Heartbreak High - Reclaiming Australia's Cultural Cringe One Outfit At A Time

I'm not here to fuck spiders, so let's do a deep dive into the lewks from season two.

Not a lot comes to mind when I think of Australian fashion currently represented on screen. In the past, we’ve had The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Mad Max making a case for high drag and Dystopia-core. The Matrix was shot in Sydney - can we count that? 

The Hollywood lens can often reduce Australians to the famous white stereotype of the barefoot croc wrestling shrimp-on-the-barbie throwing surfer. Enter Heartbreak High to shake things up, a reboot of the classic 90s show, fronted by Blak, Brown, neurodivergent and nonbinary talent. It touches on aspects of Australian culture relevant to today’s youth, including police treatment of First Nations people, wealth and class divisions and the outdated sexual education afforded to public schools (for UK readers, public schools in Australia mean government schools. The povvo ones, not the posh ones). 

From a fashion perspective, Heartbreak High has been likened to Euphoria, (understandable - so many eye jewels). I don't doubt that if given the global cinematic treatment, Hartley High’s S.L.Ts and CUMLORDS would have been blonde, tanned, decked out in surf brands and eating vegemite toast while discussing their sexual exploits. Instead, we get a more nuanced glimpse into Australian fashion and youth culture by fusing vintage with local labels and a script that, after years of living in London and a lifetime of consuming American media, sounds like home. 

While I question some of the language is simply taking the piss (I’ve never heard any Aussie say “probbo” for “problematic” or “gatho” for “gathering,” but maybe that’s Sydney slang or I’m just old); part of the series charm is sprinkling in quintessential IYKYK references to growing up in Australia. The Nutbush at school formal. Goon of Fortune at a house party. Sasha quoting Democracy Manifest. Malakai crying to Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn following a breakup. Most importantly, Missy sticking gum on a portrait of King Charles and calling the Royal Family a bunch of “inbred imperialist tax vampire pricks” sums up exactly how I feel about the monarchy. Fashion aside, this is just solid TV, but let me break down what everyone wore this season anyway (spoiler alerts ahead, obvs).

Harper is the Eternal Style Icon

In season one, the best outfit award went to Sasha in her sparkly Dyspnea dress at Mardi Gras. However, for season two, Harper and her mullet emerged as the MVP. The character’s wardrobe blends masculine tailoring with Blokecore and punk references. Much of her screen time is spent in vintage Oakley, hoodies from Aussie labels RAMP TRAMP TRAMP STAMP, Sschafer and Old Flame, plus a great Collina Strada moment.

When she’s not in loungewear her outfits are even more impactful. The best look of the series was the slouchy grey three-piece suit worn to the school formal in the final episode with her signature silver jewelry (note the silhouette to match the suit worn by love interest Ant). Other standouts for me included a graphic Ksubi top with deconstructed jeans and visible boxers shorts and a white shirt worn as a dress with a black corset belted over the top in episode one.

As the series is set in Sydney, the location is translated into other characters' vibrantly colored outfits, making Harper, with her darker style, the most Melbourne-coded character. This warms the cockles of my heart as I watch from Thornbury wearing nothing but black. 

Prime Viewing for Aussie Brands

In addition to Harper, Australian labels crop up on several other characters highlighting the talent and creativity of local designers. Darren makes a gagworthy entrance to season two in an Alix Higgins lycra tank top that reads "I'm not scared anymore." Non-Aussies should also take note of Amerie in Sorry I’m Busy, Rebecca Vallance, Fantastic Baby Shakalaka and Cleopatra’s Bling jewelry.

Despite their proximity to the beach, Malakai is almost exclusively seen in colorful chunky knits, with some standouts from House of Darwin and Pass~Port. The greatest on-screen accessory is Sasha’s baby blue ruffled handbag from Sydney label Flux 2.0 (though not Australian, Darren’s pastel God’s Favorite handbag from Praying is a close second and deserves a mention).

No Uniforms, But Tartans and Checks Reign Supreme

For some reason, school uniforms aren’t enforced at Hartley High which is very un-Australian and makes me seethe with jealousy remembering my school years dressed in maroon against my will. Yet, nods to academia are still present with the amount of tartan on screen.

This is a staple in Amerie’s wardrobe, which consists of tartan mini skirts, shoulder bags and suits, while at the housewarming in the penultimate episode, Darren wears a red tartan midi with combat boots. Emphasizing the character’s youth and playfulness, checkerboards are another key print, seen in Quinni’s crochet vests and hair clips, Amerie’s jumpers and Ant’s shirt, which is a throwback to Dusty’s season one wardrobe.

Oodles of Sports References

While Harper was my pick for the best-dressed character, bisexual icon Missy boasts the greatest persona, becoming the internet’s darling after uttering the season’s top quip (“I’m just hot and talking” when asked if she was flirting with Spider). Missy’s wardrobe is the most athletic-forward, with Adidas cut-out sports bras worn with cargo pants and graphic tees with side-stipe trackies.

Elsewhere, motocross references pop up in Amerie’s striped tees and biker jackets. There is also a scene where the S.L.Ts face off against the CUMLORDS in a game of Aussie Rules football, donning the sports’ signature short shorts and long socks because it wouldn’t be an Australian show without footy.

Shit Cunts Get Shit Fits

While the worst characters get their comeuppance or redemption on screen, they are also marked as the villains with the most unfavorable outfits. Ca$h stands as the exception, as he has proven to have a heart of gold, but unfortunately can’t shake his signature eshay style of branded polo shirts and speed dealer sunglasses. Spider’s character arc is represented by his wardrobe.

His initial toxic masculinity is evident opening the season in the Proud Boys uniform, a Fred Perry polo, before eventually less icky Hawaiian shirts and a suit with a pink shirt when he leaves the CUMLORDS, falls in love with Missy and declares he wants to be a better man. Rowan is by far the creepiest of the high schoolers, so he gets the biggest fuck you from the costume department with farmcore checkered shirts and puffy vests.

Honorable Mention: Quinni’s Froggie Hat

Quinni stole every scene she was in with her amazing eye makeup and penchant for sweater vests (note the cut-out heart design from Ukrainian designer Vladyslav Slobodskoy *chefs kiss*). However, I can’t get over the adorable knitted frog bonnet she wears to Taronga Zoo, where she tells Darren she’s tired of masking her autism. Great hat, great TV.

To sum up, season 2 delivered a melting pot of fashion moments and while there are several more to discuss (Sasha's patchwork denim dress and white lace flared trousers), I'll leave it here. Hautties, did I miss anything? Luckily Netflix has renewed the series for a third and final season, allowing me to further dissect everyone's wardrobe. In the meantime, keep an eye on my Silly Little Outfits becoming more Harper-inspired.