Australia is very casual, mostly urban, and temperate to desert to tropical climates. We don't really have the tradition of suiting and tailoring that most other western countries do, even warmer climates like Italy. From the 50s-90s, I think it was a pretty common experience for new migrants from southern Europe, Asia and the Middle East to find that they were "overdressed" compared to Anglo Australians. So very few men wear suits every day, though we do have a few odd practices that are the legacy of the British (school uniforms, dressing up for the races, or what judges wear in court). We have strong subcultures (goths, punks, drill, ballroom, eshays) and a really quite decent live music and performing arts scene for the size of the population. We have a massive sporting culture. So I see Australian fashion as being generally quite casual with strong streetwear, subculture and sportswear influences, and generally more shaped by leisure/subculture interests than class and profession. Class is still there in the background but often I wouldn't be able to guess someone's wealth from what they're wearing (especially for men - bit more visible for women).
From my own vantage point (Melbourne, mid-30s), I don't think Australian men's fashion is quite as dire as this sub would have me believe. Yes it's a small market, and it's very hard for designers to survive here. But on an average day of commuting around Melbourne, I'll see some pretty interesting outfits, and then a lot of people who are just clothed and that's fine.
Had to fly back to the U.S. for a funeral and realised I needed a new tie. That's when I learned that ties really aren't a thing here and many stores don't even carry them.
I haven't been to a funeral in Australia, so maybe they are worn for that occasion. Department stores are noticably different where in the U.S. there are large areas devoted to ties where in australia I had to visit a number of stores to even find them and even in a large department store there was a small selection.
The David Jones website shows on the suit set page the common style that I see bankers, real estate agents, and other professionals wear.
I was told the style evolved as it is a hot climate.
This is so true. I haven’t thought about it compared to other countries but now that I think about it makes sense. Even events with dress codes I think it’s always 1-2 levels down in practice in Australia. Eg. Black tie people will wear cocktail, cocktail people will wear casual.
That is a very interesting subject. I'm interested in finding a thread that discussed the anti-snobbery culture. I have noticed that here in Melbourne, there does seem to be a lot less snobbery in the fashion/appearance regard, but have noticed snobbery in discussions about suburbs and definately when participating in the arts scene. In some cases I could be misunderstanding some playful rips.
It comes up in discussion around the concept of tall poppy syndrome, or how to tell who the super rich are in Australia.
Threads like this: https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/16w5iai/what_is_an_example_of_tall_poppy_syndrome_in/
Sorry, I can’t find the last thread I read on Aussie billionaires and how they dress at the moment, but you might be able to with the right search terms.
Yes, I’m surprised that at David Jones it’s now a fairly small selection of ties. I remember when there used to be walls filled with ties, and carousels everywhere. Now - they are dotted about the place with the various brands, and maybe one small wall amongst the general shirt section and a couple of carousels. But nowhere near the large range that used to be sold.
That said - it’s still a good number to choose from. There must’ve been at least 250 different ties on display - just doesn’t compare to years ago when I’m sure it would’ve easily been 1000.
I'm sure I remember big w having a belt/tie rack in the men's section... I'll have to have a look when I shop there next. Last time I noticed that was like 10 years ago though
Yeah, pretty sure Big W doesn't sell ties anymore, but because barely anyone wears them now, almost every op-shop is overflowing with pretty good ties for pretty cheap.
Yes, even for funerals, you'd be lucky to get everyone wearing even just a blazer and some slacks. Ties just simply aren't worn, except by some older people or for formal (prom basically). A decent number of people will wear them for weddings, but many also won't
I'm usually in favour of people dressing up for the occasion that requires it, but I'm not sure I necessarily understand why a funeral needs to be a formal occasion.
The dead person won't know...
And many people at formal events like weddings and funerals, plus many public servants and corporate workers. I see them worn daily. Hence the wide availability of ties for purchase.
I’ve mostly lived in NSW/VIC/ACT ties to work are still a common sight and I’ve never been to a suit/formal menswear shop that doesn’t sell ties. Obviously not everyone wears a tie these days but generally if you’re wearing a blazer there’ll be a tie, if you’re just wearing a shirt and no blazer probably no tie.
Tbh as much as I think ties are an inherently stupid accessory a suit with just a shirt looks unfinished.
Excellent summation aside from the fact that I know that not one of my grandparents would have ventured to Melbourne or even town without a Suit or at least a sports coat and Hat, or the equivalent female dress with not only a hat but gloves too, not to mention a handbag that matched ones shoes. Although the gloves and hat rule became more relaxed over the years.
That’s based on the time they lived, not where they live. Obviously 60 years ago the fashion was more formal for the most part. It has nothing to do with the country they lived in.
Oh interesting, do you think this changed between your grandparents' generation and your parents' generation then? Roughly when would you say that is? Like circa 1975?
My feeling is that time and place are both factors: fashion everywhere is much more casual now than it was 50 years ago, but Australia is also more casual than many other places, and has been for a few decades now. In most other countries, people worry about appearing disrespectful by being underdressed - in Australia, people are more anxious that they'll seem pretentious or full of themselves if they're overdressed. Of course there are exceptions, but as a generalisation. I think it's connected to class, masculinity, cultural cringe, tall poppy syndrome, and specifically a desire to distinguish ourselves from the UK and US.
Both my parents as too my InLaws were/are always well dressed. But no more so than the rest of their cohort.
My father always wore a collar and appropriate accruement and my mother always looked well presented. I don’t consider their style of dress to be uncommon amongst the boomer generation.
This is an excellent response. I dress very casually but still put together here but I really notice it when I travel to other countries, because my smart casual looks like it translates to “slob” comparatively.
My rugby club always shows up to games in an RB Sellars collared button up shirt embroidered with the club logo, custom team ties and dress pants/jeans and dress shoes/dressy boots, and it’s not like we’re a wealthy club either, we’re just Albury but we make a point to be classy, it does seem normal to at least go with an embroidered collared shirt and jeans for rugby union though, but could just be our area
With a very obvious comb-over to complete the look
(Not hating on comb-overs, you do you bb, but it's hilarious how carbon copy this exact look is)
Actually reminds me of one of my favourite teachers 🥹
Yes please! Way more liveable than full length suits. Though I’ve always preferred the khaki Parks and Wildlife version. May need a new twist for the 2020s; perhaps a bit more ease in those very close-cut shorts….
For school teachers and bank clerks everywhere! In the 1980’s there were still those who held onto it against all sense and reason. In 1989 I had en English university maths lecturer who had the short sleeved business shirt with tie, paired with the belted suit shorts, long dress socks with sandals. Horror doesn’t even begin to describe it as 35 years later I can still remember…
The heat. I personally check the fabric before I buy to make sure it’s breathable. If it looks cute but it’s polyester I’ll pass out with heat stroke in QLD. Also because of the heat/beach, fashion tends to be more casual.
Bruh everything has polyester in it 😔😢 I usually go for linen or wool. Since both can be good for heat. Now I hearing ylu saying wool in heat yes it's true wool pants can work in heat aswell wool tunics on their own or a wool flannel on its own provided it's a thin wool
Girls dress for other girls, guys dress for comfort
Pockets of men and women dress extremely well and others just don’t care. I don’t think that’s much different to any other big coastal city (like LA)
When it’s mid-20s in Sydney in winter (80F) and 25-30+ (80-100F in summer) there’s only so much you can do
I’d sort of say nothing.
BUT of course there are unique things.
The Akubra hat for example. The Driza-bone. RM Williams boots are an iconic staple of the country.
RM Williams boots feature heavily in corporate Australia (for some unfathomable reason); but Akubras and Driza-bones are reserved for country folk and tourists.
Other than that, we wear what everyone else wears - t-shirts, jeans, button-down shirts, suits, chinos, trackies…
Thongs (flip-flops) as day-wear is pretty iconic in Australia. Shorts are more prevalent because of the weather. Linen ought to be more prevalent in the weather, but isn’t because it’s comparatively expensive here.
What else? I’m sure people have other, better thoughts than mine.
The biggest one for me was the prevalence of baggy linen on men. I love it and I haven't seen it anywhere else to the same extent. Closest is probably Southern Europe, but even then I'd say it's not AS prevalent.
Not so sure about men's clothing, I shop in women's dept
Depends on your budget, but I'd personally try Target/Uniqlo/Myer. Decent quality for pretty low price points
https://www.myer.com.au/p/industrie-the-hawkins-linen-short-sleeve-shirt-in-wheat-navy
https://www.target.com.au/p/european-linen-long-sleeve-shirt/67850631
I also really like Thrills & Afends. Both Aus brands (geared towards younger demos but I still order from them as An Old)
https://thrills.co/collections/mens-shirts
https://afends.com/collections/mens-dress-shirts
https://academybrand.com/collections/linen-shirts
I live in Brisbane and am SO grateful for the explosion of linen in fashion over the past 5-10 years
I almost exclusively wear linen now. It's insane that I used to dress in jeans or whatever was the accessible norm
It's revoltingly hot and humid like 3/4 of the year and we're finally dressing for it
LONG LIVE LINEN
I live in Brisbane and my wardrobe (outside of work attire) consists primarily of linen shirts and shorts + leather boat shoes for summer, and Japanese raw denim jeans and jackets + Japanese flannels + GYW boots for winter. Linen is absolutely mandatory here with the humidity IMHO!
Yeah I refuse to wear synthetic fibres of any kind, unless it's for work or exercise
(I'm a labourer so wear heavy duty quick-dry shorts & UPF 50 long-sleeve shirts etc)
Jeans or leggings with flannels/lightweight wool sweaters etc in winter
Cotton dresses in Spring/Summer
& my trusty black denim jacket that goes with everything
SO much more comfortable wearing natural fibres
I'm very much the same, I'm an industrial maintenance contractor so I need elastain in my pants for the amount of time I spend in my hands and knees haha.
Otherwise 100% cotton made in Japan or USA for all my nice clothes.
My brother is a MASSIVE clothing nerd (especially vintage jeans etc) & has suggested I invest in Japanese or American raw denim
I'm a student and on more of a Target/Uniqlo budget atm, maybe one day lol
I like brands like Superdry for basics. Quality, thick tshirts
It's so satisfying buying an item of clothing you know will last forever, just need the willpower to save for it 🥲
The thing about the likes of RM Williams, Akubra and Driza-bone is that they’re just Australian brands of styles that exist globally. Like there is nothing uniquely Australian about Chelsea boots, felt hats and oilskin coats.
> disproportionate preference
i.e. Other countries do NOT wear chelsea boots as much as we do, from the building site to the boardroom and everywhere in between, although they certainly wear them.
I worked in the UK for 10 years and the US for 6… they absolutely do. Is there anything to back up your certainty or are you just grasping on to anything for an identity
Why are so many north Americans wearing Australian Blundstone Chelsea Boots then? Surely if they are global they'd just get local ones.
It's like saying there's nothing French about a beret as they sell berets everywhere.
>RM Williams boots feature heavily in corporate Australia (for some unfathomable reason)
They're higher end footwear. Neat, practical, hardwearing. They can last for decades without needing to be replaced, making them an investment. And they look good.
It’s more that on the whole I feel that people shouldn’t be wearing boots with suits. Shoes are better. I don’t quite understand where the Australian penchant for RM’s comes from - not that there’s anything wrong with them. They’re great boots indeed. Just don’t get why they are such a “default.”
Hard agree.
Boots are great, dress pants are great.
Boots and dress pants are IMO not a good look.
The pants never taper nicely, can get bunched up at the back of the boot. Boots tend to suck the pants in at shin and ankle area.
Dress pants go with dress shoes. Classic look.
no, I’d say $600 farmer cosplay boots in the boardroom (or fine dining??) is pretty specific to Australia. There are other styles and other brands which are also fashionable, neat, practical, and nearly as hardwearing - I really don’t think you’d find a solid 1/3rd of the office men wearing these (specific pair of) boots anywhere else in the world.
It's because corporate types went to private schools where the farming boarders inspire banjo Paterson esque longing for the bush amongst the day boys.
Each city has different looks and stands out in different ways:
* Sydney: Slim fit suit with hem cut above the ankle showing off the RM's tag on the boot, Brazilian backpacker wearing a t-shirt two sizes too small, the blazer and t-shirt combo, full David Jones outfit NPC (Common Projects, Saba chinos, Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirt, "discounted" Scotch and Soda blazer) , the everything must be slim-fit bloke with "slim-tapered" chinos from Industrie and international student covered head to toe in designer clothing with logos.
* Melbourne: All black everything, stylish accessory wearing like an Acne studios scarf or beret, henley t-shirts, loose fitting clothes, museum boutique fit, European fashion show archival piece paired with fast-fashion piece, long leather or wool overcoat with mismatched thin layers underneath and vegan t-shirt enthusiasts.
* Adelaide: Slim shorts pulled up and worn high with a tight fitting t-shirt tucked into the shorts, boat shoes, nudie jeans, loafers with white socks, carhartt and zara in the same outfit and vintage thrift outfit.
* Perth: black track-pants with nike runners from JD sports, Metallica or any late 20th century rock or metal band graphic tee with shorts and thongs, Uniqlo U oversized t-shirt in the wrong size, vintage surfwear brand graphic tee with jorts, short sleeve oversized button down shirt from cotton on or universal studios with light blue jeans and white airforce 1's and impulse last minute local mall shop when there's an event to go to.
* The list goes on.
Australian fashion varies greatly from city to city making it hard to define what it is. From what I can see Australian fashion is unrefined just like it's culture. In Australia, people will drink red wine out of a coffee mug. They go to the supermarket in bare feet. They go to the corner store in pyjamas. People here don't care much about fashion and the history behind it. They just want to foster a sense of belonging by wearing whatever is trendy in the world, we always seem to be between 6 months and two years behind European, American (and increasingly asian) fashion.
Melbourne is accurate for the CBD. Venture into the suburbs and it's athleisure aplenty, with socio-economical status dictating the brands you wear - from Lulu Lemon yoga pants and Kathmandu puffer jackets, to Kmart sweatpants.
Thanks for the insights. It does seem like there are Australia-wide trends but I still think Melbournians tend to dress better than some of the more isolated cities in Au.
Western Australia is the richest state. Not all of us are meth heads. In fact most of us aren’t. We can afford nice clothing. Majority of men in my age bracket 30 are working professionals. They wear tan chino pants, Aquila shoes and a button down shirt with a tie going out and to work. In their 20s they have a stylised mullet, the 70s stach and wear chino shorts and a on trend brand tee.
Girls typically wear lots of linen pants, lots of kookai and birks.
Interesting comment. Perth could very well be the arguably worst dressed city in Australia. The only thing changing that is the raw talent of local designers who showcase amazing creations. That combined with the city being the birthplace of popular second-hand markets which are happening all over the country now. These markets help to foster an appreciation of unique and higher quality + trendier garments.
You've completely ignored Sydney's inner west fashion which is more representative of our fashion outside of CBD suits in other areas.
We've got some pretty trendy people out there.
It’s comical that everyone shouts that Melburnians wear all black - living here, it’s quite the opposite. Gorman and Variety Hour were founded here and they have so much colour! Compared with other cities in the world, Melbourne just doesn’t stand out.
The Melbourne summation you mentioned is so stereotypical and not even true. I travel across the city every day to work in south Yarra and see all types of clothing and fashion . Mostly I would say the women working corporate who are following trends dress the same as what I see in Sydney and overseas - wide leg pants, blazers, and then a combo of different tops, shirts, jumpers.
I'd say a general push toward lighter, looser, and more breathable garments typically characterises Australian clothing. Cotton, linen and viscose dresses are pretty common, as well as soft pastel colours to reflect the sun. Aesthetics range from surfy to athleisurewear, to bohemian and sun-swept and looser streetwear garments.
My only contribution to this thread are the MEN.
There are many well-articulated answers to this question. But the reason why we face such a horrible sense of fashion here is that the men just do not care much about presentation. u/felixsapiens said it best, "we wear what everyone else wears - t-shirts, jeans, button-down shirts, suits, chinos, trackies".
There's no originality in the styling.
I think that’s rather missing the point though of the question, isn’t it?
I mean - everywhere in the world has “levels” of fashion. Homeless people are always unshaven with a stinky overcoat. Low socio-economic wear track pants and hoodies for pretty much everything, even if they were meeting the King. Office slaves wear shirts (white, light blue or, for some reason, light pink and yellow), and badly fitting pants. Everyone wears Uniqlo cos it’s all the rage and cheap, even though they are the sort of clothes that a 19-year-old out of school thinks “wow they look great” but a 30-year-old in a real job should not be wearing… Then label fiends wear Armani, Paul Smith, whatever, just like they do everywhere else in the world. People wear band t-shirts. And people with their own style wear their own shit. Dye their hair. Wear nose rings. Wear goth styles. Whatever - these things are the same the world over.
So what is DIFFERENT in Australia?
I’d say the only two things I can think of are “National dress” - in the same way that the Dutch have clogs, we have Akubras. It doesn’t mean many people wear clogs or Akubras in daily life, but it does define a national identity. (And there is a lot of Akubra-wearing in regional Australia.)
The other is simply natural responses to climate. We don’t wear lots of layers, as another commenter posted. We aren’t big on winter coats (though everyone still wants a North Face jacket for some reason.) Because it’s hot, we do a fair bit of shorts, short sleeved shirts, thongs, singlets, in a way that other colder countries probably don’t do.
Beyond that I struggle to come up with any differences.
Let's create a podcast and we could share our thoughts on the cultural differences between fashion and style.
I didn't miss the point. Considering this sub is MFA - it points to how men define their sense of fashion. And let me tell you, as a man from a Caribbean Island who has lived in NYC (with lots of fashion currency) and now live in Melbourne, I see men in Australia simply miss the score with styling.
I understand how the external factors can force you to fall into the same dress (shorts & t-shirt) but this can't be the go too every day. Some, most men do not make the effort to present themselves differently from the other. It's like it is too hard to just try something different. Most Australians just lack the ability to be confident and/to present themselves in a unique sense of style that defines their personality different from other guy.
I could walk the street of Melbourne tomorrow, and I can assure you that I will find multiple men wearing Chelsea boots + Chinos + Polo or Button-down + Outwear Jacket (Patogonia/Northface/MacPac).
Chelsea boots have long made it to the city from its origins of the farm lands to be paired with casuals (trousers & top) and then straight to the Swiss Alps or Nepal. Look at the combination.
Outerwear does not belong in the CITY - especially as you mentioned, " it does not get that cold here". The above could easily be layered with a blazer of any weight fabric to get a clean masculine look. But Noooo. We out here comparing Goose Down or Up.
Hey, not what is being discussed but because you mentioned the word podcast. Avery Trufelman does a really interesting podcast about fashion and clothes. In terms of men’s fashion I found the series on preppy fashion interesting. It basically went through the history of preppy fashion from the Ivy League look, post war Japan, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and the links to street fashion.
In Melbourne we have unpredictable weather, so you'll see people wearing layered clothing but usually just 2 layers at most. It's odd to see videos where people put on a shirt, sweater, blazer/vest and overcoat.
Migrated from the U.S. a little more than ten years ago and while there are seasonal and annual fashion changes, generally there are a lot of men that wear the cut of shorts much higher than in the U.S. In the U.S. it appears more common to have shorts cut above the knee even bathers when at the beach. In Australia it appears mens shorts are above the thighs including tradies.
After reading the other responses, I did think about what the purpose of a specific Australian MFA subreddit was.
For me, the main reasons have always been
1. Available options - we aren't in the US where you can walk in and try a pair of Allen Edmonds shoes or an Arket shirt
2. Practicality - I bought a pair of Iron Rangers back in 2014 because that was what all the forum recommendations pushed me towards. They're heavy, don't match the 90% of my wardrobe and got almost zero use over 10 years. They really don't suit the Australian lifestyle and most boot wearing men in capital cities would default towards a pair of RM Williams instead
3. Online shopping, exchange rates and shipping fees - people shopping from Australia have to contend with these factors when finding the best option.
We wear shorts more. Shorts have never been hard to style for us but it seems like the rest of the world can’t get the hang of it if I was to generalise
I'm sorry what? Almost Every man and his dog where I've been is wearing ill-fitting shorts with most of them being activewear shorts with every. single. outfit.
It's disappointing to say the least.
There’s nothing stylish about the way we wear shorts. They’re just fuckin shorts. Unless you consider the ubiquitous usage of them to be some sort of styling
As someone who is from Europe, the men’s fashion here is just awful. Shopping is a personal nightmare for me.
Local mid range brands are have all similar stuff that is over priced and poor quality, seems not much better than H&M.
Might as well join all the people that have given up on dressing stylish and wear baggy pants and a hoody.
Agreed. One thing I’ve noticed is just a homogenisation of a few looks that everyone wears. When I lived in Europe and the US it was piss easy to pick an Aussie out of a crowd. Individualism fashion just doesn’t exist here, and the shopping options are shite
What are you talking about? It’s EXTREMELY easy to shop on a budget and still dress with a lot more style than the average Australian bogan in shorts, a basic t-shirt and flip-flops. You just gotta get creative. Shopping online is a great way to hunt for a bargain in a range of styles you wouldn’t necessarily find in the local department stores.
It doesn’t have to be though. You don’t have to dress like everyone else and you certainly don’t have to but from our retail stores but if you did buy from them, there are other options besides K-mart and Big W. You have options. It’s not that difficult. It’s also well within your budget if you know where to go
K mart and Big W, what are you talking about? No one mentioned those.
Calibre/Reiss are examples of good mid range options but the lines are extremely limited and there is else outside of that I’ve managed to find, unless you’re willing to pay $350-$700 for single designer items that at least looks quality or willing to look at cheaper prices and quality maybe Cos or Zara.
The more well known international brand shops have limited lines in places like Hugo Boss/Hilfiger/Lacoste if your into branded clothes
The other Aussie brands around; Industry/Academy Brand/Country Road/Yd/Connor etc all looks crap and might aswell be H&M or Uniqlo.
Much better for options for men’s in other countries (See the other comments in my thread).
I love Australia it’s the best place to live, but the fashion is dire.
As someone from Europe, I completely agree. Been living in Aus for 2 yrs and will forever hold on to my clothes I brought from Germany. Haven’t found stuff similar quality wise, it’s a shame
I’d say in contemporary Australia, our defining feature is lateness. We get everything a season late. It’s no secret that the northern hemisphere runs the fashion industry. So whatever is new or popular for summer in Europe, we’ll be wearing in December.
With 90% of the earths population living in the northern hemisphere and 54% of that being HEAVILY centred in the south East Asian countries like the eastern half of China, India, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and much of Indonesia…umm, yes, they’re going to be ahead of us in the fashion industry 🙂
I guess what I meant to say was “duh” but I used too many words. It felt like you were stating the obvious. More people = more minds working in the fashion industry = more designs being pumped out. Of course we’re going to be late.
I love that our fashion style here in Melbourne can be anything. I wear anything from preppy style, western style when I’m out of the city, resort style when I’m by the beach, country style when in the high country. The secret is to own your style and not give a shit what others think but be seamless in your environment. Luckily Melbourne has 4 seasons in one day so outfits are always dynamic. For instance I was at the dawn service in Mornington this morning wearing an Akubra and a Drizabone for the squally weather we had this morning, as it warmed up a little and the rain pissed off I had underneath a wool Sportscraft jacket and Neuw jeans which went well with the RM’s I was wearing, easy transition to lunch this afternoon.
You can be any airport in the world. Any season.. and it's almost a sure thing. The guy walking in flip flops or barefoot in the Airport will be an Aussie.
Add in a Bogan mullet and it's a sure thing. Two Aussie fashion choices that combined are seldom seen in any other country... since the 1970's.
Tbh I like our style. Yeah it’s not New York or Shanghai and trends die a lingering death here but I think the casualness blunts the edges of butt ugly trends and subcultural styles you get in other parts of the world.
We’re no Pakistan, but we dress ok.
As far as men's fashion in Brisbane goes, there is no fashion. It's just oversized tees, dirty sneakers, boganwear or basic business attire with bargain-basement "leather" shoes. The women are generally substantially better dressed.
I'm into Japanese and American heritage clothing (selvedge denim, gyw leather shoes, handmade clothing etc) and I could count on 1 hand how many people I've come across who have similar taste.
Come on mate, you posted on r/rawdenim wearing a bintang singlet, you fit right in here!
Brisbane used to have a great independent/boutique offering but it was killed off by fast fashion and online shopping. We lack retail options and it’s too hot for 6 months of the year, so that dictates a lot.
There are some of us left though…
The training staples! Beats training in my hi vis ha! Fortunately they don't leave the warehouse. Unfortunately you're bang on, we have very little in the way of quality retail outlets here, it's all just mall brand stuff. And Australia really lacks online retailers as well.
If you really want to know, my mum brought 2 of them back from Bali for me around 10 years ago. I didn't have to heart to tell her I can't wear that out in public, so they've lived in my gym as my training shirts for that time for when I don't want to train in filthy hi vis work clothes.
Melbourne has a bunch of quality stores catering to this, Urahara, PPHH, Havn, Up There, Corlection… I imagine Brisbane for the most part is too hot and humid for a lot of the options?
Having just had a massive melanoma removed from my arm, I can honestly say how frustrating it is that you can't find adequate SPF clothing in Australia. Trying to find long sleeve summer clothing with any sort of SPF is near impossible in Australia.
As a 30yo female in Brisbane, I’d say that we wear clothes that are comfortable. It’s very casual.
When I go to Europe for holidays, I find that my style is just about the same as the locals there. Casual is just shorts, linen or cotton top, sandals or sneakers, or even a summer dress some times.
In the US though, last time I visited was 2 years ago and it was during winter. Americans love designer logos (and you can tell sometimes that it is fake - like the large LV or Gucci on their belts or handbags). I noticed this in the East side of the US. I do love designer clothing as well but I don’t think Australians like the “in your face” design - it’s more like the quiet luxury vibe here.
That’s just my personal opinion though. Don’t fight me. Hahahahaha!
the only thing i’ve noticed these days is you walk out the door and everyone has the exact same style. people are all starting to dress the same and it’s quite sad really
Lot of comments saying Aussie have no fashion sense but whenever I see someone in long boardies with a shark/crocodile tooth necklace, I know they’re European
Basically,
When you are a teen (the age you start really caring about how you look), you fall into a few trends depending on your circle and disposition:
- sporty (active wear or sports clothes for guys)
- goth/emo/punk (whatever they call it nowadays)
- nerdy (usually overweight female or overweight/scrawny male and some kind of anime or other cartoon type of crap on a shirt)
- jeans/tshirt (I like to call normies)
- hippy/bohemian (not that common except for some parts)
When you get older like college age, there will be some girls who will basically go full on slutty style but that’s not too common, especially now it seems to be going out of style. The rest either go indie, hipster, bohemian, stay normie, few will go goth/emo and many will stay nerdy if they are of the nerdy disposition. Many will just continue to wear active wear.
Finally, once women have kids, a lot of them will stop giving an eff and let their body go and dress like shit. Some will even do this before having kids. Some still keep putting an effort but it is still less effort than most women in the world put.
Eventually, as women approach menopause many give zero effs and just wear ugly t-shirts draped over the bodies they stopped caring about decades ago. Some still put an effort and wear eccentric over-priced boutique clothes and dark lippie.
It’s changing though with the young people. They are into brands and looks. In my days…. Millennial we didn’t have the pressure. All you needed was a phone with Bluetooth and going to Thursday night shopping was a thing. Now they need iPhone and adidas. The young people are changing the look of Australia
I think this question is too broad. Melbourne fashion is distinctive in that it is black, black, black. Our idea of a pop of colour is a touch of monochrome. Never have I seen such a lack of colour, even in Antwerp Belgium where black minimalism/ monochrome is so strong. We do try to make forays with a dash of electric blue or crimson now and then. But let’s be honest, how long does that last before we wrap ourselves back up in the timeless elegance of our dark wardrobe. I know other states have their own vibe going on. I won’t try and define them but will say I’m in awe of Sydney siders easy relationship with colour. All I can contribute is that Melbourne brings the noir to global fashion. An element that will never go out of style.
Australia is very casual, mostly urban, and temperate to desert to tropical climates. We don't really have the tradition of suiting and tailoring that most other western countries do, even warmer climates like Italy. From the 50s-90s, I think it was a pretty common experience for new migrants from southern Europe, Asia and the Middle East to find that they were "overdressed" compared to Anglo Australians. So very few men wear suits every day, though we do have a few odd practices that are the legacy of the British (school uniforms, dressing up for the races, or what judges wear in court). We have strong subcultures (goths, punks, drill, ballroom, eshays) and a really quite decent live music and performing arts scene for the size of the population. We have a massive sporting culture. So I see Australian fashion as being generally quite casual with strong streetwear, subculture and sportswear influences, and generally more shaped by leisure/subculture interests than class and profession. Class is still there in the background but often I wouldn't be able to guess someone's wealth from what they're wearing (especially for men - bit more visible for women). From my own vantage point (Melbourne, mid-30s), I don't think Australian men's fashion is quite as dire as this sub would have me believe. Yes it's a small market, and it's very hard for designers to survive here. But on an average day of commuting around Melbourne, I'll see some pretty interesting outfits, and then a lot of people who are just clothed and that's fine.
Incredibly accurate
Totally. I found men in the US dressed much worse than Melbourne.
Had to fly back to the U.S. for a funeral and realised I needed a new tie. That's when I learned that ties really aren't a thing here and many stores don't even carry them.
Wtf? What do people wear with their suit?
The style is a suit without a tie. Generally men leave the top buttons open.
Even to a funeral? Wild.
I haven't been to a funeral in Australia, so maybe they are worn for that occasion. Department stores are noticably different where in the U.S. there are large areas devoted to ties where in australia I had to visit a number of stores to even find them and even in a large department store there was a small selection. The David Jones website shows on the suit set page the common style that I see bankers, real estate agents, and other professionals wear. I was told the style evolved as it is a hot climate.
I don’t think it’s about climate first. I think it’s our anti-snobbery culture first and climate second.
This is so true. I haven’t thought about it compared to other countries but now that I think about it makes sense. Even events with dress codes I think it’s always 1-2 levels down in practice in Australia. Eg. Black tie people will wear cocktail, cocktail people will wear casual.
That is a very interesting subject. I'm interested in finding a thread that discussed the anti-snobbery culture. I have noticed that here in Melbourne, there does seem to be a lot less snobbery in the fashion/appearance regard, but have noticed snobbery in discussions about suburbs and definately when participating in the arts scene. In some cases I could be misunderstanding some playful rips.
It comes up in discussion around the concept of tall poppy syndrome, or how to tell who the super rich are in Australia. Threads like this: https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/16w5iai/what_is_an_example_of_tall_poppy_syndrome_in/ Sorry, I can’t find the last thread I read on Aussie billionaires and how they dress at the moment, but you might be able to with the right search terms.
Yes, I’m surprised that at David Jones it’s now a fairly small selection of ties. I remember when there used to be walls filled with ties, and carousels everywhere. Now - they are dotted about the place with the various brands, and maybe one small wall amongst the general shirt section and a couple of carousels. But nowhere near the large range that used to be sold. That said - it’s still a good number to choose from. There must’ve been at least 250 different ties on display - just doesn’t compare to years ago when I’m sure it would’ve easily been 1000.
I'm sure I remember big w having a belt/tie rack in the men's section... I'll have to have a look when I shop there next. Last time I noticed that was like 10 years ago though
Yeah, pretty sure Big W doesn't sell ties anymore, but because barely anyone wears them now, almost every op-shop is overflowing with pretty good ties for pretty cheap.
Yes, even for funerals, you'd be lucky to get everyone wearing even just a blazer and some slacks. Ties just simply aren't worn, except by some older people or for formal (prom basically). A decent number of people will wear them for weddings, but many also won't
Funerals in Australia are often just button-up shirt and pants, or even more casual. Especially in summer!
Last 2 funerals I've been to dead ass jeans and a tshirt and wasn't out of place may be different for more upper class funerals 🤷🏻♀️
I'm usually in favour of people dressing up for the occasion that requires it, but I'm not sure I necessarily understand why a funeral needs to be a formal occasion. The dead person won't know...
The only people who wear ties in Australia are politicians, judges, lawyers, real estate agents, and pastors.
And many people at formal events like weddings and funerals, plus many public servants and corporate workers. I see them worn daily. Hence the wide availability of ties for purchase.
Most corporate workers and public servants don't wear ties in Brisbane. They're even becoming less common for formals and weddings.
I’ve mostly lived in NSW/VIC/ACT ties to work are still a common sight and I’ve never been to a suit/formal menswear shop that doesn’t sell ties. Obviously not everyone wears a tie these days but generally if you’re wearing a blazer there’ll be a tie, if you’re just wearing a shirt and no blazer probably no tie. Tbh as much as I think ties are an inherently stupid accessory a suit with just a shirt looks unfinished.
Excellent summation aside from the fact that I know that not one of my grandparents would have ventured to Melbourne or even town without a Suit or at least a sports coat and Hat, or the equivalent female dress with not only a hat but gloves too, not to mention a handbag that matched ones shoes. Although the gloves and hat rule became more relaxed over the years.
That’s based on the time they lived, not where they live. Obviously 60 years ago the fashion was more formal for the most part. It has nothing to do with the country they lived in.
Exactly my point. Everyone dressed formally *not just Europeans* as OP stated.
Oh interesting, do you think this changed between your grandparents' generation and your parents' generation then? Roughly when would you say that is? Like circa 1975? My feeling is that time and place are both factors: fashion everywhere is much more casual now than it was 50 years ago, but Australia is also more casual than many other places, and has been for a few decades now. In most other countries, people worry about appearing disrespectful by being underdressed - in Australia, people are more anxious that they'll seem pretentious or full of themselves if they're overdressed. Of course there are exceptions, but as a generalisation. I think it's connected to class, masculinity, cultural cringe, tall poppy syndrome, and specifically a desire to distinguish ourselves from the UK and US.
Both my parents as too my InLaws were/are always well dressed. But no more so than the rest of their cohort. My father always wore a collar and appropriate accruement and my mother always looked well presented. I don’t consider their style of dress to be uncommon amongst the boomer generation.
This is a good comment.
What a great answer
This is an excellent response. I dress very casually but still put together here but I really notice it when I travel to other countries, because my smart casual looks like it translates to “slob” comparatively.
My rugby club always shows up to games in an RB Sellars collared button up shirt embroidered with the club logo, custom team ties and dress pants/jeans and dress shoes/dressy boots, and it’s not like we’re a wealthy club either, we’re just Albury but we make a point to be classy, it does seem normal to at least go with an embroidered collared shirt and jeans for rugby union though, but could just be our area
We really cornered the suit shorts and knee-height sock market a few decades ago. It's all been downhill since.
I call this look "school headmaster".
Angry bus driver
Don Dunstan's pink shorts
With a very obvious comb-over to complete the look (Not hating on comb-overs, you do you bb, but it's hilarious how carbon copy this exact look is) Actually reminds me of one of my favourite teachers 🥹
are you talking about angus young or are you saying that aussies dressed like that i cant actually tell
[This type of dress](https://i.imgur.com/WAGKqSQ.jpeg) was high fashion in Australia back in the day.
Bring it back!!!
Yes please! Way more liveable than full length suits. Though I’ve always preferred the khaki Parks and Wildlife version. May need a new twist for the 2020s; perhaps a bit more ease in those very close-cut shorts….
OHHH ok i thought you meant like schoolboy outfits idk why i thought that 😭
This looks like something my pa would wear in his earlier years
Angus young wore a school uniform. He is talking about short suits
yeah but for some reason i thought he was talking abt a schoolboy uniform so i thought of him
Understandable. The short suit is questionable at best
Ah, but did you encounter the safari suit version of the short suit? De rigour in 1970’s QLD. With bone coloured dress socks and shiny brown shoes
Hahahahaha thankfully too young for that
For school teachers and bank clerks everywhere! In the 1980’s there were still those who held onto it against all sense and reason. In 1989 I had en English university maths lecturer who had the short sleeved business shirt with tie, paired with the belted suit shorts, long dress socks with sandals. Horror doesn’t even begin to describe it as 35 years later I can still remember…
Omg your bringing back memories of a primary school teacher who was lovey but he wore that monstrosity!!
The heat. I personally check the fabric before I buy to make sure it’s breathable. If it looks cute but it’s polyester I’ll pass out with heat stroke in QLD. Also because of the heat/beach, fashion tends to be more casual.
Some synthetic fabrics can be extraordinarily good and rare. This being said, they are harder to find in regular shops.
Bruh everything has polyester in it 😔😢 I usually go for linen or wool. Since both can be good for heat. Now I hearing ylu saying wool in heat yes it's true wool pants can work in heat aswell wool tunics on their own or a wool flannel on its own provided it's a thin wool
Girls dress for other girls, guys dress for comfort Pockets of men and women dress extremely well and others just don’t care. I don’t think that’s much different to any other big coastal city (like LA) When it’s mid-20s in Sydney in winter (80F) and 25-30+ (80-100F in summer) there’s only so much you can do
Less layers.
I’d sort of say nothing. BUT of course there are unique things. The Akubra hat for example. The Driza-bone. RM Williams boots are an iconic staple of the country. RM Williams boots feature heavily in corporate Australia (for some unfathomable reason); but Akubras and Driza-bones are reserved for country folk and tourists. Other than that, we wear what everyone else wears - t-shirts, jeans, button-down shirts, suits, chinos, trackies… Thongs (flip-flops) as day-wear is pretty iconic in Australia. Shorts are more prevalent because of the weather. Linen ought to be more prevalent in the weather, but isn’t because it’s comparatively expensive here. What else? I’m sure people have other, better thoughts than mine.
The biggest one for me was the prevalence of baggy linen on men. I love it and I haven't seen it anywhere else to the same extent. Closest is probably Southern Europe, but even then I'd say it's not AS prevalent.
Maybe I go to the wrong places, but I’m always surprised how little linen I see in Australia… where are all these linen fiends hanging out?!
At my house lol
Any chance you could tell me where to start looking for this sort of thing? My old wardrobe is reaching its expiry and I am feeling fashionably lost
Not so sure about men's clothing, I shop in women's dept Depends on your budget, but I'd personally try Target/Uniqlo/Myer. Decent quality for pretty low price points https://www.myer.com.au/p/industrie-the-hawkins-linen-short-sleeve-shirt-in-wheat-navy https://www.target.com.au/p/european-linen-long-sleeve-shirt/67850631 I also really like Thrills & Afends. Both Aus brands (geared towards younger demos but I still order from them as An Old) https://thrills.co/collections/mens-shirts https://afends.com/collections/mens-dress-shirts https://academybrand.com/collections/linen-shirts
That’s a fantastic response. Thank you very much! I’ll have a dig.
I live in Brisbane and am SO grateful for the explosion of linen in fashion over the past 5-10 years I almost exclusively wear linen now. It's insane that I used to dress in jeans or whatever was the accessible norm It's revoltingly hot and humid like 3/4 of the year and we're finally dressing for it LONG LIVE LINEN
I live in Brisbane and my wardrobe (outside of work attire) consists primarily of linen shirts and shorts + leather boat shoes for summer, and Japanese raw denim jeans and jackets + Japanese flannels + GYW boots for winter. Linen is absolutely mandatory here with the humidity IMHO!
Yeah I refuse to wear synthetic fibres of any kind, unless it's for work or exercise (I'm a labourer so wear heavy duty quick-dry shorts & UPF 50 long-sleeve shirts etc) Jeans or leggings with flannels/lightweight wool sweaters etc in winter Cotton dresses in Spring/Summer & my trusty black denim jacket that goes with everything SO much more comfortable wearing natural fibres
I'm very much the same, I'm an industrial maintenance contractor so I need elastain in my pants for the amount of time I spend in my hands and knees haha. Otherwise 100% cotton made in Japan or USA for all my nice clothes.
My brother is a MASSIVE clothing nerd (especially vintage jeans etc) & has suggested I invest in Japanese or American raw denim I'm a student and on more of a Target/Uniqlo budget atm, maybe one day lol I like brands like Superdry for basics. Quality, thick tshirts It's so satisfying buying an item of clothing you know will last forever, just need the willpower to save for it 🥲
I work in horticulture/landscaping and also spend a lot of time on my knees lol
Thanks. I make my own linen cargo pants, didn't realise it was an Aussie thing.
The thing about the likes of RM Williams, Akubra and Driza-bone is that they’re just Australian brands of styles that exist globally. Like there is nothing uniquely Australian about Chelsea boots, felt hats and oilskin coats.
Having a disproportionate preference for them is uniquely Australian.
How many people do you see wearing felt hats and oilskin coats?
I notice you didn't mention chelsea boots, a distinctly Australian preference.
Uhhh, Chelsea boots are absolutely not distinct to Australia lol. People wear them everywhere
> disproportionate preference i.e. Other countries do NOT wear chelsea boots as much as we do, from the building site to the boardroom and everywhere in between, although they certainly wear them.
I worked in the UK for 10 years and the US for 6… they absolutely do. Is there anything to back up your certainty or are you just grasping on to anything for an identity
Judging by the boots available in rdr2 in America they don't.
Yeah.. maybe get outside a bit
Being semi-rural, fucking heaps.
Why are so many north Americans wearing Australian Blundstone Chelsea Boots then? Surely if they are global they'd just get local ones. It's like saying there's nothing French about a beret as they sell berets everywhere.
>RM Williams boots feature heavily in corporate Australia (for some unfathomable reason) They're higher end footwear. Neat, practical, hardwearing. They can last for decades without needing to be replaced, making them an investment. And they look good.
It’s more that on the whole I feel that people shouldn’t be wearing boots with suits. Shoes are better. I don’t quite understand where the Australian penchant for RM’s comes from - not that there’s anything wrong with them. They’re great boots indeed. Just don’t get why they are such a “default.”
Hard agree. Boots are great, dress pants are great. Boots and dress pants are IMO not a good look. The pants never taper nicely, can get bunched up at the back of the boot. Boots tend to suck the pants in at shin and ankle area. Dress pants go with dress shoes. Classic look.
no, I’d say $600 farmer cosplay boots in the boardroom (or fine dining??) is pretty specific to Australia. There are other styles and other brands which are also fashionable, neat, practical, and nearly as hardwearing - I really don’t think you’d find a solid 1/3rd of the office men wearing these (specific pair of) boots anywhere else in the world.
It's because corporate types went to private schools where the farming boarders inspire banjo Paterson esque longing for the bush amongst the day boys.
Each city has different looks and stands out in different ways: * Sydney: Slim fit suit with hem cut above the ankle showing off the RM's tag on the boot, Brazilian backpacker wearing a t-shirt two sizes too small, the blazer and t-shirt combo, full David Jones outfit NPC (Common Projects, Saba chinos, Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirt, "discounted" Scotch and Soda blazer) , the everything must be slim-fit bloke with "slim-tapered" chinos from Industrie and international student covered head to toe in designer clothing with logos. * Melbourne: All black everything, stylish accessory wearing like an Acne studios scarf or beret, henley t-shirts, loose fitting clothes, museum boutique fit, European fashion show archival piece paired with fast-fashion piece, long leather or wool overcoat with mismatched thin layers underneath and vegan t-shirt enthusiasts. * Adelaide: Slim shorts pulled up and worn high with a tight fitting t-shirt tucked into the shorts, boat shoes, nudie jeans, loafers with white socks, carhartt and zara in the same outfit and vintage thrift outfit. * Perth: black track-pants with nike runners from JD sports, Metallica or any late 20th century rock or metal band graphic tee with shorts and thongs, Uniqlo U oversized t-shirt in the wrong size, vintage surfwear brand graphic tee with jorts, short sleeve oversized button down shirt from cotton on or universal studios with light blue jeans and white airforce 1's and impulse last minute local mall shop when there's an event to go to. * The list goes on. Australian fashion varies greatly from city to city making it hard to define what it is. From what I can see Australian fashion is unrefined just like it's culture. In Australia, people will drink red wine out of a coffee mug. They go to the supermarket in bare feet. They go to the corner store in pyjamas. People here don't care much about fashion and the history behind it. They just want to foster a sense of belonging by wearing whatever is trendy in the world, we always seem to be between 6 months and two years behind European, American (and increasingly asian) fashion.
Melbourne is accurate for the CBD. Venture into the suburbs and it's athleisure aplenty, with socio-economical status dictating the brands you wear - from Lulu Lemon yoga pants and Kathmandu puffer jackets, to Kmart sweatpants.
Thanks for the insights. It does seem like there are Australia-wide trends but I still think Melbournians tend to dress better than some of the more isolated cities in Au.
You forgot the Melbourne winter uniform. North Face puffer jacket, black or navy pants and RM Williams boots. 😆
North Face puffers were indeed very popular last winter. I wonder if that trend will stay this year.
Western Australia is the richest state. Not all of us are meth heads. In fact most of us aren’t. We can afford nice clothing. Majority of men in my age bracket 30 are working professionals. They wear tan chino pants, Aquila shoes and a button down shirt with a tie going out and to work. In their 20s they have a stylised mullet, the 70s stach and wear chino shorts and a on trend brand tee. Girls typically wear lots of linen pants, lots of kookai and birks.
Interesting comment. Perth could very well be the arguably worst dressed city in Australia. The only thing changing that is the raw talent of local designers who showcase amazing creations. That combined with the city being the birthplace of popular second-hand markets which are happening all over the country now. These markets help to foster an appreciation of unique and higher quality + trendier garments.
idk this is just describing general popular outfits regardless of geographical location..
You're right to an extend, there is a lot of crossover between cities, I was just noting what I saw more of in each city that I've been to.
You've completely ignored Sydney's inner west fashion which is more representative of our fashion outside of CBD suits in other areas. We've got some pretty trendy people out there.
Thanks for brining this up. Sydney's inner west fashion can be avant-garde from what I've seen. You're very right.
It’s comical that everyone shouts that Melburnians wear all black - living here, it’s quite the opposite. Gorman and Variety Hour were founded here and they have so much colour! Compared with other cities in the world, Melbourne just doesn’t stand out.
What exactly do you mean by your last sentence?
Melbourne isn’t special or notable for people wearing black. Much more in other cities.
The Melbourne summation you mentioned is so stereotypical and not even true. I travel across the city every day to work in south Yarra and see all types of clothing and fashion . Mostly I would say the women working corporate who are following trends dress the same as what I see in Sydney and overseas - wide leg pants, blazers, and then a combo of different tops, shirts, jumpers.
Everything I said was a stereotype, but just because it's a stereotype, doesn't make it false.
the only men in the world who think they can command respect in a pair of shorts
Ok but as a straight woman who has a thing for men's calves/thighs...... They can lol
As a lesbian I will happily say that all men look good in short shorts tbh, y'all have the LEGS for it!
I'd say a general push toward lighter, looser, and more breathable garments typically characterises Australian clothing. Cotton, linen and viscose dresses are pretty common, as well as soft pastel colours to reflect the sun. Aesthetics range from surfy to athleisurewear, to bohemian and sun-swept and looser streetwear garments.
My only contribution to this thread are the MEN. There are many well-articulated answers to this question. But the reason why we face such a horrible sense of fashion here is that the men just do not care much about presentation. u/felixsapiens said it best, "we wear what everyone else wears - t-shirts, jeans, button-down shirts, suits, chinos, trackies". There's no originality in the styling.
I think that’s rather missing the point though of the question, isn’t it? I mean - everywhere in the world has “levels” of fashion. Homeless people are always unshaven with a stinky overcoat. Low socio-economic wear track pants and hoodies for pretty much everything, even if they were meeting the King. Office slaves wear shirts (white, light blue or, for some reason, light pink and yellow), and badly fitting pants. Everyone wears Uniqlo cos it’s all the rage and cheap, even though they are the sort of clothes that a 19-year-old out of school thinks “wow they look great” but a 30-year-old in a real job should not be wearing… Then label fiends wear Armani, Paul Smith, whatever, just like they do everywhere else in the world. People wear band t-shirts. And people with their own style wear their own shit. Dye their hair. Wear nose rings. Wear goth styles. Whatever - these things are the same the world over. So what is DIFFERENT in Australia? I’d say the only two things I can think of are “National dress” - in the same way that the Dutch have clogs, we have Akubras. It doesn’t mean many people wear clogs or Akubras in daily life, but it does define a national identity. (And there is a lot of Akubra-wearing in regional Australia.) The other is simply natural responses to climate. We don’t wear lots of layers, as another commenter posted. We aren’t big on winter coats (though everyone still wants a North Face jacket for some reason.) Because it’s hot, we do a fair bit of shorts, short sleeved shirts, thongs, singlets, in a way that other colder countries probably don’t do. Beyond that I struggle to come up with any differences.
Let's create a podcast and we could share our thoughts on the cultural differences between fashion and style. I didn't miss the point. Considering this sub is MFA - it points to how men define their sense of fashion. And let me tell you, as a man from a Caribbean Island who has lived in NYC (with lots of fashion currency) and now live in Melbourne, I see men in Australia simply miss the score with styling. I understand how the external factors can force you to fall into the same dress (shorts & t-shirt) but this can't be the go too every day. Some, most men do not make the effort to present themselves differently from the other. It's like it is too hard to just try something different. Most Australians just lack the ability to be confident and/to present themselves in a unique sense of style that defines their personality different from other guy. I could walk the street of Melbourne tomorrow, and I can assure you that I will find multiple men wearing Chelsea boots + Chinos + Polo or Button-down + Outwear Jacket (Patogonia/Northface/MacPac). Chelsea boots have long made it to the city from its origins of the farm lands to be paired with casuals (trousers & top) and then straight to the Swiss Alps or Nepal. Look at the combination. Outerwear does not belong in the CITY - especially as you mentioned, " it does not get that cold here". The above could easily be layered with a blazer of any weight fabric to get a clean masculine look. But Noooo. We out here comparing Goose Down or Up.
Hey, not what is being discussed but because you mentioned the word podcast. Avery Trufelman does a really interesting podcast about fashion and clothes. In terms of men’s fashion I found the series on preppy fashion interesting. It basically went through the history of preppy fashion from the Ivy League look, post war Japan, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and the links to street fashion.
THIS! \^ There is 'fashion', but no actual style or individuality.
In Melbourne we have unpredictable weather, so you'll see people wearing layered clothing but usually just 2 layers at most. It's odd to see videos where people put on a shirt, sweater, blazer/vest and overcoat.
some people dont wear shoes
Migrated from the U.S. a little more than ten years ago and while there are seasonal and annual fashion changes, generally there are a lot of men that wear the cut of shorts much higher than in the U.S. In the U.S. it appears more common to have shorts cut above the knee even bathers when at the beach. In Australia it appears mens shorts are above the thighs including tradies.
After reading the other responses, I did think about what the purpose of a specific Australian MFA subreddit was. For me, the main reasons have always been 1. Available options - we aren't in the US where you can walk in and try a pair of Allen Edmonds shoes or an Arket shirt 2. Practicality - I bought a pair of Iron Rangers back in 2014 because that was what all the forum recommendations pushed me towards. They're heavy, don't match the 90% of my wardrobe and got almost zero use over 10 years. They really don't suit the Australian lifestyle and most boot wearing men in capital cities would default towards a pair of RM Williams instead 3. Online shopping, exchange rates and shipping fees - people shopping from Australia have to contend with these factors when finding the best option.
We wear shorts more. Shorts have never been hard to style for us but it seems like the rest of the world can’t get the hang of it if I was to generalise
I'm sorry what? Almost Every man and his dog where I've been is wearing ill-fitting shorts with most of them being activewear shorts with every. single. outfit. It's disappointing to say the least.
There’s nothing stylish about the way we wear shorts. They’re just fuckin shorts. Unless you consider the ubiquitous usage of them to be some sort of styling
As someone who is from Europe, the men’s fashion here is just awful. Shopping is a personal nightmare for me. Local mid range brands are have all similar stuff that is over priced and poor quality, seems not much better than H&M. Might as well join all the people that have given up on dressing stylish and wear baggy pants and a hoody.
Agreed. One thing I’ve noticed is just a homogenisation of a few looks that everyone wears. When I lived in Europe and the US it was piss easy to pick an Aussie out of a crowd. Individualism fashion just doesn’t exist here, and the shopping options are shite
What are you talking about? It’s EXTREMELY easy to shop on a budget and still dress with a lot more style than the average Australian bogan in shorts, a basic t-shirt and flip-flops. You just gotta get creative. Shopping online is a great way to hunt for a bargain in a range of styles you wouldn’t necessarily find in the local department stores.
What I'm talking about is the fashion here is bad
It doesn’t have to be though. You don’t have to dress like everyone else and you certainly don’t have to but from our retail stores but if you did buy from them, there are other options besides K-mart and Big W. You have options. It’s not that difficult. It’s also well within your budget if you know where to go
K mart and Big W, what are you talking about? No one mentioned those. Calibre/Reiss are examples of good mid range options but the lines are extremely limited and there is else outside of that I’ve managed to find, unless you’re willing to pay $350-$700 for single designer items that at least looks quality or willing to look at cheaper prices and quality maybe Cos or Zara. The more well known international brand shops have limited lines in places like Hugo Boss/Hilfiger/Lacoste if your into branded clothes The other Aussie brands around; Industry/Academy Brand/Country Road/Yd/Connor etc all looks crap and might aswell be H&M or Uniqlo. Much better for options for men’s in other countries (See the other comments in my thread). I love Australia it’s the best place to live, but the fashion is dire.
You’re just not trying hard enough. Oh well
As someone from Europe, I completely agree. Been living in Aus for 2 yrs and will forever hold on to my clothes I brought from Germany. Haven’t found stuff similar quality wise, it’s a shame
I’d say in contemporary Australia, our defining feature is lateness. We get everything a season late. It’s no secret that the northern hemisphere runs the fashion industry. So whatever is new or popular for summer in Europe, we’ll be wearing in December.
With 90% of the earths population living in the northern hemisphere and 54% of that being HEAVILY centred in the south East Asian countries like the eastern half of China, India, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and much of Indonesia…umm, yes, they’re going to be ahead of us in the fashion industry 🙂
I mean I literally just said that?
I guess what I meant to say was “duh” but I used too many words. It felt like you were stating the obvious. More people = more minds working in the fashion industry = more designs being pumped out. Of course we’re going to be late.
I love that our fashion style here in Melbourne can be anything. I wear anything from preppy style, western style when I’m out of the city, resort style when I’m by the beach, country style when in the high country. The secret is to own your style and not give a shit what others think but be seamless in your environment. Luckily Melbourne has 4 seasons in one day so outfits are always dynamic. For instance I was at the dawn service in Mornington this morning wearing an Akubra and a Drizabone for the squally weather we had this morning, as it warmed up a little and the rain pissed off I had underneath a wool Sportscraft jacket and Neuw jeans which went well with the RM’s I was wearing, easy transition to lunch this afternoon.
You can be any airport in the world. Any season.. and it's almost a sure thing. The guy walking in flip flops or barefoot in the Airport will be an Aussie. Add in a Bogan mullet and it's a sure thing. Two Aussie fashion choices that combined are seldom seen in any other country... since the 1970's.
Tbh I like our style. Yeah it’s not New York or Shanghai and trends die a lingering death here but I think the casualness blunts the edges of butt ugly trends and subcultural styles you get in other parts of the world. We’re no Pakistan, but we dress ok.
As far as men's fashion in Brisbane goes, there is no fashion. It's just oversized tees, dirty sneakers, boganwear or basic business attire with bargain-basement "leather" shoes. The women are generally substantially better dressed. I'm into Japanese and American heritage clothing (selvedge denim, gyw leather shoes, handmade clothing etc) and I could count on 1 hand how many people I've come across who have similar taste.
Come on mate, you posted on r/rawdenim wearing a bintang singlet, you fit right in here! Brisbane used to have a great independent/boutique offering but it was killed off by fast fashion and online shopping. We lack retail options and it’s too hot for 6 months of the year, so that dictates a lot. There are some of us left though…
The training staples! Beats training in my hi vis ha! Fortunately they don't leave the warehouse. Unfortunately you're bang on, we have very little in the way of quality retail outlets here, it's all just mall brand stuff. And Australia really lacks online retailers as well.
Oh my god, bintang singlet. You destroyed him here! Maybe he did it on purpose.
If you really want to know, my mum brought 2 of them back from Bali for me around 10 years ago. I didn't have to heart to tell her I can't wear that out in public, so they've lived in my gym as my training shirts for that time for when I don't want to train in filthy hi vis work clothes.
Yes! Brisbane men often dress like overgrown 5 year olds, and not stylish 5 year olds either - the grubby kind.
Melbourne has a bunch of quality stores catering to this, Urahara, PPHH, Havn, Up There, Corlection… I imagine Brisbane for the most part is too hot and humid for a lot of the options?
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Having just had a massive melanoma removed from my arm, I can honestly say how frustrating it is that you can't find adequate SPF clothing in Australia. Trying to find long sleeve summer clothing with any sort of SPF is near impossible in Australia.
Just because it isn't tested doesn't mean it won't protect you.
Check out Solbari
simple answer, we're not culturally or racially bound and we just don't give a shit What we wear as long as it looks good, not including comfort.
As a 30yo female in Brisbane, I’d say that we wear clothes that are comfortable. It’s very casual. When I go to Europe for holidays, I find that my style is just about the same as the locals there. Casual is just shorts, linen or cotton top, sandals or sneakers, or even a summer dress some times. In the US though, last time I visited was 2 years ago and it was during winter. Americans love designer logos (and you can tell sometimes that it is fake - like the large LV or Gucci on their belts or handbags). I noticed this in the East side of the US. I do love designer clothing as well but I don’t think Australians like the “in your face” design - it’s more like the quiet luxury vibe here. That’s just my personal opinion though. Don’t fight me. Hahahahaha!
Canberrans suit up a bit tho including men and and it’s quite cool . Sydney and Melbourne is even trendier. I find Queensland the most casual.
If you try you'll look better than 90% of guys, and those 90% will call you gay lol Aussie's HATE guys who don't wear ironic bogan wear
It's worse than that. They make fun of people who dress well and consider it cool to dress poorly.
Yeah when you step into a rural boozer you’ll get some looks that’s for sure.
the only thing i’ve noticed these days is you walk out the door and everyone has the exact same style. people are all starting to dress the same and it’s quite sad really
Fashion?
No shoes
Lot of comments saying Aussie have no fashion sense but whenever I see someone in long boardies with a shark/crocodile tooth necklace, I know they’re European
That's because long boardies are out of fashion here. 5" inseam is what's trending
Other western…
What is Australian fashion? Does it even exist? Color code is somewhat pretty obvious in Melbourne, it’s black.
Living in melb it's black, grey or charcoal.. And you're set.
Im generalising... What sets us apart is that we're too casual to the point of looking like slobs or that we've just given up...
I struggle with this because over half of the population is not actually australian. We're just a mixture of all cultures at this point
Basically, When you are a teen (the age you start really caring about how you look), you fall into a few trends depending on your circle and disposition: - sporty (active wear or sports clothes for guys) - goth/emo/punk (whatever they call it nowadays) - nerdy (usually overweight female or overweight/scrawny male and some kind of anime or other cartoon type of crap on a shirt) - jeans/tshirt (I like to call normies) - hippy/bohemian (not that common except for some parts) When you get older like college age, there will be some girls who will basically go full on slutty style but that’s not too common, especially now it seems to be going out of style. The rest either go indie, hipster, bohemian, stay normie, few will go goth/emo and many will stay nerdy if they are of the nerdy disposition. Many will just continue to wear active wear. Finally, once women have kids, a lot of them will stop giving an eff and let their body go and dress like shit. Some will even do this before having kids. Some still keep putting an effort but it is still less effort than most women in the world put. Eventually, as women approach menopause many give zero effs and just wear ugly t-shirts draped over the bodies they stopped caring about decades ago. Some still put an effort and wear eccentric over-priced boutique clothes and dark lippie.
It’s changing though with the young people. They are into brands and looks. In my days…. Millennial we didn’t have the pressure. All you needed was a phone with Bluetooth and going to Thursday night shopping was a thing. Now they need iPhone and adidas. The young people are changing the look of Australia
So many guys just wandering around barefoot...
I think this question is too broad. Melbourne fashion is distinctive in that it is black, black, black. Our idea of a pop of colour is a touch of monochrome. Never have I seen such a lack of colour, even in Antwerp Belgium where black minimalism/ monochrome is so strong. We do try to make forays with a dash of electric blue or crimson now and then. But let’s be honest, how long does that last before we wrap ourselves back up in the timeless elegance of our dark wardrobe. I know other states have their own vibe going on. I won’t try and define them but will say I’m in awe of Sydney siders easy relationship with colour. All I can contribute is that Melbourne brings the noir to global fashion. An element that will never go out of style.
In one word: Outdated.
It’s overpriced casual boho crap that has shitty quality.
*Bogans*