Surf rider

With Melbourne weather heating up, then cooling down, then pouring down, then heating up again, a common problem for fashion-savvy Melburnians is “what the heck do I wear during these unpredictable summer nights?”

Take your inspiration from the classic Australian surf film Puberty Blues and slip into neon colour and kitschy prints to channel a surfer babe vibe this summer.

The “surf luxe” trend is being fast-tracked to the forefront of fashion this season, with acidic yellow, fluorescent green and neoprene pieces all infiltrating recent Australian collections.

For those of you surf neophytes like myself, neoprene is a synthetic rubber typically used when making wetsuits. Australian fashion prince Josh Goot has based an entire collection around neoprene fabrics, showing graphic print versions, as well as structured black, as seen on celebrity fashionista Lara Bingle.

The arrival of UK chain store maven Topshop to Melbourne shores has also brought with it a slew of affordable surf-chic pieces.

For the cooler nights, throw on a pair of baby pink or printed skinny jeans, a good basic grey t-shirt and a fluorescent knit for when the winds pick up – it’s part ’90s grunge, part Gold Coast surfer and perfectly on-trend for the current season.

Melbourne boutique chain Green With Envy offers a more high-end version of the trend, for those who want to inject a summer vibe into their wardrobe yet aren’t quite surfer chic.

Its in-house label Nicholas has offered up neon-lime green sheer blouses and electric blue dresses which, when teamed with their rose-gold neck plates, create a high fashion take on a cool street trend.

You don’t need to be a Blue Crush surf hero to pull off this trend – just sport some neon colours, cool prints and a laid back attitude. Surfboard optional.