The silly season has arrived!

Spring definitely hit Sydney this week. Mercury levels reached 30 degrees this weekend, and the nights are warming up too (we shed the heavy blanket last week). The city is starting to get that buzz. It starts quietly and just keeps building intensity until it is December and everyone is bursting with excitement. Then life is all about minimal clothes, maximum beach, and having a good time. I have recently been told that the summer months in Sydney are often referred to as “the silly season” – genius.

In preparation for this joyous season here are some things to think about:

Loving the idea of this crossover cozzie (cozzie=swimsuit to you Americans). In Sydney swimwear plays a huge role in mainstream fashion. It isn’t unusual to see girls shopping down Oxford Street on a hot summer day wearing shorts and a bikini top. The new Sydney based label Seventh Wonderland, founded by Carlos Aviles and Bonnie Coumbe earlier this year, consists of swimwear-meets-daywear perfect for Sydney women. “Girls today need options, so we’re designing suits that can be worn from the beach to a music festival, paired with your favorite jeans,” says Aviles. All the prints are created by hand and transferred onto Italian fabrics. The result is beautiful and very versatile.

Everyone needs a few “Little Dresses” to get through summer. There are so many amazing ones at Milk Bar in Bondi Beach (Shop 4/157 Curlewis Street via Gould St). Milk Bar carries only Australian labels, including Hussy, Bec & Bridge, and Ru Mu. All the stuff is very feminine and also good pieces for dressing up or dressing down. I just bought this adorable Bec & Bridge dress there. Of course boutiques like that are a bit pricey, but Sportsgirl, General Pants, and Supre also have tons of great dresses.

The Sydney markets are one of the best things about the warm weather, and they are the perfect place to pick up summer accessories. I went to the Bondi Markets this weekend and got a vintage YSL purse, which will go with all summer clothes. I also got the cutest linen beach dress with faux leather straps. I wanted to buy vintage sunnies, charm necklaces, and an amazing brown leather jacket (only 40 dollars!), but you cant have it all…

Choosing the right beach is also important. I love taking the ferry to Manly; it always makes me feel so laid back over there. I used to always go to Bondi cause it is so easy, but I want to branch out more this summer. I went to Tamarama over the weekend, which was lovely. A few friends had a barbi on the rocks, and it was a great way to close the day. Another good end-of-the-day activity is a sunset drink at Bondi Italian. Great people watching (I love observing Australian trendy beach styles).(Mario sipping the day away on a Sunday afternoon-Bondi Italian)