Comme des Garçons

The hallmarks of classic Comme des Garçons – dark and off-kilter – have always boded well with the Melbourne audience. The brand’s ever-growing list of distinct clothing and accessories lines means that Comme’s unorthodox style is available for shoppers of all ages and budgets. That includes twenty-something ladies, who team the brand’s Play T-shirts with long pleated skirts and sneakers.

At Melbourne’s flagship store you’ll find current season clothing from six of the brand’s 18 or more lines. Pay attention to the following breakdown, because it can get confusing.

Upstairs is the womenswear. There’s Comme des Garçons Comme des Garçons (or Comme Comme for short), a separately designed range that takes the conceptual elements of the CDG mainline and transplants it onto more wearable silhouettes.

Then there’s Comme des Garçons Girl, a preppier offering – think Japanese schoolgirl with more pink, embroidery and cropped silhouettes.

Downstairs is the menswear: Comme des Garcons SHIRT and its newer offshoot Comme des Garcons SHIRT BOY. SHIRT naturally has a particular focus on interesting shirting, but there’s also outerwear and pants on offer. The BOY pieces have a streetwear leaning.

Comme des Garcons SHIRT Forever does quality basics season after season. Play Comme Des Garcons is the casualwear line for men and women characterised by dots, stripes, and the instantly recognisable heart face logo.

All these lines are released simultaneously around the world, meaning whatever
a CDG store in London has at any given point, Melbourne has too. This store displays its wares on scaffolding and features a floor-to-ceiling white curved wall.