My very first fashion post. Woot!
I’m back from a 10-day trip to Perth, Western Australia, and it was simply amazing. While I would never consciously think of Australia as the capital of haute couture (anyway I was there on a family holiday and shopping was only secondary), the fashion scene there took me by surprise — a pleasant one. Initially, I was nervous to enter a land without staples like Zara, TopShop and H&M, but to uncover local gems like Witchery (a personal favourite) and Sass and Bide was an exhilarating experience like none other. Affordable streetwear labels were also aplenty in the form of Jay Jays, Forever New, Cotton On, Live, Valley Girl and Just Jeans, while trawling through department stores like Myer and David Jones proved extremely satisfying for their sensible layout and diversity of labels. And then there was the treasure trove that was Target which catered to all my bargain hunting needs and more. I could go on forever.
Ah, preconceptions. I touched down in Perth believing its people and culture to be steeped in a ‘summer all year round’ attitude especially when it came to fashion and I was half right. In the middle of autumn (at the hottest of 25 degrees Celsius and lowest of about 9 degrees), I saw that 40% of the locals clung to their summer staples of tees, shorts and gladiator sandals, while the near majority of the rest embraced fall fashion at its best. Scarves, layers, boots, and my, what a splendid array of boots one would scarcely expect from Down Under. From ankles to thigh highs, slouchy to structured, leather to suede, zippered to studded, they came in every gorgeous shape and form at varying price points. The land that gave us the UGGs also served up a delicious palette of designs and colours, from the usual black, brown and greys, to a dreamy baby pink. Also noted were the fashion oddballs — tweens or high school types — you could easily suss out by their hybrid pairings of flip flops with fur-trimmed hoodies, or knitted scarves with shorts, which I suppose, are Fall looks one could only pull off in Australia.
For this vacay, layers were key. Three Cotton On long sleeved tees in white, black and grey were the canvases on which I built my looks on. Pairing them with skinny jeans or skirts and dark leggings, must-have accessories included a large carry-all black bag, flats (ballet pumps or low-heeled boots) and the optional scarf or vest. Stacked bangles and a men’s watch helped keep it colourful and fun, and I also packed a whimsical casual blue dress to break the monotony.
Other highlights of the trip? A black swan, a llama, an emu, some different species of kangaroos, and then some. Smooth traffic and huge open skies. Watching my husband go a little mad discount-shopping for surf brands at Harbour Town and loading up on the lollies (how Aussies refer to candy or sweets). Combing through the bustling markets at Fremantle. Hurling frozen bread bits into a duck pond. Chasing seagulls at Scarborough Beach and laughing as I felt the feathery soft sand beneath my feet and chilly waves rush up my ankles. Thinking that life could look and feel so beautiful at the same time.
People often say the Australian lifestyle is laid-back, but hey, maybe sometimes we all need to slown down and chill out. Wear a winter coat with some sandals, who cares?
