Many of you know my oldest daughter lives in Sydney, Australia, and I have made several trips there. Each time I go, I am blown away by the sartorial elegance of Aussie women of all ages. It is an effortless blend of relaxed, coastal ease and polished metropolitan sophistication.

Driven by the country’s sunny climate, Australia-chic favors breathable fabrics, minimalist tailoring, and a “cool-girl” aesthetic. Even in winter, the coldest temperatures average only about 50 degrees. So it is no wonder that the clothing Australians wear is so warm-weather friendly.

One blogger from the website “Funky Forty” goes so far as to saythat “Australian designers truly are the World’s best when it comes to Summer fashion.”

Here are some takeaways from Australian Fashion for our own summer wardrobes.

Key Elements of Australian Style:

• Smart-Casual Staples: Tailored yet unpretentious pieces, such as a crisp white button-down, wide-leg linen pants, and relaxed-fitting trousers.
• Fabric & Fit: Natural fibers, e.g., linens, cottons, gauze, and silk. The silhouette is typically loose, flowing, and comfortable without sacrificing elegance.

Midi/Maxi Dresses: Breezy, tiered, lightweight dresses are the ultimate Aussie uniform.

Outback chic is dominated by warm neutrals (tan, cream, beige), crisp white and earthy tones.

Footwear: Clean white sneakers and high-quality leather sandals or sleek mules are preferred over heavy, uncomfortable dress shoes for daily wear.

Accessories: Talk to any Australian and the absolute singular–most important–accessory in everyone’s closet (and I mean everyone from babies to the elderly) is a HAT. UV rays are considerably stronger in Australia, as the region is very close to the equator. (Making Australia the country with the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.)

Therefore, from nursery school on, every child MUST wear a hat when they go outside. The unequivocal rule is “NO HAT, NO PLAY.” And they mean business.

Most Australian adults have a wardrobe of hats. And, they can be quite chic:

Sunglasses provide the eye protection and always give that “cool girl” vibe.

So there you have it. A primer on Australian summer style. Relaxed, light, loose. Comfortable never looked so good. And the Aussies do it so very well.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t include a photo of my own two favorite Aussie girls.