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Australian Spring Retail

Looking a lot like what we scouted and reported in our last global retail report from northern hemispheres Spring / Summer deliveries, Australian retailers and designers have launched their SS collections with a fresh and varied take on global trends. From the plethora of red, white and blue nautical inspired looks, to pretty, floral and romantic styling, there’s much for the Aussie consumer to get excited about. Here’s a low down on what’s currently instore from the best of the high street brands.

NEW NAUTICAL. There are enough stripes out there to sink a battle ship, from classic navy and white matelot knits and tops, jersey dresses to sexier fitted shapes in monotone looking stripes. Red is of course the key accent. Lots of ticking stripes too on denim and canvas. Accessories are also big on nautical from straw boaters, striped webbed belts, printed neckties and lots of preppy canvas boat shoes and pumps. EASY BLUES. Tons of denim and chambray styling plus Tencel denim in softer shapes are looking new. The chambray shirt is showing up as a key item across all markets. NU NUDES. This boudoir inspired trend has really taken off, with upmarket brands embracing this in a sophisticated and grown up way in luxe fabrications in tonal make-up inspired colour through to desert tones with washed khaki. Whilst the junior market uses lace, voile and more casual fabrics back with vintaged denim. This is a key trend too in accessories. IN NEUTRAL has a similar vibe with menswear incorporating neutrals into the utility theme, from rolled up chinos and shorts to pocket detail shirts and layered with lightweight spring trenches. It hints at Burberry with a nod to army surplus. SUMMER ROMANCE uses floral prints and flounces as its central theme in soft pretty pastels with lots of dresses and feminine tops that are either dressed up with pearls or dressed down again with vintaged and faded denim. Lace is a key fabrication. The tribal and ethnic trend looks set to be a big story this season as all shades of khaki and neutrals are teamed with rich exotic prints and ethnic embroideries, plus animal prints mixed with soft suedes and leathers. One trend we love is the HANDSTITCHED feel in knitwear, from laddered and distressed stitch effects to crochet and handcrafted constructions plus more utility inspired mesh and camouflage net knits with a nod to Balmain’s SS10 collection. With a reported downturn in retail spending and a sluggish start to the season we hope the new collections inspire Aussie shoppers to get spending and driving the economy, looking stylish to boot!