There are few decisions we make that are of our own design.
Many of our daily tasks are made up of obligations, responsibilities, duties, and the like. What we are left with is how we face the day and what are we presenting to the world at large.
To that end, we choose how we are dressing and what we want our clothes to say about us.
Dressing well isn’t about dressing expensive or even dressing in the most current fashion, the best clothes are those that fit and what we feel comfortable in.
Melbourne is filled with options and possibilities, from a street style that is inspired from Los Angeles to the high fashion off the Parisian runways. Melbourne has the shop fronts and talented people to assist with developing one’s best style.
The Melbourne weather is similar to the Mediterranean patterns enjoyed by parts of Italy, Greece, France, and Spain. This allows for the different styles to permeate into the base English tailoring culture Australia is known for. By blending the Italian soft style with an English traditional cut, a whole new animal is created.
If you enter the day thinking I’m not trendy enough to wear this! I present you with the words of Karl Largerfeld, “Trendy is the last stage before tacky.”
The inevitable list of ‘to do’ and ‘to do not’
Puffer Jackets: Don’t
Just don’t. A puffer jacket for walking the dog is fine, hiking is fine, outdoor activity of any kind that involves being in the outdoors (not moving from one self-contained environment to another) is fine.
The office is not fine. It is not a jacket, more importantly, it is not a replacement for a jacket.
The puffer jacket is bulky and is a layered garment. One wears it over another garment such as a light cardigan or light jumper (because the jumper is atop another garment such as a singlet, Henley shirt, or close fitting t-shirt). The Puffer jacket is meant to look ‘oversized’ because it is worn over other clothes. This does not include business shirts. It may include flannel shirts because a flannel shirt is also a layer atop the similar garments listed.
Jacket (or sports jacket, blazer, or reefer jacket – all terms are mostly interchangeable as the difference is minor enough to only annoy specialists in the field): Do.
A nice blazer worn with a pair of jeans can lift the jeans; wearing the jacket with trousers or slacks can help keep the semi-formal nature of work and easily softened with an appropriately coloured T-shirt or stick to white. A polo shirt is also a good pairing with chinos to keep the casual feels.
An added benefit of a jacket is that it has many pockets; this will help in placing wallets, phones, and other items like keys, and sometimes pens in easily accessible places without the trouser pockets bulging in every odd place.
Shoes with socks or no socks: Mostly Yes.
This author will always recommend sockettes or ankle socks because the perspiration of feet can react poorly with the internal construction of the shoes. Those of leather will likely wear through faster, and those of plastic or poly-blend may even cause skin reactions and irritations due to the dyes used.
The look of no-socks can also be achieved by wearing coloured knee-hi stockings (now hear me out), they are soft, usually strong enough to last a few wears, and they can give off the appearance of the ‘no sock’ look while wearing something that will act like a sock and feel like a sock.
An example of Casual Urban Wear
- Outer wear:
Casual leisure zip-jacket (navy or dark brown); Cardigan with some nice chunky buttons for features
- Inner wear:
Long sleeve T-shirt or polo shirt (White is a classic colour that goes with everything, grey or beige for blue or darker coloured outerwear – black, only if one wants to make a statement)
- Trousers:
Denim jeans (anywhere from indigo to the mid-blue – and never ripped or overly stressed) or Chinos (beige, bone, caramel, or camel)
- Footwear:
Shoes being a lifestyle shoe in mid-brown, tan, or white; Suede shoes from a mid-brown to a chocolate; Slip on shoes (loafers) of similar colours mentioned (could be leather or suede)
- Accessories:
Hat or headwear being a flat cap like a duckbill (duckbill caps have a crisp clean look)
Need Advice?
Dressing well is about confidence, comfort, and understanding what works for you. Melbourne’s diverse style scene offers endless inspiration, blending classic tailoring with modern influences. Whether you’re refining your wardrobe or starting fresh, the key is to invest in well-fitted, versatile pieces that complement your lifestyle. Need guidance? Visit Briggins for expert advice and personalised styling to help you look and feel your best.
