Georgia, 22, studying social work
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
To a degree yes. I feel like people in Adelaide are very casual — denim and basics all the time! They can be scared to make a statement. I feel like they’re not overly open to trying something new or wearing something super different, we can be a quiet town.
What’s something you’re seeing everywhere around uni at the moment?
Converse! Everybody wears Converse.
What would you never wear?
I’d like to think I’m open to most things… but I don’t think I would ever wear Crocs.
Describe your city’s style in one sentence?
Conservative and safe, but with a dash of vintage and structure to spice it up.
Alex, 25, studying a masters of art
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
Yeah, it’s kind of a mismatch of vintage, punk and recycled clothes. One of the cool things is how varied we are as a city, there isn’t one homogenised culture or style that dominates over everything else.
How do you feel it’s unique to the rest of the country?
I think people in Adelaide are generally a little more chill than the rest of the country so there is kind of an anything goes mentality when it comes to fashion.
Ruby, 22, studying speech pathology and visual arts
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
I think people in Adelaide have quite an effortless style. I’m not really sure what sets us apart from the rest of Australia. Perhaps it’s because Adelaide has less of a big city feel to it? The alternative scene and other subcultures exist and are important, no doubt, but they’re not so much at the forefront.
What factors feed into how people dress here?
Our lifestyle and culture seems much more relaxed and not as fast-paced, so I think that’s quite often reflected in the fashion.
Describe your city’s style in one sentence?
Low-key but with a bit of flavour.
Dylan Rowen, 20, studying arts
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
Yeah definitely, it’s more dictated by circumstances and cash — but I’m really seeing an evolution of style in inner city Adelaide, it’s quite lush and refreshing actually.
How do you feel it’s unique to the rest of the country?
We distance ourselves from Melbourne, but manage to appropriate, salvage and borrow fashion ideals from most major Australian cities. I feel like the fashion finds its home online, we can use the web as a sort of safe space to try out new ideas and execute designs and patterns and clothes that represent who we are, who we want to be seen as, who we want to dress as.
What factors feed into how people dress here?
Internet and weather to be quite honest, the heat is intolerable, the rain too much. We dress for the weather, but we dress for ourselves.
What’s something you’re seeing everywhere around uni at the moment?
Turtlenecks, septum piercings, hats, muted brown tones.
Describe your city’s style in one sentence?
Eclectic mix of wannabe hipster and functional adult.
Flo, 22, studying social science
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
Not an overall one; there are definitely subcultures. I guess it is different because those smaller subcultures are noticed more because of the juxtaposition from general society.
What factors feed into how people dress here?
I think it has something to do with small town syndrome. You have a lot of middle-class people in the suburbs and their children who kind of just stick to what they know and their friends do the same. In Melbourne you don’t get looked at as often — I really don’t think I look that different or interesting. I think I look like a regular person, but people like to stare.
What’s something you’re seeing everywhere around uni at the moment?
Khaki pants and those polo shirts with jackets over the top. Rich kid studying law realness.
Thomas, 22, studying visual arts
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
I feel a lot of Adelaide style is generally based around comfort and convenience, rather than a desire to stand out or make a statement. That said, last week I saw a man in a floral print latex t-shirt and pants.
How do you feel it’s unique to the rest of the country?
Honestly, I feel that the one thing that Adelaide has that style capitals such as Sydney and Melbourne do not is a lack of pressure to constantly look good wherever you are. I’m not really sure if this is a blessing or a curse, but I feel it definitely changes the way people think about how they present themselves. That lack of pressure to constantly look good allows room to truly dress however you feel, rather than how you feel you should dress. It doesn’t always produce the most exciting looks, but I guess is probably the truest form of self-expression in a way.
Nakita, 25, studying masters of international business
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
Not really, I don’t feel like it quite there yet, fashion is quite slow here.
What’s something you’re seeing everywhere around uni at the moment?
Off-shoulder tops.
Who is your style hero?
Tilda Swinton.
Lillian, 18, studying arts
Do you feel like people in your city have a certain fashion aesthetic?
Vaguely, there are definitely groups of people who follow a certain aesthetic. However it varies depending on the people. Some crowds definitely stand out with the “Adelaide fashion aesthetic”, which I categorise as, Young Soon-To-Be Corporates.
What does that look like?
They wear Mimco, Oroton and other expensive brands; usually paired with black jeans, a fake tan, and MAC make-up. You might also find them in Lorna Jane gym wear, although never at the gym.
What’s something you’re seeing everywhere around uni at the moment?
Thrasher, so much Thrasher, everywhere Thrasher. And denim overalls? Just when you thought they were dead.
Credits
Photography Eric Brumfield