Hanging with the ultimate cool girl, Shaz the wallaby.
Earlier this November, I felt downright giddy when I realized my Australia trip was right around the corner. A sunny reprieve in the middle of winter (okay, I live in California, but still)? Yes, please!
I was so blinded by my own sunny outlook that I chose to ignore my Australian relatives' warnings. November, they warned me, was more akin to spring, and rain was far likelier than beach days. "Totally," I agreed as I spread bikinis out on my bed.
Here's the cold, hard truth: Melbourne is chilly. Weather-wise, it's got the moody marine layer of San Francisco with a healthy dash of Seattle fog. It's a gorgeous city but a gray city nonetheless! Your girl was freezing, her dreams of returning stateside a sun-kissed goddess dashed. Ever the optimist and buoyed by a daily diet of piping-hot meat pies, I chose to look on the bright side. I was 11 hours ahead of home, putting me in the unique position of living in the future, baby! With newfound zeal, I hit the streets, credit card at ready and a keen eagle eye trained on what the cool Melbourne girls were wearing.
A GREAT PAIR OF SUNGLASSES
Due to its geographical location, the sun in Australia is no joke. While this meant I got to stock up on some excellent sunscreen (local beauty brands are my favorite souvenirs), it also meant I never went outside without my shades on me. Even on the foggiest Melbourne day, Australians are prudent about their UV protection, meaning a cool array of sunnies is spotted all over the city.
FLORALS? FOR SPRING?
Forgive me for that Devil Wears Prada reference. I'm only human. Floral prints reigned supreme, and I noticed a wide and gorgeous array of brightly colored sundresses on my daily strolls. The women in Melbourne looked like hothouse flowers, draped in structured, flared, and layered numbers that easily took them from day to night.
ANKLE BOOTS
Melbourne is a walking city full of beautiful architecture and great public transportation. A pair of lug-soled booties I packed at the last minute was my daily go-to, and I blended right in among the sea of ankle boots.
A LIGHT TOP LAYER
Did I mention the weather wasn't great? I'd been warned Melbourne is a "four seasons daily" sort of city and that packing a light layer is de rigueur. I spotted lots of great lightweight trenches and oversize but polished denim jackets.
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