Triple J presenter reveals why she hates Australian Fashion Week

An Australian radio host has come out swinging against the Australian fashion industry following Australian Fashion Week 2024. 

Abby Butler, who co-hosts Triple J‘s drive show, took to TikTok on Thursday with an extraordinary rant about the ‘feeling’ she had whenever she saw a post about AFW. 

‘Australian Fashion Week. I’ve been getting so much content from it on my feed and I’ve been feeling this really weird, vague emotion when I see it,’ said Abby, who posts under the TikTok handle ‘FlabbyGutler’. 

Abby said she’d finally realised the feeling was jealousy – not for the guests attending, but for those who can fit into the kind of clothes being modelled on the runway. 

‘I don’t want to speak for anyone else but being a size 16 to 18, it’s f**king impossible. It is so hard,’ she lamented. 

‘As someone who lives style and cares about fashion and loves talking about it and engaging in it, it is near impossible to walk into a store in Australia and find clothing that fits.’

Abby conceded that while there are plenty of Australian retailers that provide plus-size options, she finds it especially hard to find clothing that she actually likes. 

‘I know that there are retailers who are doing it well, but so much of it is like body con it is mid-length shift dresses, which is fine if that’s your thing. But for those who I don’t know, I feel like I want to dress a little more masculine,’ she said. 

She went on to complain that it took ‘months of research, hundreds of dollars and literal tears’ to find a pair of jeans that fit.

‘It’s so hard. And I just watched this Australian Fashion Week content and I’m like, “I wish, I wish.” 

Abby’s followers were quick to share their own grievences with the Australian fashion industry in the comments section. 

‘I find it so hard to look nice and chic while shopping for size 16. And all I want to do is feel pretty,’ one user complained. 

‘Thank you for saying this!! The privilege for thin people in Australian fashion is insane and needs to be amended,’ another wrote. 

‘Wanting to scream every time i want to buy pants and they’re never available in my size. Was feeling the exact same thing while watching the fashion week videos,’ yet another user commented. 

KIIS FM shock-jock Kyle Sandilands also threw his support behind Abby live on Tuesday’s Kyle And Jackie O Show. 

‘I get it. It’s so true. Now, I don’t normally care about the Triple J types, but it really resonated with me. I can’t go anywhere [to buy clothes],’ Kyle complained. 

‘If I go into Zara, forget it! Everything’s for petite Asian men!’ he added. 

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