Stranger's offhand comment shows what's wrong with Australian culture

News.com.au

24-07-2025

A Sydney woman was doing a classic coffee run with her sister in Bondi before a day of shopping the boutiques in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.
Melanie Quick and her sister Courtney both have a penchant for good style, but as they ordered their matchas and waited for them to arrive, a stranger made a comment to them that caught them off guard.
They asked, 'Why are you so dressed up? Where are you going?'
Ms Quick was wearing a cream quarter-zip sweater tucked into a slouchy silk maxi skirt and flats, while Courtney wore a faux fur coat and black jeans.
While many might consider their outfits 'extra', by Aussie standards, where everyone seems to get around in activewear, it was no ballgown and heels.
So it made her wonder, why does it feel so wrong to dress nicely in Australia these days?
The 'overdressed' remark
'My mum always encouraged us to wear what makes us feel our best, and always shares stories about how stylish her own mother was, so I guess a sense of self-expression runs in our family,' Ms Quick told news.com.au.
'I always found so much joy in putting together an outfit, even if it's for something simple, like getting a coffee. I don't enjoy wearing activewear unless I'm working out or at home.'
So when the stranger asked them that question, with a subtle air of judgment, she responded quite directly and refused to feel embarrassed.
'I just said we were here for coffee and offered no other explanation,' she said.
Others agree we have a fashion issue down under
After making a TikTok about the encounter, she was met with overwhelming support from others who thought Aussies were far too comfortable dressing down.
One comment read: 'Australia is honestly one of the most poorly dressed countries … every other country I've travelled to, people dress to the 10s wherever they go but here we call it a 'day out in town' if it's more than a T-shirt and jeans'.
Another noted: 'I found that when I was in Europe, genuinely no one batted an eye at my outfits, everyone was so stylish and put together, especially in Italy. But when I dress like this in Australia, all I get are stares and questions like 'Who are you dressing up for?' Ummm myself? We hate individuality here'.
Is Tall Poppy Syndrome at play?
Ms Quick believes this has to do with our laid-back, outdoor culture, where wearing athleisure is the unofficial uniform.
According to a recent study, 78 per cent of Aussies say they wear activewear as casual wear when they're out and about.
Around 40 per cent of people said they wore activewear most days, if not every day.
But she also thinks something deeper is at play that contributes to people not wanting to appear as if they're trying too hard.
'When someone dresses a bit differently or is 'overdressed' – Tall Poppy Syndrome comes into play, which affects how we react to confidence and ambition,' she said.
Tall Poppy Syndrome is an Australian term that describes the tendency of people to belittle or undermine those who stand out.
'Even something as small as dressing nicely can be seen as being attention-seeking,' she added.
Perhaps this is a collective 'cultural cringe'
According to Jacob Loaf, an Aussie fashion commentator, this phenomenon is part of our country's collective 'cultural cringe' towards people who take pride in their fashion sense.
'Australians fear dressing up,' he said, adding that this exists for men as well as women.
'When people even want to wear pants and nice shoes as opposed to a Gymshark tee and Kmart pants, it's frowned upon.'
'Why is hyper-casual clothing the societal norm?' he asked.
Why people dress better overseas
In fashion forums and Reddit communities, this topic is also a common subject of discussion.
'Why do we dress so casually here compared to Americans or the French?' someone asked in the r/AusFemaleFashion forum.
Many comments mentioned our climate, citing our year-round warm weather as a reason why people choose less formal, more relaxed clothing.
'Coats, blazers, and jackets that can add polish to an outfit aren't needed much,' said one.
Some also pointed out that we don't have many 'walkable' cities, which means people spend a lot of time, often on public transport, getting around, meaning they opt for more comfortable outfits.
Another raised the point that it was to do with our limited access to upmarket clothing labels.
'Our mainstream fashion is very basic, and our niche brands can be over-the-top colourful – so if you want something nicer and elegant, it's next to impossible to find,' claimed one.
Meanwhile, someone else claimed that it's because Aussies generally don't have many formal events to go to, and our lives revolve more around everyday activities.
'Embrace individual style'
Despite all these discussions, Ms Quick says she isn't going to reconsider her fashion choices and will continue to dress in ways that make her feel confident.
'I think it's time we start to embrace individual style and celebrate people who want to express themselves through fashion,' she said.
'At the end of the day, what we wear is an extension of who we are, and I love seeing people feel confident and happy in their clothes. I truly think that deserves to be celebrated.'