'Fashion-forward' and 'avant-garde' aren't adjectives commonly applied to style and fashion from the Gold Coast. However, with Vogue choosing Australia’s mecca of sand and surf as the location for 2016’s Vogue Fair, it seems Queensland’s poolside style will finally get its moment in the (eternal) sun.
Of course, talking about Gold Coast fashion exclusively would be ambiguous. That strip of sun-kissed, golden land unites citizens of diverse cities, suburbs and subcultures, each with their own style. From beachside aristos in Main Beach to the north, to party enthusiasts in Southern Surfer’s Paradise, the Gold Coast is a veritable mashup of style subcultures. In examining how one might go about dressing for the Gold Coast, the sundry styles of this oft unsung style region become clear.
Main Beach
The northernmost of the Gold Coast’s suburbs, Main Beach was once the epicentre of Queensland’s burgeoning surfing culture. The suburb's name was born rather literally: Main Beach was once the main board-riding beach for people staying in Southport. Before the Jubilee Bridge was built in 1926, visitors would have to cross the Broadwater by ferry, keeping Main Beach somewhat isolated — but how things have changed! Here and now, the well-heeled Australians who descend on Main Beach at every opportunity are as likely to arrive via private jet as ferry.
The most rarefied of Gold Coast destinations, visitors to Main Beach tend to pass their evenings sipping cocktails at the famous Bar Chico, or sampling the region’s celebrated seafood at Omeros Bros at the iconic Main Beach Marina. Main Beach style is markedly different from the other fashion styles of the Gold Coast. Style here takes its inspiration from the US East Coast, and wouldn’t look out of place in the Hamptons, for example. An easy shirt-dress from Isabel Marant Étoile, with its free-flowing fabric, is one such piece that evokes the golden age of 1940s seaside recreation. The male uniform here is equally classic — Polo Ralph Lauren polo shirts abound. Proffer extra coastal poise by wearing them with classic boater shoes.
Surfer’s Paradise
Just to the south of Main Beach, Surfer’s Paradise is the glittering jewel in the Gold Coast’s crown. Just a century ago, the area was little more than underdeveloped farmland before being sold off as part of the Surfer’s Paradise estate for holiday members. Once better remembered (or better forgotten) by most Australians as the site of their coming of age schoolies, Surfer’s Paradise has recently reinvented itself as a centre of culture, nightlife and entertainment.
Here, all roads lead to the Palazzo Versace, the fashion house’s luxurious, classically inspired hotel. A favourite of rock stars and technology billionaires, you’re just as likely to see Keith Richards quaffing his umpteenth glass of Champagne at High Tea as you are to cross Bill Gates in the lobby.
More or less unbeknownst to visitors, the best kept secret of Surfer’s Paradise is the many markets that comprise its social calendar. These markets assemble to a community of pleasure-seekers who browse artisanal wares or sample the latest street food trends, while the up-market Village Markets at the Burleigh Heights State school are a great place to spot emerging Gold Coast fashion labels. Taking cues from the likes of international party animal Giovanna Battaglia, Surfer’s Paradise style icons are likely to be found browsing vintage jewellery in breezy Rag & Bone dresses worn with rustic, Alvaro Gonzalez Roman sandals for a stylish but unfussy BoBo look.
Broadbeach
The southernmost of the Gold Coast’s major suburbs, Broadbeach was once derided as a low-gear, family friendly offering. That was before Pacific Fair underwent a $670 million makeover to become Queensland’s fashion mecca, apparently attracting half of the tenants of the Champs-Élysées in the process. In September 2016, Pacific Fair received fashion’s ultimate seal of approval: hosting Vogue Fair, the magisterial fashion magazine’s gathering of the nation’s glitterati in support of the noble cause of shopping.
Like nonchalant Byron Bay to the far south, Broadbeach style isn’t about clinging to newborn trends. And in spite of the recent influx of attention afforded by Pacific Fair's modest revitalisation, Broadbeach’s unique take on Gold Coast style is timeless. Opting for a loose, unencumbered look — like a dress from Chloé that obscures the form in ribbons of crochet or lace — is a swift portal into Broadbeach style. Men, in a nod to surfing’s golden age in the 1950s, wear vintage-inspired board shorts in stark black or, conversely, jauntily clashing prints for a contemporary take on the style.
One of Australia’s smallest regions, the Gold Coast still manages to command a striking position when it comes to style. Perhaps flying under the fashion radar for so long has enabled the fashion styles of the Gold Coast to emerge so confidently in the 21st century. As the likes of Vogue turn the international spotlight on style and fashion from the gold coast, we can only predict its evolution in full view of the fashion world will be an interesting one.