Backward?

As everyone knows, the seasons are "upside down" in Australia and it is currently spring here. Shops are full of bikinis, sleeveless tops and hotpants and what's left of wintery stuff is being sold at a discount. There was one burning question I had which elaborate Google searches could not solve in theory, but had to be ascertained in "fieldwork". The question was this: with the Australian summer (and the other 3 seasons) happening 2 months after Europe, the US, etc. does this country actually get our "old" stuff with a delay or are they the pioneers and their current summer trends won't hit our shops until 2012?

Well, at first it was difficult to find out as many shops here sell brands that are not available back home. Then I visited the chic new Westfield shopping mall which houses a branch of Zara (the only one in Sydney apparently) and Ted Baker each and can tell you that the Australians are indeed getting Europe's old collection. Ted Baker's SS collection is very recognisable with bold flowery prints and they currently stock a miniskirt which the Empress had just bought when I visited her in Paris in May. At Zara, I saw a t-shirt I own...

Also, "Midnight in Paris", which I saw weeks ago won't be in cinemas until the end of October here. I love the Australian advertising poster, though, which is so much nicer with the European version with its Van Gogh "Starry Night" motif.

More on the rather unique Australian fashion another time.