alexa7

Hello.
I hears that clothes shopping in Oz is just something awful, is that true? I looked at some international shops like Mango, Zara etc and they don't seem to have their shops there...
Whats shopping like over there?

sara1981

i grew up in oz and am finally going back after 15 years and in all my time spent in oz (lots of visits since i left!) i've actually really enjoyed shopping out there. for a start there are lots of massive shopping centres all airconditioned which is great on those boiling hot days and a massive range of shops ranging from those aimed at the tweens all the way through to those aimed at the more mature ladies so there's definitely something for everyone. then you've got those stores that specialise in jeans and casuals and the big department stores that do pretty much everything! you may not find shops like zara and mango but you'll definitely find the equivalent with just as nice stuff. you may find these shops in the city though even if not in the more suburban shopping centres, i'm not sure. and where i come from you don't have to pay for parking in the multistorey which is an added bonus!

i think you're worrying about nothing, in fact something i find quite nice is that even though the sizing in the uk and australia is supposed to be equivalent, i find aussie clothes can be a bit more generous so i feel thinner lol!!

scotlandtooz

Im not there, but when we were in Adelaide the shopping seemed great - seemed a much better choice than in the UK, and not just the same shop again and again in every shopping centre. Although will miss Dorothy Perkins short length jeans!

alexa7

fhewwwwww. (sigh or relief )
Just had to check!

tipp1974

Well i'm speaking from a man's point of view. I hear all the time that Aussie fashion is old style and not as good as UK or Europe but as people have said I think clothes shopping is great out there. In UK / Ireland all the high streets and shopping centres are the same. Topshop, Next, River Island etc etc etc. It's boring but in Australia, every clothes shop is different and every street has different stuff. In my opinion it's better in Aus.

helena39

Hi, I think Dorothy Perkins (I spend a lot of money there!!) might go out of business when we go to oz
I will also miss the short length jeans, trouser etc... I am only 5 foot tall

Biddle

I was just having this very conversation with my mate -she's vowed to keep me stocked with parcels of topshop and primark!!!

norain

Hi there,

I have been worried about the same thing...no Zara, H+M, Oasis, Karen Millen, French Connection - what am I gonna do?!

When I have been to Oz last time shopping was not all THAT bad. The surfer gear and beach stuff is great. Brilliant bikinis, much better than what you can get in the UK. What I found difficult to find was a decent pair of nice leather shoes...

Many UK shops ship to Australia now anyway: topshop, boden and many more - just check their websites but be careful - some charge astronomical shipping fees.

I found a really nice Australia shop: www.witchery.com.au - check it out...

And if you get desperate fly to Singapore or Bangkok for some retail therapy which is shopping heaven!

rabsody

Don't know where you are shopping, but in Brisbane it's the same every shopping precinct you go to:

Sportsgirl
Witchery
Portmans
Myer/DJs
Just Jeans
Sussan
City Beach .... etc.

So, just the same as the UK in that regard then!

In terms of fashion, I don't think Aus is too far behing but personally I don't find the choice anywhere near as good and the clothes and shoes are expensive. You're looking at about $130 for a decent pair of shoes and $120 for a pair of trousers (I'm talking of say Zara quality, the nearest here would be Witchery, which has about quarter of the range).

My Aussie OH bought a great business shirt in Next last time we were there for under 20 quid, still going strong a couple of years later, great quality. To get the same here you'd need to spend about $80-$90 on a shirt. They do seem to have lots of specials on in the department stores, so if you time it right you can get 25% discounts on clothes/shoes.

There are areas of Brisbane where there are more boutiquey shops though which are great, you just have to look outside the shopping malls for these. You will find returns policies at these places practically non-existent though. I'm sure places like Melbourne/Sydney are different again.

NickyC

Karen Millen does have stores here (although only in Sydney and Melbourne ). There are also dozens of French Connection shops, including discount stores, all over the country.

Glasgowlass

[QUOTE=rabsody;5879764]Don't know where you are shopping, but in Brisbane it's the same every shopping precinct you go to:

Sportsgirl
Witchery
Portmans
Myer/DJs
Just Jeans
Sussan
City Beach .... etc.

So, just the same as the UK in that regard then!

I agree here.Adelaide city centre has some different shops but it's all the same when you go to the shopping centres in the suburbs.

sarah-jayne

I guess alot depends on what you like fashion wise. Shopping centres arent too bad here, although I am finding it hard to find clothes I like, use to shop lots in UK, but havent given up it just doesnt seem so important to me.

Try looking on line at stores like Target, Kmart, BigW, Supre, Valley Girl, City chic. There is stuff out there just matter of taste.

Good luck.
Sarah

Pomster

And Jigsaw is all over the place.

For my first couple of years I hated clothes buying as everything felt very old fashioned, but after a while you don't notice. When I go to UK I am astonished at how everyone (regardless of age/body shape) wears whatever is deemed to be fashionable at the moment.

Margaret3

[QUOTE=Glasgowlass;5879848]

went to the outlet place in moorabin yesterday, had lots of these shops and alot more, good day out, personally , for my age and shape i like rivers and target. The main difference i find shopping in mellie compared to scotland, is there is lots of boutiques which gives lots of variety, i love walking up and down chapel st having a look in them, not fussed about the famous bridge st though.

Glasgowlass

[QUOTE=Margaret3;5880181] The shopping in Melbourne is fandabidozie.