To most of the world Australia is
a far off land, almost mythical in is its natural beauty, moderate climes,
relaxed culture and of course strange and deadly wild life and also it is
symbol of glamour fashion styles. Melbourne, on the South East coast is not
typically Australian by this set of standards. The cultural capital of
Australia, Melbourne is a truly diverse and multicultural metropolis boasting
world-renowned food, and coffee culture. An incredibly creative city, it has
vibrant nightlife and a live music scene to rival the largest capital cities of
the world. Stylistically Melbourne is
known for its leanings towards the dark, edgy, and avant-garde, favoring
understated, intellectual design. With Sydney as the fashion business capital
(home to most of the fashion magazines and to Rosemount Australian Fashion
Week) Melbourne is given room to flourish in a more independent, culturally
rich environment. It is the main source of fashionphotos and fashion images and while black may indeed be the color of choice
for many Melbournians, there is great diversity in what the fashion scene has
to offer. With a strong history in casual attire, particularly in surf wear,
it’s not surprising that the street wear brands continue to thrive in
Australia, and Melbourne does it well. Boutique street wear labels Alpha60 and
Perks and Mini enjoy a cult following, and Lime drop and LIFE with BIRD give a
playful, refined perspective to the style.
By: Rebecca Martin Melbourne,
Australia
