The New Standard in Australian Dressing — The Brands we Keep Returning to.

Australian dressing has become less about following a single uniform and more about building a wardrobe with a clear point of view. The strongest labels are creating pieces that feel polished without becoming predictable, using beautiful fabrications and silhouettes that still leave room for personal styling.

This edit brings together the names we keep returning to. It moves from established Australian designers to small made-to-order studios, with a New Zealand favourite and a Sydney boutique bringing emerging global talent into the mix.

Some are where we find the foundations we wear constantly. Others are saved for the unexpected piece that changes the mood of an entire outfit. Together, they reflect a more considered approach to getting dressed, specifically one that values individuality over the pressure to chase every new trend.

Clea Galerie

Founded in 2021 by Natasha Gordon, CLEA GALERIE is an Australian luxury label defined by exceptional cut, finish and quietly confident design. Its collections balance masculine tailoring with feminine detail, creating polished pieces that feel modern without becoming trend-led. Basically the kind of wardrobe additions that continue working well beyond a single occasion.

Par Moi:

PAR MOI is the antithesis of fast, disposable fashion. Launched by Ashiya Omundsen in 2019, each piece is designed, drafted, cut and sewn in Melbourne using deadstock fabric, with garments made to order in limited quantities. The output is seasonless clothing with personality, shaped by nostalgic references and an unmistakably handmade quality.

MAISON ESSENTIELE:

MAISON ESSENTIELE began as an Australian sleepwear label in 2019 before evolving into a complete ready-to-wear wardrobe. Its current world draws on vintage lingerie, ’90s minimalism and city dressing, pairing sensual fabrics with clean tailoring. We return for pieces that feel glamorous while remaining wearable, from delicate lace to leather outerwear and refined everyday essentials.

Lucinda Babi:

Lucinda Babi approaches fashion with the intimacy of a studio practice. Founded in 2018 and based in Melbourne/Naarm, the label creates modern, ethical clothing on a made-to-order basis, with pieces handcrafted in-house. Voluminous silhouettes, intricate ties and unexpected fabric combinations give the collections a romantic sense of nostalgia while keeping every garment distinctly individual.

Friends with Frank:

Friends with Frank has built its name on making everyday dressing feel more resolved. Established in Melbourne in 2012 by Julia McCarthy, the independent label focuses on versatile wardrobe staples, rich fabrications and collections designed to work with previous seasons. The appeal is in the balance of being classic enough to wear repeatedly, but finished with a shape or styling detail that keeps it from feeling basic.

Maggie Marilyn:

MAGGIE MARILYN is the New Zealand favourite that naturally belongs in this edit. Founded by Maggie Hewitt in 2016, the label combines practical femininity with a commitment to transparent supply chains and regenerative, organic or repurposed fibres. Its romantic silhouettes are grounded by strong outerwear and thoughtful proportions, creating clothes designed to hold meaning beyond the season in which they were released.

Anna Quan:

Anna Quan has spent more than a decade refining the language of understated Australian luxury. Founded in 2013, the label is recognised for modern tailoring and trans-seasonal designs that make dressing feel special without becoming complicated. Clean lines are often offset by an unexpected proportion or a sharper silhouette, giving even the most minimal pieces a distinct point of view.

Reborne Shop:

Reborne Shop is less a traditional boutique than a discovery point for fashion’s newer voices. Based in Chippendale, Sydney, it curates emerging designers from Australia and overseas across clothing, accessories and footwear, with regular pop-ups adding to the sense of discovery. We look to Reborne when a wardrobe needs something less expected. Directional pieces with enough individuality to become the focus of an entire outfit.

What connects these names is not one shared aesthetic…

…but the sense that every piece has been designed with a reason to exist. Whether that comes through precise tailoring or intricate handwork, each offers something specific enough to make a wardrobe feel personal. These are the names we expect to keep returning to.