Fashion, Footwear and Accessories Buying Guide for Australia

Last reviewed 1 August 2026 by the Ozbuyz Store Editorial Team.

Quick answer: Use the size chart and measurements for the individual product rather than a universal AU, UK, US or EU conversion. Compare your body measurements with the chart, then check the garment’s cut, stretch and actual dimensions. For shoes, measure both feet and compare length and width. For bags, jewellery and watches, check physical dimensions, materials, closures, plating, water-resistance instructions and care before relying on style names or broad claims.

This guide reflects the active Ozbuyz range across men’s fashion, women’s fashion, clothing, sleepwear, underwear and intimates, accessories, handbags, jewellery, watches, hosiery and a limited active footwear range.

Choose the category from fit and use

Body measurements and garment measurements are different

A body-size chart states the body measurements a brand intends a size to fit. A garment measurement states the physical dimensions of the finished item. The difference between the two is ease: the extra room or compression designed into the garment.

For example, a shirt with a 100 cm chest measurement will not necessarily fit only a 100 cm chest. A relaxed shirt needs positive ease; a stretch base layer may use little or negative ease. Check whether the listing describes the fit as slim, regular, relaxed, oversized, compression or maternity and whether the chart refers to the body or the garment.

How to measure

• Chest or bust: keep the tape level around the fullest area without pulling it tight.
• Waist: use the natural waist or the location specified by the garment chart.
• Hip or seat: measure around the fullest area.
• Inside leg: measure from crotch to the intended hem position.
• Shoulder, sleeve and back length: compare these where a tailored or long-sleeve fit matters.

Measure over the underwear or base layer normally worn with the item. Keep the tape level and record centimetres rather than rounding to a preferred size. Where one measurement falls into a different size from another, use the garment shape and the least flexible area to decide.

Do not rely on one international conversion table

Size names are not standardised between all brands, countries or product categories. An Australian women’s size, a UK size and a US size can appear equivalent in a broad chart while the individual garment differs in cut and measurements. Men’s waist sizes can also be vanity-sized rather than matching the garment exactly.

Use this order:

1. Open the chart attached to the individual product or brand.
2. Confirm whether it shows body or garment measurements.
3. Check the fit description and model information where supplied.
4. Compare with a similar garment you own by laying it flat and measuring the same points.
5. Read the return conditions before removing tags or protective packaging.

Large Australian and international fashion retailers similarly use brand-specific charts and warn that sizes can vary. A conversion is a starting point rather than a fit guarantee.

Fabric, fibre and material descriptions

Read the exact composition rather than assuming a fabric name describes the full product. “Cotton feel”, “silk touch”, “vegan leather”, “leather look”, “cashmere blend” and similar language can refer to appearance or a small proportion unless the composition is stated clearly. Under the Australian Consumer Law, claims about composition, quality, origin and other characteristics must not be false or misleading.

• Check the shell, lining, trim, padding and contrast panels separately.
• A blend should state the fibres and proportions where the supplier provides them; do not infer the percentage from which fibre is named first.
• “Genuine leather” describes real leather but does not establish grade, thickness, coating or durability.
• PU, PVC and other coated materials have different heat, moisture and ageing behaviour from leather.
• Natural variation in leather, suede, stone and shell can change colour and texture between individual products.

Imported apparel and shoes can also be subject to Australian trade-description and country-of-origin marking requirements. Country-of-origin claims must give an accurate overall impression; Australian-themed imagery or wording should not imply Australian manufacture without evidence.

Care labels are part of the purchase decision

Australia’s mandatory care-labelling information standard applies to many clothing and textile products, including apparel, suede, skins, hides, leather and fur. It allows English instructions, recognised care symbols or both. Footwear, headwear, belts, handbags and several other product groups are excluded from this particular standard, although any supplied care claims must still be accurate.

Before ordering, check whether the item requires hand washing, separate washing, low temperature, professional cleaning, reshaping, flat drying or protection from heat. A low-priced garment that needs frequent dry cleaning may have a higher ownership cost than expected.

• Follow the maximum wash and iron temperatures.
• Wash dark, contrast and highly dyed items as directed.
• Do not tumble dry, bleach or dry clean unless permitted.
• Remove detachable belts, pads or trims only when the instructions allow it.
• For a product made from more than one material, use the safest instruction for the complete item.

See the current ACCC care-labelling guide.

Shrinkage, colour and product photography

Some natural fibres and knits can change after washing, but a buyer should not assume a fixed shrinkage percentage. Use the care label and any stated pre-washed or shrinkage information. Heat, agitation and drying method can produce more change than the wash cycle alone.

Screen settings, studio lighting, fabric pile, metallic finishes and dye lots can make colours appear different. Review all images, close-ups and the written colour name. A reasonable variation in natural material or dye lot is different from receiving the wrong colour or a product that does not match its description.

Footwear: measure length and width

Footwear sizes vary by brand, last, toe shape and construction. Measure both feet later in the day while wearing the socks or hosiery intended for the shoe. Stand with weight distributed normally, trace or measure the longer foot and compare it with the product’s centimetre chart. The wider foot and the shoe’s internal shape can be as important as length.

• Check whether the chart lists foot length or internal shoe length.
• Confirm the width fitting where available.
• Allow sufficient toe room for the activity without the heel lifting excessively.
• Heels, pointed toes, boots and safety or sports footwear may require category-specific fitting.
• Do not assume an AU, UK, US or EU conversion is identical across brands.

Australian retailer fitting guidance commonly recommends measuring at home with the socks intended for the shoe and using the individual chart. For persistent pain, deformity, diabetes or a medical footwear need, seek advice from an appropriate health professional.

Underwear, intimates, hosiery and sleepwear

Use the body area that controls fit: waist and hip for briefs, underbust and bust for bras or support garments, height and hip for hosiery, and chest, waist or hip for sleepwear. Compression and shaping products should state their intended level and must not be sized down as a substitute for the correct fit.

Check gusset material, seams, wires, closures, removable pads, opacity, stretch recovery and care. For hosiery, compare denier, reinforced areas, height range and whether the product is maternity, compression or ordinary fashion hosiery.

Change-of-mind conditions for intimate products can include hygiene restrictions, but those store policies do not remove rights for goods that are faulty, unsafe, incorrectly described or otherwise fail the Australian Consumer Law guarantees. Review the store policy before opening sealed packaging or removing hygiene strips.

Bags, wallets and organisers

External dimensions do not show how much will fit through the opening or inside a structured bag. Compare:

• internal width, height and depth
• opening length and zip or frame restriction
• strap drop and adjustable range
• handle clearance when worn over a coat
• compartment dimensions for a phone, tablet or laptop
• lining, base reinforcement and closure
• total product weight and any stated load limit

A bag advertised for a particular laptop size may be based on screen diagonal rather than the device’s full dimensions. Compare the actual laptop width, depth and thickness, including its case.

Jewellery materials, plating and stones

Jewellery descriptions should distinguish the base metal from a surface coating. Examples include solid gold of a stated fineness, sterling silver, gold-filled, gold vermeil, gold-plated, silver-plated, stainless steel and unspecified alloy. A plated item is not solid precious metal, and plating thickness and wear life vary.

For stones, check whether they are natural, lab-created, synthetic, imitation or unspecified. “Diamond-like”, “crystal”, “moissanite”, cubic zirconia and lab-grown diamond are different materials. Claims about carat, fineness, metal composition, gemstones and origin must be accurate under the Australian Consumer Law.

Compare chain length, bracelet internal circumference, ring size, earring drop, post or gauge size, total weight and clasp. Body jewellery requires exact gauge and wearable length and should not be used for a fresh piercing unless the material, sterility and professional procedure are appropriate.

Skin sensitivity

Nickel and cobalt are common causes of jewellery contact dermatitis. “Hypoallergenic” is not a guarantee that every person will tolerate the item. Plating can wear and expose the underlying alloy. Anyone with a known allergy should obtain exact material information and follow dermatological advice. Stop wearing an item that causes persistent redness, blistering or itching and seek health advice where required. DermNet’s jewellery-allergy guidance explains common reactions.

Watches: fit, movement and water resistance

Case diameter alone does not determine fit. Compare lug-to-lug length, case thickness, strap width, minimum and maximum wrist circumference, crown position and total weight. A large lug-to-lug measurement can overhang a smaller wrist even when the case diameter appears moderate.

Check quartz, solar, automatic or manual movement; battery or charging requirements; date and chronograph functions; glass material; and access to replacement straps and service. A watch containing a button battery should be kept away from children if the case or removed battery is accessible, and used batteries should go to an approved collection service.

ISO 22810 specifies testing and marking requirements for water-resistant watches, but the marked depth is not permission to use every watch literally at that depth. Follow the individual manufacturer’s activity table. For example, some manufacturers describe ordinary “water resistant” watches as suitable only for accidental everyday contact, 5 bar or 50 m models for activities such as swimming, and higher-purpose diver’s watches separately. Do not operate the crown or pushers underwater unless the manual permits it, and have seals checked after battery replacement or case opening.

Sunglasses and sun-protective clothing

Sunglasses

All sunglasses and fashion spectacles sold in Australia must meet the mandatory standard and carry supplier identity, lens category, description and driving-suitability information. ARPANSA explains that categories 0 and 1 are fashion spectacles with little or no sunglare reduction, categories 2 and 3 are everyday sunglasses, and category 4 is special-purpose very-dark eyewear that must not be used for driving. A darker tint does not automatically mean stronger UV protection.

Check the attached AS/NZS 1067.1 information and whether the product is marked unsuitable for driving. Polarisation reduces glare from reflective surfaces but is separate from the required UV and category testing. See ARPANSA sunglasses guidance.

UPF clothing

UPF describes how well tested fabric blocks solar ultraviolet radiation. ARPANSA’s testing information relates to AS/NZS 4399:2020 and classifies material by its tested UPF. A claim should identify the rated product or fabric and any care conditions. Coverage, fit, stretch, wetness, wear and fabric damage can affect practical protection. UPF clothing should form part of a broader sun-protection approach rather than replace shade, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Sustainability and ethical claims

Claims such as sustainable, eco-friendly, recycled, biodegradable, ethical, carbon neutral or Australian made need clear evidence and context. The ACCC says environmental and sustainability claims must be true, accurate and based on reasonable grounds, and that omissions, imagery and logos can also create a misleading overall impression.

• Check which component contains recycled material and the stated percentage.
• Look for the scope, standard, certifier and certificate number behind a certification claim.
• Distinguish Australian-owned, Australian-designed and Australian-made.
• Check whether an ethical claim applies to one factory, one material or the complete supply chain.
• Treat vague claims without evidence as marketing rather than a measurable product specification.

See the current ACCC environmental-claims guidance.

Returns, faults and product condition

Australian Consumer Law rights apply when clothing, footwear or accessories are faulty, unsafe, not durable, not fit for a disclosed purpose or do not match the description. A business cannot remove these rights with a “no refunds” policy, a sale label or a hygiene statement. The remedy depends on whether the problem is major or minor and the circumstances.

A simple change of mind, choosing the wrong size or deciding the style is unsuitable does not automatically create a statutory right to return. When a retailer offers a change-of-mind policy, its stated conditions apply. Keep tags, boxes, hygiene seals and protective films intact until the fit and product details have been checked indoors. See the ACCC repair, replacement and refund guidance.

Final buying checklist

1. Use the individual product or brand chart, not a universal conversion.
2. Confirm whether the chart shows body or garment measurements.
3. Check fit, stretch, lining, transparency and intended layering.
4. Read the exact fibre or material composition and all care instructions.
5. Measure both feet and review footwear width and shape.
6. Measure bag openings, internal space and strap drop.
7. Verify jewellery base metal, plating, stone type and dimensions.
8. Check watch fit, movement and manufacturer water-use guidance.
9. Look for the required sunglasses label and evidence behind UPF claims.
10. Review change-of-mind conditions while preserving Australian Consumer Law rights.

When those checks are complete, return to Fashion or open the relevant men’s or women’s category from the table above.

How this guide was prepared

This guide was reviewed against the active Ozbuyz Fashion catalogue, the ACCC care-labelling standard, Australian Consumer Law guidance on misleading claims and remedies, Australian Border Force trade-description information, ARPANSA sunglasses and UPF guidance, ISO water-resistance information and dermatology guidance on jewellery allergy. Competitor size-guide research was used only to confirm current online-shopping intent; product-specific measurements and the individual manufacturer’s instructions remain the source of truth.