Aussie Girls. Help!

[HowsTheSerenity]

I am moving back to Brisbane in December and am pre planning my wardrobe. I was home in March and from what I remember the clothes were dire.

What is in the shops now? What should I buy here and bring back to get me through summer.

Cheers
HTS

I was back in Sydney in March and thought the higher-end clothes were lovely, Leona Edmiston etc much better priced than in UK... but for cheaper clothes it's a bit meh. Stock up on Zara primark peacocks topshop and especially M&S as no-one will have them in Oz and you can get away with primark dresses to a wedding if you wanted

Other than that I would have thought that esprit and gap etc are the same around the world?

Brisbane shopping is much better than it used to be, and you can get some nice things, but agree with verysomething that it's not cheap. I think that in general clothes are pretty expensive in Australia so do stock up before you go !!!

Buy as much as you can afford before you leave and be warned that in Australia "real" leather shoes will cost you an absolute fortune.

Due to Asian imports, the large majority of shoes here has some plastic-y/ vinyl either on the soles or lining (even expensive ones). I've been here for 5 years and stock up like crazy when I'm back in Europe.

Clothes in general are either very expensive or terribly cheap and crap and there's really not a lot of choice either. Also, if you have boobs, stock up on bras... mostly Asian sizes and cups usually go up to (small) C/D

On the flip side, I'm in Sydney and am forced to do corporate-wear, I think you'll find it easier in Brisbane with more beach-y wear as it doesn't have to be tailored etc.

Sorry, didn't realise you're not an expat and are actually coming back to Oz - you'll know more about shopping here than me!

I have the opposite problem as I'm moving back soon and haven't had Winter clothes in years.

OOh yes, as poppyamex says - stock up on bras. Freya and fantaisie etc are soooo lovely and cheap and have a much better range of sizes compared to what you'll find in Sydney/Brisvegas.

Thanks for the replies. I would like to know what everyone is actually wearing this summer. Is Oz a season ahead or behind? Are my maxi dresses ok etc. What do I need to bring back so I do not look like a fashion reject?

I was home in March and the winter stock was vile and boring. No inspiration (oh and I am poor so I only look at 'high street' shops).

I am buying;
bras
undies
singlets/vests
nice thongs/flip flops
cardis (for winter)
shoes - nice leather ones

One season (or more) behind. We didn't get the full-on Maxi dresses craze yet, so be a pioneer and pave the way for Oz!

For some reason, I find it really hard to get 100% natural fabric tops a decent prices, so I'd bring some smart cotton tops/vests and linen trousers.

The high street shops are very much the same (Country Road, Witchery, Saab, Sportscraft etc.) but online shopping for national stores / designers has improved a lot in the last couple of years.

Myer and David Jones are releasing some really nice (and cheap) designer diffusion lines from Nicola Finetti, Zampatti etc. and if you really love exercise, check out the Canadian brand Lululemon for super quality lounge / sports wear.

You can seriously get amazing "pieces" (how pretentious am i?) from young designers in the markets and a lot of the big international names started like that in Oz. Affordable prices and very avant-garde. Also helps avoiding the "country road" syndrome, with everyone rocking up to work wearing the same thing.

Best of all, Victoria Secret is here (lovely clothing, not just lingerie) and praise the fashion-gods.... Zara is finally opening their Australian operations! (just in time for my return to the UK - blah)

HTH and sorry for the essay!

Poppy, thank you so much!

I am trying to find stuff on sale now so I have nice new fresh things to wear. I am going to die though. How am I going to handle the heat????

And you're coming back just in time for the Summer too! Have fun shopping!

At least M&S deliver over there now which should soften the blow underwear wise???? .

I will be spending my days lurking at Chermisde in the airconditiong!

Ah yes thank god for m&s undies. I am keeping my uk bank account open just for shopping online!