Deirdre Meaney ’14: Halfway across the world is a place where the people are easygoing and life is as calm and cool as the ocean that surrounds it. This reputation of a laid-back atmosphere is reflected in Australia’s growing fashion industry. In fact, in recent years, the annual Sydney Fashion Week that spotlights local designers has garnered increasingly global attention, attention that rivals the innovation found in the world’s fashion capitals. This fervor for fashion, however, is most clearly visible in the day-to-day lives of Australians, especially Australian youth.
In “’Straya,” “blokes” and “chicks” alike congregate for spur-of-the-moment jam sessions on the guitar. A common after-school activity is to head to the local beach and surf until sunset. One will always find groups of boys skateboarding on brightly colored plastic boards while sporting snug beanies on their heads.
The unique fashions from across the Pacific differ greatly from the preppy and often unoriginal styles seen daily on the Main Line. “Aussie” girls dress in colorful outfits and are experts at accessorizing with pieces that complement their ensembles. Kiah Frankel, an Australian exchange student who will be visiting EA, commented, “We capture unique prints and colors that reflect our laid back nature and produce them into original, versatile garments.”
Frankel spoke for all “Aussie” girls, who often wear their collars buttoned up all the way to the top button and little skirts with bright patterns paired with edgy spiked flats. Other girls don flowing, almost transparent tops and wedged shoes to accompany leggings with loud, eye-catching patterns that only the bravest of Main Line fashion aficionados would dare attempt to pull off. But in Australia, they are as common as blue jeans.
There is a wide array of patterns found in Australian clothing, ranging from floral designs on pants to colorful graphic prints on shirts. Tribal patterns are woven on warm, long sweaters and are printed on pants. One can find studs adorning just about any type of garment and there is almost always a headband with a bow to match. Large stud earrings swallow Australian girls’ earlobes and bun-enhancers lace through their hair to create the perfect hairstyles. When going out to dinner, Australian girls wear dresses with cutouts across the front and back complemented by striking accessories. Although the lifestyle of Australians is relaxed and easy-going, to dress “Aussie” involves effort. However, for Australians, this effort is not viewed as a burden or a chore. Their style is about having fun, and their clothes reflect every aspect of their personalities.
Of course, in a place where fashion holds such great significance, shopping is equally emphasized. One can always find Australian girls browsing through the racks of General Pants Co. for tight leather pants or leafing through the rows of sweaters at Dotti. Many venture to Sydney to shop in Westfield Mall and enjoy its view over Bondi Beach or have a look at the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
To match their relaxed attitudes, Australian boys have a laid-back style not often seen in America. “Aussie” boys, who are known to be passionate surfers, sport shirts from companies that specialize in surf apparel such as Billabong and Quiksilver. Dark blue, red, or black jeans and a pair of wayfarer sunglasses complete the look. For a day at the beach, Australian boys wear loose-fitting tank tops lined with muted or vibrant stripes with pockets over their hearts. During the so-called “cold” winter months in Australia, a typical boy can be found cozied up in a warm winter sweater with black Vans on his feet.
The free and easy fashions of the typical Australian are a stark contrast with their school uniforms. Schools all over the country, both public and private, enforce a rigid dress code (arguably stricter than Episcopal’s dress code policies). Girls wear long skirts with a blazer and tie. Boys comply with the same rules, except they must wear light colored pants. Both boys and girls must wear a very expensive hat displaying the school’s emblem when entering and exiting school grounds.
Although Main Line fashions can also involve bright colors and have an emphasis on comfort, there is less individuality and a more of a focus on brand names than with Australian style. Many American girls wear the same pairs of shoes and own similarly colored Lulu Lemon headbands.
Australians value individuality and demonstrate their ability to express themselves through a wide selection of prints and patterns found in their closets and that are carefully selected and matched to create the perfect ensemble each day. Each outfit found on streets of Sydney and the Central Coast differ greatly from the next because Australians possess an authentic personal style that makes expressing themselves an easy and enjoyable task.