“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening,” said the legendary Coco Chanel, perhaps the most famous fashion designer of all time. This amazing quote is especially relevant when it comes to street fashion.
In earlier times, people wore traditional clothes everyday. These outfits were usually handmade by local tailors using locally available materials. Their designs and embellishments represented the history and distinct customs of their particular community or region. Nowadays people living in all different corners of the globe follow pretty much the same fashion trends. For example, regardless of gender, age, or cultural background, people around the world typically own at least one pair of jeans and a T-shirt.
Though you are likely to find similarities when comparing the outfits of residents of London, New York, and Melbourne, urban fashion does vary. If you pay closer attention, you will notice some nuances in each street style. Whether it is the print on a shirt or an interesting pendant, that stylistic detail could be subtly referring to a certain aspect of that city’s or country’s unique culture.
Melbourne – both the geographical capital and the fashion capital of Australia – has its own distinct urban style. Australian fashion is generally considered more casual than European fashion, especially when it comes to the cut and choice of garment. Due to their active lifestyle and laid-back attitude towards life, Aussies often prioritize comfort over the trends that are dictated by the major fashion capitals of the world. Additionally Melbourne is very diverse, and the city’s street fashion reflects that: it is common to see clothing pieces and accessories, originating from totally different cultures, being harmoniously mixed and matched into a casual outfit worn by a Melbournian.
Finally, we cannot forget the indigenous culture in Australia, as it has certainly left many imprints on the country’s fashion, especially regarding choice of textiles and embellishments.
Australian designers have been earning international recognition for the past few decades. Iconic figures like Tina Kalivas, Claude Maus, Kit Willow Michelmore, Arabella Ramsay, and Gabriel Scarvelli have been greatly praised by the fashion bible, Vogue.
Australian fashion companies have also been actively conquering the international market; their labels are especially popular in large department stores and small boutiques in Asia, Europe, and the United States. If you are interested in pursuing a fashion-related career in Australia, Melbourne is truly the place to be. Besides fashion designer jobs, there are plenty of other paths to explore within this industry, including modeling, textiles, fashion photography, fashion journalism, fashion styling, and many more. If you happen to be in Melbourne during March, do not forget to check out the annual L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival. There, you will get to network with industry professionals and fellow fashion lovers, enjoy the catwalk shows and after-parties, and– of course– get tons of inspiration from the laid-back creativity of Australian designers. Besides large industry events, you should also visit the fashion markets, where local designers and artists display and sell their one-of-a-kind works. According to Tourism Victoria, going to the markets is in the Top 10 things to do in the region, so you just can’t afford to miss it!
Apply now for the chance to intern in top fashion firms in Melbourne!
Sources: The Fashion Market, Enterprise in Melbourne, Fashion
Photo 1. based on Akira, by Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo 2. based on Robots and buttons, by Logan Campbell, CC-by-SA 2.0