Pull up your socks (side note. Animal playful prints are having a moment), because Australian Fashion Week 2025 (AFW) is here. And, if search trends are anything to go by, Aussies are strutting the streets (and the catwalks) with both comfort and couture on their minds. Thanks to fresh data from Google Australia, when it comes to style, here’s what’s turning heads this season.
First off, interest in AFW as an event is rising faster than a hemlines in a heatwaves. Search Interest in Australian Fashion Week is soaring (up 90% in the last 30 days). And, one name that’s stitching herself into search history is the ever-iconic Carla Zampatti. Aussies are clearly hooked on her signature sophistication, proving that even in a fast-looks kind of world timeless elegance never goes out of fashion.
Speaking of fast… it’s not just the catwalk queens that are racing down the runways. Searches for “what is fast fashion” and “fast fashion and climate change” are picking up speed. Suggesting that Aussies are really thinking about what’s behind the seams. And with sustainability making its way into our search bars, perhaps we have proof that that slow and steady just might win the fashion race.
And, while we might be swiping through red-carpet-ready gowns, our wardrobes are still firmly rooted in reality. Comfort is king, and Australia is clearly dressing the part. Searches for “casual wear” are at an all-time high, with wide-leg jeans and tracksuits leading the lounge-wear revolution. In fact, interest in tracksuits is the second-highest it’s been since those cosy pandemic days of 2020. Yes, we’ve come a long way, but it turns out, our love affair with elastic waistbands is stitched into our souls.
Athleisure is also flexing its fashion muscle again. Searches are peaking, and not just at the gym. From flare leggings to barrel jeans, Aussies want to know how to style their comfy-core looks without looking like they’ve just rolled out of a spin class. (Spoiler: It’s all in the accessories.)
Another interest find we’re wrapping our head around is the queries for cardigans. Apparently, Australia is cardigan-crazy. Search interest is at an all-time high, with everyone rugging up in knits, longs, jackets, and yes, even the classic cotton cardi. It’s giving librarian-chic-meets-coastal-grandma, and frankly, we’re buttoning right up.
FInally, if you think the skort was a fleeting fling from your Year 9 PE days, think again. Searches for “skort” hit an all-time high in Australia late last year, and the obsession is far from over. Whether it’s leopard print, gingham, linen, or micro – Aussies are showing serious skortitude. In fact, we’re the top country in the world searching for this half-skirt-half-short-hybrid. Turns out, when it comes to fashion, we like to split the difference.
While we put our foot down to certain fashion trends, when it comes to footwear frenzies, all rules go out the window. With Aussies embracing a varied selection of shoes. Ballet flats are twirling back into vogue (with “jelly ballet flats” pirouetting into our trending terms), while loafers, mules, and riding boots are galloping ahead. Got questions about your clogs and classics? You’re not alone. “How to style loafers women” is a breakout search right now, proving that even the most sensible shoe can step into the spotlight with a little styling magic. Meanwhile, tabi shoes – those cult-favourite split-toe kicks – are reaching new heights in the Aussie search stratosphere. From “tabi running shoes” to “toe socks,” we’re toe-tally into this quirky trend.
And, in case you need a little bling to pull it all together, sparkle is back in the spotlight. Synthetic diamonds and moissanite engagement rings are rocking the charts, with searches like “marquise diamond ring” and “elongated cushion cut” dazzling searchers. Ethically-sourced sparkle? That’s what we call carat-credible fashion. In the jewellery aisle, flat-back earrings and conch piercings are having a moment, too.
Of course, every good outfit needs a little aesthetic energy, and Aussies are searching for theirs. From the “Nancy Meyers aesthetic” (all cashmere, kitchens and coastal charm) to “coastal grandma” and the sultry “office siren,” we’re in our themed-era, people. It’s no longer just about what you wear, it’s about who you are when you wear it. Power blazer? Office siren. Chunky cardigan and fresh sourdough? Coastal grandma. Tabi shoes and a skort? Dare we say… Aussie chic.
If all of this feels a bit over-hemmed and under-explained, don’t panic. Google Lens is on trend! If you see something you love – on a friend, a model, or even in a blurry TikTok – Lens can help you track it down, even if you have no clue what it’s called (looking at you, micro skort). It’s like having a personal stylist in your pocket. Minus the judgement of realising that skinny jeans are no longer “in”.