With so many references to the motherland, it would be anybodies guess that you were on the other side of the world, literally. 20 hours of traveling time, with a pit stop in LA- enough to grab a Starbucks and a burrito, and you too could be immersed in the wonder that is Sydney! The sights, the nightlife, the shopping, Sydney is most definitely a world-class city.
The glory that is the opera house, the beautiful beaches of Bondi and Manly, the picturesque views from the Sky tower, and romantic night cruises around the harbour add to Sydney’s magic.
Now, I am fully aware that associating any city with London might seem like a faux pas, but believe me, Sydney fashion scene and street trends are forces to reckon with.
Sydney street trends and shopping. Let me first catch my breath as I let out an exuberant WOW!!. A fashionistas dream; especially one from Toronto- when considering the cold winter days that lie ahead! Sydney is home to quite possibly, the longest underground shopping mall I have EVER set foot in. Loose yourself for the day, perhaps even by accident (as it happened to me!), in Sydney’s underground shopping malls.
Market Street, one of the main drags in the downtown CBD (Central Business District), is home to these wondrous mazes aligned with store after store after store… Familiar names like Myer, and David Jones, can all be reached by underground or through lovely courtyards. The Queen Victoria Building, and Central Market Square buildings are other hubs of excitement leading to the maze. Pitt street is yet another avenue of delight!
Chinatown’s Market Place is filled with eccentricities from Asia, as many of the cities inhabitants lend their homeland style to the city. Within Market Place, lies Paddy’s market; THE place to be on a Saturday or Sunday. Market stalls are swarming with people looking for the best bargain. Women are fighting over incredibly priced items. The whole experience is exhilarating.
Next is Bondi. Typically, one would assume that only beach-type stores would be found in this area synonymous for its’ killer waves and gorgeous surfers, however, Bondi is home to some of the BEST shopping I came across in Sydney!
Fashion trends. Like the shopping, the street trends blew me away. Sydney fashionistas have a style of their own. Think of it like London being blessed by constant sunshine and great surf weather! High fashion meets surfer cool. Not everyone is affected by beach fashions as can be seen in the pics that follow…
Smiles and lovely personalities shone through these fashionable models, as they were very excited to represent Sydney street style. Sure many of the retail outlets demonstrated buying trips to Topshop, circa April/May, but one must remember that Sydney is just heading into spring (aka not one zillion degrees outside), hence should resemble European/UK fashions around this time.
I mainly saw cigarette pants- mostly Lee’s and Wranglers – paired with cowboy boots or ballet slippers, a cute top and large killer pairs of sunnies (lingo is key here). Key colours included khaki, aubergine, white, and black. Beads were big, the handbags were bigger. Men mostly wore Converse and Vans, and the high-heeled class wore them rounded with colour.
I am very excited to see how designers from down-under will take on the world, with the likes of Zimmerman, Lisa Ho, Trelise Cooper, Collette Dinnigan, Sass & Bide, and from neighboring New Zealand, the likes of Kate Sylvester, Zambesi, and Karen Walker. With fashion weeks just around the corner, look out for these top labels at a Selfridges near you!
Aviva Babins
Toronto Fashion Advisor
Look out for: Toronto and Montreal Fashion Weeks, the crème de la crème of the Great and soon to be White North!
