing outfit at town hall station recently. A masculine guy, fairly tall, tanned, in graphic printed boardshorts (black, white lines and aqua gradients.. it wasn't gaudy, though), a crisp white shirt, and a largeish white leather shoulder bag in a classic shape. It looked like a ladies handbag but it worked, and so well! It was pulled together, and it whispered 'fashion' instead of yelling it out loud. Wearing boardies in the city is kind of a fashion faux-pas, or tourist thing, but I think it can be stylish if you do it right - pairing it with a simple top so the outfit doesn't look too busy. And one luxurious, understated accessory as if to say, "yes, I know i'm in the city, and no, I didn't trek here from the beach". Normally in warm weather i'll just wear denim shorts because they work more coherently with my casual stuff, but I think i'll try the statement-boardies look because it's a quintessential australian item (in summer we would get them for christmas and often had family outings at the beach. I gave them up in high school out of embarassment and cultural cringe). Perhaps it's time to give it another go. And billabong has improved over the years..