Outfit Inspiration: Australian Birds

I remember when bird watching first crept up on me. I had parked my car at work and was making the brisk walk in to the office for another exciting day of answering emails and staring at excel. I looked up and saw a duck on a tree and thought "woah that's a cool looking duck". I pulled out my phone and took a picture. Since then every time I saw a cool looking bird on a tree or on a street sign or chilling on the grass I took a picture. Something about seeing a bird just made me feel good, it made me feel more present in the moment and connected me to nature. I started thinking about how aesthetically pleasing they were and how I could incorporate their feathers into my everyday style.

I live in Australia, which is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. It is home to between 600,000 to 700,000 species, most of which are endemic to Australia, which means they are found nowhere else in the world, according to the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute. Australian fashion is also unique with Australian designers focusing on natural fabrics, sustainable practices and relaxed fits.

I have come up with a list of my favourite Australian Birds and paired them with an Australian designer brand that matches it's aesthetic.

Galah and Aje

The rosy pink Galah with its grey feathers covering its back, wings and undertail resembling an overcoat has a very similar palette to Aje. Aje is a brand that is dedicated to raw beauty and tough feminity.

The dresses are ruched in a way that creates texture almost like feathers. The drapery of the dresses is playful much like the Galah itself, with a lot of off the shoulder silhouettes and big puff sleeves.

Where the Aje becomes tough is with it's athletic brand called "Aje Athletica". Aje Athletica is made for movement and is adaptable much like the Galah which is constantly moving in search of favourable feeding grounds. The athletic clothing is made up of muted neutral colours and is great to wear on planes, to brunch and pilates.

Magpie and Witchery

Most Australians fear being swooped by a Magpie. Swooping is when a magpie defends its nest from predators by flying downwards to the predator in an aggressive manner. Much like how a girl boss will defend her role in the office, the Magpie is fiercely territorial.

The brand Witchery started by offering working Australian women affordable fashion. It then evolved with a focus on quality and design.

Besides it's fierce nature the magpie is known for its intelligence and can remember faces. Dressing in corporate attire is one thing but being able to back yourself up with facts and figures is the key to success and is often forgotten about in modern day workplaces where sycophantic behaviour is rewarded.

Rainbow Lorikeet and Gormans

By far my favourite bird the Rainbow Lorikeet is brightly coloured, with an aqua blue head, bright orange and yellow breast and emerald green coloured wings. Seeing the colours of the Rainbow Lorikeet would brighten anyone's day. The Gorman clothing brand is equally bright in its designs often collaborating with artists for collections and giving full credit. The designs are unique featuring bright bold prints but the fits of clothing are relaxed and contemporary.

Rainbow Lorikeets are social animals that travel in noisy flocks, where there is strength in numbers. The Gorman brand finds its strength in numerous artist collaborations, shouting creativity from the rooftops.

Regent Honey Eater and Sass and Bide

The Regent Honeyeater has a distinct plumage with yellow spots that cascade into bright yellow feathers that are highlighted by the black body. Equally Sass and Bide has an unmistakable edgy look, it was created by two best friends who had a creative vision to be strong, beautiful and obscure.

The Regent Honeyeater is critically endangered and is rare to see much like the daring designs of Sass and Bide. Australian design isn't always edgy or provocative as it generally tries to fit into the mainstream or favour simplicity and Sass and Bide breaks through that much like the striking yellow feathers of the Regent Honeyeater.

There is a strong connection between the Australian way of life and nature. With stunning beaches and rugged outback it is difficult to not appreciate nature. Our fashion taste reflects where we are in the world and we tend to dress for comfort and appreciate versatility in a garment. The designers featured add a distinctive flair and remind me of the unique place in which I live.