Footy finals fashion

By Sam Goss

Melbourne is a rather exciting city to call home in the latter months of the year.

As any local knows, September is a time where footy finals rule the land, ensuring that even the most unenthusiastic of sports supporters have some sort of AFL-related event to attend.

If you are attending a game (and don’t feel the need to dress like Joffa in team colours and a sparkly wig) jeans of any kind are your best bet as you will be sitting down and will need to be comfortable.

To avoid looking like a tragic wannabe WAG, women should opt for a sturdy boot with a comfortable heel. Stilettos are NOT okay at the football.

Layered knits or a chic faux fur teamed with a coloured fedora or beanie will give you an elegantly-casual vibe to ensure you retain some semblance of class whilst you are sipping wine from a plastic cup and spilling hot-dog sauce down your front. 

After the footy winds down there is the spring racing carnival to look forward to. The latest collection by Sydney-based label Camilla and Marc showcased a lot of chic racing attire, and showing support for Australian designers is always a bonus.

Think pastels and structured, asymmetrical shapes to win big in the fashion stakes. Avoid anything too glitzy (it’s daytime) and flesh-revealing (IT’S DAYTIME).

A classic blazer is a sound investment and, if you acquire one with pockets, you have hit the spring racing fashion jackpot as you have somewhere to store your mascara and Band-Aids.

Men who dare to be different should head on down to the suiting department at Topman on Chapel St. Leave the pinstripes, wide collars and Oakley sunglasses combination to the bogans of years gone by and give good tailoring, unconventional shirts and classic wayfarers a go.

A man in a good suit with a quirky twist is at once dashing and approachable.

The best advice? Wear something that’s comfortable enough to spend the day in, covered enough to see your Nan in and cool enough to get street-style snapped in. And go easy on the wine.