One of my favorite destinations is Melbourne, Australia. I’m fresh from another sojourn Down Under to catch the President Cup, where I watched Tiger Woods and, of course, did a bit of shopping.
Fashion insiders will tell you Australia is always where you will find the next trend, and Melbourne is Australia’s fashion capital.
Here are my favorite Australian fashion brands—their stories, styles, and where to get them.
Zimmerman is one of my top picks. Its mantra is “made by women, for women.” Fans of the brand include Jessica Alba, Halle Berry and Ashley Graham. Its selection every season has fun and flirty dresses along with power ensembles. It also has one-piece swimsuits, bralettes and more to help you play around with your look.
A consistent show-stopper during fashion week is Dion Lee—high-brow, minimalist but also sensual. It’s for the sophisticated woman. Just last September, Vogue lauded Lee’s pocket bustier with actual pockets, and other details that signified the brand’s cool factor.
Activewear
What’s a fashion list without a serious brand of activewear? P.E Nation delivers lightweight running rain jackets, high-neck racer-back sports bras, scuba style shapewear leggings, and basketball mesh knitwear. It’s fashion-forward, designed for the active, on-the-go woman.
Find Zimmerman, Dion Lee, and P.E Nation at Distinqt in Shangri-La at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City.
Alice McCall is a brand approved by Jennifer Lopez, Rachel Bilson and Gigi Hadid. Its signature detailed dresses are day-to-night closet staples. I don’t doubt you’ll find something to suit your mood, style or occasion from the brand.
Bec + Bridge embodies the carefree girl. She’ll do her own thing when others are chasing after the fleeting trend. The brand has captured an international market. It features innovative party dresses and chic separates in vibrant palettes.
Approaching 10 years in fashion, By Johnny is a brand that had received early success. The concept of Johnny Schembri’s label is sexy. The clothes are for the modern woman who dares. Schembri names Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane and Tom Ford as influences.
Empowering
C/MEO Collective is for the woman who “interprets the garments in her own way, which is an empowering motive for the design team to consistently strive for new heights.”
Siham Elmawey, head designer of the brand, is a good example of such a woman. She got the coveted job at just 22 years old. With directional prints, premium fabrics and innovative silhouettes, C/MEO Collective brings Australian fashion to the world with stockists in the United Kingdom, Japan and the Middle East.
Camilla and Marc is an impressive brand. Independent and family-run, it has quickly expanded into different lines including swim, denim and ready-to-wear. I find the clothes a mix of couture and fine engineering with that much-needed edge.
Born in Australia, based in Paris, and made in Italy, the Ellery Woman is multifaceted. Its avant-garde aesthetic is the reason it’s a go-to of fashion insiders. You’ll always find something of top tailoring from this label.
Tapping into the underground scene is Sass & Bide. Now two decades old, the brand is a mix of “ageless spirit connected to a sophisticated and liberating style of relaxation and adornment.” Taking something obscure into something relatable, it’s available in 45 locations all over the world.
