Maybe it's the rain check for a hot girl summer burning a hole in our back pockets or simply the end-of-year euphoria talking, but we may finally get that sultry season we deserve. New Sydney venues are opening up while others are back on their feet, so if you want to fling yourself into a mass of bodies, only coming up for air in when January hit double digits, you can? With time stretching out before us and nothing else to do but dance, we spoke to 7 creatives in Sydney about how they're dressing for the dance floor this summer. Out of practice or out of ideas? Keep scrolling.
Elle Hioe
Stylist, Photographer and Art Director
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Tell me about your perfect outfit for dancing? What’s the vibe this summer?
Little top, little skirt, little bag, BIG boots and sunglasses. The vibe is sexy, glam, thottie.
Do you have any rave essentials?
Sunglasses so you don’t have to make eye contact with anyone. They make me feel safe.
My music anthem of the summer is…
Bass Boss by Amadeezy.
What’s your favourite dance floor in Sydney?
Mary’s Underground, Pleasures Playhouse and The Bridge if you want to feel feral. But the daytime is cute if you can last long or wake up early.
Xander Khoury
House of Silky Father and Founder of Xaddy's Door List
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Tell me about your perfect outfit for dancing? What’s the vibe this summer?
A wide leg moment to keep you comfy while dancing, something small and sexy on top and either a crossbody or a little handbag just big enough to hold the essentials.
Do you have any rave essentials?
Phone, a packet of Airwaves, lip balm, mini deodorant, eyebrow brush and my asthma puffer!
My music anthem of the summer is…
Don't Phunk With My Heart by Black Eyed Peas ON REPEAT.
What’s your favourite dance floor in Sydney?
Anywhere that a Xaddy's Door List party is happening! I selfishly only curate parties I want to go to haha.
Niamh Galea
Designer of Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp
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Tell me about your perfect outfit for dancing? What’s the vibe this summer?
My perfect dancing outfit is something that shows off my tramp stamp and is super glamorous. I never pre-plan looks because sometimes I feel like dressing like a princess and sometimes like a skater boy. But I think this summer is about silver, pink, exposing ur undergarments and throwing everything off with a daggy backpack or jeans.
Do you have any rave essentials?
My rave essentials include pockets with zips, sneakers and tying my hair up in plaits with ribbons. Light and layered clothing for pulling things off as you sweat!
My music anthem of the summer is…
Do I Look Like A Slut? by Avenue D.
What’s your favourite dance floor in Sydney?
I love impromptu dance floors; when people at the pub start a dance floor or your friends soirée descends. The rtts.land first birthday party was my fave dance floor this summer for this reason and because my favourite DJs – Angie Osman and Bastafino – played.
Lynn Mathuthu
Model and Podcaster
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Tell me about your perfect outfit for dancing? What’s the vibe this summer?
A black bathing suit, sunkissed with remnants of salt water from Clovelly and some 3/4 shorts in whatever form you desire; denim, silk, boxing, corduroy. If the Sydney summer begs you to show more leg, pair it with a micro mini skirt of some sort. I enjoy a kitten heel, my staple is a baby pink one. A vintage throwaway purse to rest on the crook of your arm with all your summer essentials (headphones, sunscreen, lip balm, perfume, house keys, opal card, and a dream).
The vibe is Jennifer Coolidge in a Palazzo with hot foreigners. I’ll definitely be hopping from beach to a day party to the club.
Do you have any rave essentials?
The besties, a lighter and earplugs. Hot girls don’t get tinnitus.
My music anthem of the summer is…
Dependent on my mercurial temperament. Am I swaying idly to a Rick Nowels production with Lana Del Rey vocals or am I stomping down Edgecliff Road to a Shygirl symphony? Either way, I’m in good company.
What’s your favourite dance floor in Sydney?
The Bridge Hotel. Obviously dependant on the event, however it’s so sexy and fun and feels reminiscent of pre-Covid Sydney. Cool girls, skimpy outfits and sexy unrelenting beats.
Honor Munro
Model
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Tell me about your perfect outfit for dancing? What’s the vibe this summer?
The “perfect” outfit for dancing must fit a few criteria. For me, this means there are options for outfit changes or ‘reveals’ within the one outfit. For example, clubs are super hot in summer, especially in Sydney, so I need to be able to strip off layers seamlessly and for it to look totally intentional. In the same breath, if I’m at a rave until morning, those hours between 4am and 6am the temperature drops dramatically. So you need that option of a warm coat or something similar to go over your itty bitty rave fit. This is also helpful because, as a queer woman, the places I feel comfortable being in my itty bitty fit are great, but getting to and from these places through the general public are a whole other story. I love the freedom I get from covering myself up and transitioning fluidly from the rave to the Uber, or busy street.
These ‘reveals’ serve more than just a practical purpose, however. The dramatic effect of stripping out of your cocoon to reveal your gorgeous, sweaty, glowing body clad in the iridescent fragments of fabric you’re wearing underneath, is the most fun on the dance floor and you will have everyone gagged.
The perfect outfit for dancing isn’t about what brand or where something is from. Outfits that are made from found objects, things you make yourself that you feel comfortable and sexy in are the always the best, regardless of what other people think or feel.
Do you have any rave essentials?
- Charged phone (portable charger if you have one).
- Lip balm.
- A good crew who you love and trust.
- Muesli bar (protein, carbs etc will keep you going on the dance floor better than anything else).
- Fruit (sugar for the same reason). There’s nothing more refreshing than being handed a slice of mandarin, I credit my friend Seb for this. I was recently handed a cherry tomato which was surprisingly delicious.
- Ear plugs (I notoriously love to dance right next to the speaker but you gotta protect those ears!)
- Plenty of rest.
- A positive attitude.
- Tolerance and kindness towards everyone you cross paths with is essential.
My music anthem of the summer is…
Stylish Tantrum by Roza Terenzi.
What’s your favourite dance floor in Sydney?
Honestly, it really depends on the event! The Bridge Hotel, for its epic security and amazing outdoor area, anything Club Mince, Pleasures Playhouse, Factory Theatre, Oxford Underground and a secret undisclosed location ;)
Rhys Kosakowski
Dancer
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Tell me about your perfect outfit for dancing? What’s the vibe this summer?
My perfect dancing outfit always includes a thick white sock, a vintage cool-tone bandanna rolled into a headband, a Hanes white singlet and a pair of old adidas sports shorts. Shoes I would pair that are some New Balance or Dunlops. So basically very John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Do you have any rave essentials?
A pair of glasses and water.
My music anthem of the summer is…
In the Mix (Fast Eddie Remix) by Mixmasters.
What’s your favourite dance floor in Sydney?
Either Club 77 or about to be ARQ ;)
Mercedes Rigby
Model
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Tell me about your perfect outfit for dancing? What’s the vibe this summer?
I’ve been very much into my Bloch unitard paired with knee high boots or a sneaker. Also I love a sheer dress moment, maybe with a bikini underneath. I love those moments you’re overheating on the dance floor and you strip off a layer to cool down!
Do you have any rave essentials?
Water!
My music anthem of the summer is…
My music anthem of the summer is Paradise by Vengaboys.
What’s your favourite dance floor in Sydney?
Pleasures Playhouse or a sunny morning dance at The Bridge Hotel.
Images: @14strk @ramtramptrampstamp @xaddysdoorlist @honorsworld @xanderkhoury
