Winter? In Perth

In Qatar, I always laughed at how in ‘wintertime’ when the temperature dipped below 100˚, people felt the need to dress like it was cold.  Out came the warm jackets (leather was extraordinarily popular), wool hats, sweaters, and scarves because obviously it gets a bit chilly when it’s only 80˚ or 90˚.  Granted in pre and post sunrise hours, it occasionally got a bit nippy, but winter apparel was worn all day, even during the peak heat of the middle of the afternoon.  And of course, the air conditioning was never turned off in houses, hotels, offices, shopping malls, or cars.  So while I was out sun bathing at the pool in a bathing suit in ‘winter,’ others would be going around town all bundled up and relaxing inside in air conditioning spaces, also all bundled up.

But I have been observing that the 'it’s time to wear warm clothes because the calendar says it’s winter but the thermometer says it’s 70˚' phenomenon, happens not just in the Middle East, but also in Western Australia! 

The official start of Perth’s winter (characterized in guide books as consisting of rainy days and mild temperatures) is June.  Already this week I have seen people out in wool coats, hats, gloves and scarves.  People at work are wearing turtlenecks and tweed and women are wearing heavy opaque stockings with their skirts.  And me?  Well, it feels like what I would classify as East Coast spring weather and except for the addition of a rain coat or umbrella, I'm still dressing in short sleeves, capris, and other appropriate spring apparel.  But please don't think I'm the only one out in the city in shorts.  Although in the MIddle East, people were at least consistent in their 'winter' weather wear, here in Perth, people seem to be a bit confused.  And I'm not talking confused in an Ugg boots and mini skirt combination way.  Because just this week, I have spied  the following weather contradiction wardrobes:

• Women in short sleeve shirts and gloves (winter gloves, not Michael Jackson break dancing gloves).  At first I noticed this trend on the bus, and thought people just didn't want to hold on barehanded, but then I started spotting this trend all over the streets of Perth.
• Men and women in shorts and winter jackets (wool and leather).  I really have nothing to say about this, I'm just confused.
• Women with scarves bundled around their heads like Russian baboushkas when it's 70˚ and sunny.  And generally, the rest of their outfits don't lend themselves to the it's frigid outside effect.

I wondered if people are just preemptively preparing themselves for winter but according to some colleagues, this is it.  Those I know who have grown up here are finding this 70˚ weather cold enough and are already itching for spring. I'll have to see how the next few months go, but it seems like H and I have been sent to another winter (as we know it)-free location.  But I'm left wondering, which is odder?  Wearing a full winter ensemble in warm weather or mixing and matching winter and summer apparel?  Western Australians, maybe you just want to help yourselves to another beer to warm up?