All The Awesome Australian Things You Can’t Buy (& Some You Can!)

One of the highlights of visiting a new country is scoping out the retail landscape. Discovering new brands, designers, and styles you'd never come across at home is stimulating because it's all about hunting down those items that are fresh to your wide eyes and soon-to-be full hands. Finding something covetable no one back home will have might sound like something a 12-year-old would find joy in, but you know who else likes to be complimented on their new favorite dress and be able to respond, "Oh, this ol' thing — I scooped it up in Sydney last week"? Me. And, I'm sure I'm not alone in that sentiment.

Combating wardrobe boredom and culling unique closet stars is largely about seeking out the hard-to-find, right? So, you could imagine where my mind wandered when I was invited to cover Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Australia. First, I thought about the fashion shows, then the koalas, and, finally, all the threads and goods I'd end up finding on the other side of the world. Well, saw 'em, pet 'em, bought 'em.

So, shopping buddies, with the love of a really good buy in mind, I share with you all the amazing things I stumbled upon Down Under, much of which you, too, can purchase soon right here in the States or with the aid of a small (to large — boo! wah!) international shipping fee, if you feel so inclined. Of course, there are some pieces you won't find anywhere else but Oz. Click with caution — you might end up falling in love with one of those hard-to-get types.