BOYS For young boys, it’s all about new rave right now. That means absolutely no facial hair and overall neat hairdos. Short back and sides with a little fringe is the standard. Sweaters are big and puffy, almost knee length, with either fluorescent or neon, silver-y or simple graphical patterns. Patrik Söderstam and Bernhard Willhelm are really big. T-shirts are either oversize or really slim. The brands are obscure and vintage, like BOY London. This shirt was bought in an Indian store in a Stockholm suburb run by a guy who doesn’t bother unpacking his deliveries. You just step into what looks like his office and go through the boxes of cling-film-wrapped clothes yourself. Pants are usually super-skinny jeans. Tights are happening for boys here too. For shoes, it’s big, white, loosely-tied Reeboks or Nikes. Some certain boys—mainly the ones who enjoy doing it with other boys—are using man bags.

GIRLS Girls are going for messy, straight-out-of-bed hair. You’ll need to go through extensive bleaching and recoloring to get it right. They also use bikini tops instead of regular bras. Band back patches are getting rediscovered. Shorts are still pretty popular. These are actually black gymnastics panties. If it’s cold, girls will switch to chlorine-bleached jeans with short legs and a high waist. They give you a bit of a gut even if you’re skinny. Short skirts, still with a high waist, are another option. Worn out t-shirts with band logos or goofy tiger, eagle, or kitten prints are popular. This one says “I Love Cats.” Opaque black stockings are the only nylons allowed. Shoes are either soft, flat boots that ride down a bit around the ankle, biker boots, or vintage TGIF waitress sneakers. Cheap Monday jeans are huge for both sexes.

BOYS Frugality is the main theme here, with Cheap Monday jeans on everyone’s arse and $5 knock-off Wayfarers on their heads. Old Levi’s are staples, paired with white tees/shirts/singlets. The only rule is that they must be fresh out the pack. Nudie jeans and flannelette (flanny) shirts are big also. Facial hair is there but barely. Boys in Melbourne are into the 50s faux tough guy look, so there are a lot of thin black ties tucked into covered-button dress shirts with sleeves rolled up and tightly fitted black jeans. Shoes are very pointy, thanks largely to Italian shoemaking legend Rocco, who custom designs from his store behind a train station. Sydney boys are a different story. On the whole there’s a lot more color and tight jeans are worn with something like an oversize, brightly-colored, bold-patterened Material Boy or Ksubi t-shirt.

GIRLS It’s summer in Australia right now and dresses are the official uniform for girls. Neutral and one-toned dresses are tweaked with badge-adorned vests, bright scarves, chunky, often handmade jewelry, and super-styled hair: Fringes, fringes, fringes. Legs are usually bare with cheap flats during the day and vintage pumps at night. But our favorite Aussie look now is something we like to call Pastel City. It’s very girly with light, cotton dresses in pastel colors and messy, childlike hair with cute thrift-store accessories. Our model is wearing a Filipino housedress, a vintage belt, Tony Bianco shoes, vintage parrot earrings, and a locket her mum gave her for Christmas. Many American boys feel that Australia should be exporting girls like this to our shores instead of pasty cadavers like Nick Cave and hyperspazzes like Paul Hogan. Do you hear us, Australia? Send more of your sassy-accented Filipino-descended girls.

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