Dress to impress,
Aussie style
http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/style/blogs/stitched-up/dress-to-impress-aussie-style-20140221-3367v.html
Australian menswear
has come a long way since King Gee shorts and VB singlets reigned supreme at
the local pub. And while rugged and relaxed will always have a seat at the bar
when it comes to our daily wardrobe, there are brands that are lifting the bar in
men's fashion while retaining a semblance of Aussie heritage.
I have resolved to
'buy more local', a task that has seen me getting up before the sun on weekends
to get the best of the bunch at various farmers markets. I've even had a
discussion about how to procure one's own cow for future BBQs.
I've also hunted down
what I feel are some of the best Australian clothing brands for men. The
criteria were simple – be Australian owned and designed, with a focus on
quality without costing half my wages.
Aside from a good suit, the staple of any
man's wardrobe should be a pair of well fitting jeans. Several even, if you
don't like keeping your, ahem, eggs all in one basket. Par Lundqvist, creative
director of Australian denim label Neuw, owns upwards of 3000 pairs of original
vintage jeans, some dating back to the very earliest days of denim and complete
with oil and rust stains. This rich resource provides Par with the blueprints
to create one of the best selections of shape and styles in men's denim
available in Australia
today. Other great options for denim include the Melbourne-based Nobody or the
luxe-casual Bassike.
Weekend wear
The family behind Whillas and Gunn have a long
history of providing the Australian explorer with hard-wearing clothing
designed to outlast conditions in the outback. Now they have released a
collection of clothing for men that, while maintaining its hardwearing nature,
is more suited to urban adventures. The beauty of this brand is that it keeps
the design details at a minimum, giving you a great no-fuss label for guys who
don't need the trims of excessive fashion. Another great option for well-made
basics is the aptly named Bassike which has a great selection of cotton tees
and shorts.
Smart casual
I've mentioned
previously my inherent mistrust of the 'smart casual' dress code (seriously -
is it business or is it leisure?) but the effortless threads at Jac+Jack makes
the situation so much easier. The collection of simple, clean and incredibly
comfortable-yet-casual clothing is a great choice for Friday drinks or even
that beach wedding. Product of choice is Jac+Jack's cashmere jumper, ideal for
Australian winters. Other options to consider are Brent Wilson and the svelte
Jack London.
Claude Maus from Melbourne is Australia's answer to Rick Owens.
Offering a range of draping t-shirts and drop-crotched pants, the range comes
in a thousand shades of black and grey and is the perfect choice when you're
looking for something outside your comfort zone (the irony being these are some
of the most comfortable clothes you will ever wear). Expect to find tailored
tracksuits, oversized or layered t-shirts, mesh shorts and raw denim shirts.
Not your standard fare for a day in the office maybe, but definitely something
to get you noticed on a night out.
Suit yourself
Former Herringbone
founder Matt Jensen launched M.J. Bale back in 2009 and the brand has since
made a name as one of the premier suits for men in Australia. Using only the best
local merino wool, M.J. Bale's strength lies in the ability to combine quality craftsmanship
and extraordinarily good value for money. Brand and marketing manager Drew
Hoare describes the product as a “relaxed, deconstructed take on tailoring
[with] Italian and Prep-American influences, but deliberately dressed down with
an Australian ruggedness”. Another option would be the colourful P. Johnson
Tailors in both Melbourne and Sydney, and online tailoring service Institchu,
which lets you do it all from the comfort of your desk or sofa.
While this list
clearly doesn't cover all the amazing designers and options for men, it should
carry you through any number of clothing scenarios from office to weekend, a
BBQ on the balcony, or even a 6am meeting with a wagyu farmer in Orange
regarding an investment calf.