Fashionology: Aussie style

(Credit: Sass & Bide)

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With the exception of Cate, Nicole and Naomi, the pool of Australian style icons is about as dry as the Outback—at least, you’d be forgiven for thinking so. Sure, its most recognizable names may include Men at Work and Bindi Irwin, but Australia is also home to some fabulous fashion designers, many of whom are attracting serious buzz among industry insiders.

And as the eyes of the world start shifting south in anticipation of Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia, we suspect those designers will soon be fetching as many column inches as Sunday Rose. To help you get the Aussie look, here’s a guide to the key trends rising from Down Under, along with the names you should be dropping and the L.A. boutiques that love them.

Glamorous grunge
Oz’s past musical exports range from the formidable (Silverchair) to the questionable (Savage Garden), but today its indie scene rivals those of London and New York. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, grunge influence is also rife in Australian design. Ex-Ksubi designer Gareth Moody is garnering rave reviews for Chronicles of Never, a unisex line of mostly oversize black garments best worn with bed-head and chipped nails. (Find it at American Rag.) Saint Augustine’s Academy, a favorite of such rockers as Tommy Lee and Wolfmother, offers stage-ready skinny jeans and vests, which can be found at Sirens & Sailors.

Cocktail casual
Australian designers are responsible for some of the best date dresses around—upbeat and flirty with a laid-back fit, allowing room to splurge on that all-important second margarita. Leona Edmiston specializes in feminine silhouettes with vibrant prints; count Echo Park’s Media Noche and WeHo’s Sheila among her fans. Over in Downtown L.A., Apartment 3 is home to With Hearts in My Eyes, a sweet, girly line filled with vintage-inspired charm. Keith Urban would approve.

Art school rebel
Ever since Kylie Minogue strutted her stuff in that hooded robe, we’ve had nothing but respect for the experimental side of Australian fashion. Alice McCall’s fall collection perfectly embodies that sassy spirit, full of body-con black dresses, zipper details and floral blouses that fall suggestively off the shoulder; you can get in on the naughtiness at American Rag. Something & Something Else’s hand-illustrated tanks and tees have found favor with Creatures of Comfort and Pixie Market for fall, thanks to their craft-tastic art-school vibe. For the ultimate in anything-goes chic, check out Sass & Bide’s carnival-themed fall line, filled with ruffled boleros, gold sequins and glossy leggings. If you order from revolveclothing.com, you can test-drive your ensemble in the safety of Revolve’s Melrose Avenue flagship.

Girls will be boys
The androgynous look is big in Australia—but luckily, in a way that’s more Kate Moss than Crocodile Dundee. This fall, Beckley will be carrying Lover’s slouchy striped waistcoats, high-waisted trousers and skinny blazers. Meanwhile, Kirrily Johnston, another American Rag mainstay, has gained much fanfare for her desert-inspired fall collection, which features drop-crotch pants and pleated schoolboy shorts mixed with ruffled frocks.

Sexy swimwear
Sydney is one of the few cities that rivals LA for its urban beaches—and disgustingly perfect beach bods—so it’s no surprise it’s home to some of the most fashion-forward swim labels around. Beckley will be carrying fashionista fave Camilla and Marc’s futuristic resort line, while coltish hipster types should check out Anna & Boy at American Rag for itty-bitty boho bikinis.

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