Sure, scrolling through your favourite brands’ wares online and hitting “add to cart” is an easy way to shop – but nothing quite beats the excitement and magic of the in-store experience. You can touch fabrics, see colours up close and try on garments to get a feel for how they actually look before taking the plunge. Recently, shopping in-store has become easier with a flurry of openings that have expanded the local bricks-and-mortar scene. Here are three new spots to stop by on your next Melbourne shopping spree.
Friends With Frank
Melbourne label Friends With Frank adds a new flagship boutique on Gertrude Street to its Richmond showroom, and it already boasts a bumper crop of local labels like Best Jumpers, Handsom, Aesop and Ess Laboratory. Much like the label’s pared-back range of basics, stylish outerwear and trans-seasonal dresses, the retail store is minimal and considered with an air of quiet luxury. Designed by Georgina Jeffries, the space features a rich ox blood-coloured facade that contrasts with soft, textural details inside. Think jute-carpeted walls, relaxed linen curtains, soft timber cabinetry and brushed silver shelves.
We think you might like Access. For $12 a month, join our membership program to stay in the know.
SIGN UPKsubi
Aussie-born noughties streetwear favourite Ksubi has experienced a rebirth over the past few years, gathering fans across the world with permanent digs in New York, LA, London, Miami and Chicago. Now, after closing all its Australian stores in 2014, the bold denim brand is returning to home soil with its first Australian flagship on Little Bourke Street. Fitted out by AZB Creative (Sydney’s The Cumberland, Mjolner and Kittyhawk), the edgy space features polished concrete floors, walls of textured paint, metallic silver curtains and black accents throughout. Pop by to try on its newly launched collection with basketballer Patty Mills, plus browse through classic hard-wearing styles including the Playback Heritage and Low Rider jeans.
321 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Who Boutique
Who Boutique has been a family affair for more than 23 years. First launched in 2001 in a shopfront in St Kilda, the store is run by mother-and-daughter duo Dina and Tali Zevi. It’s seen a Scandi-chic rebrand since its early days, and now stocks global “it” girl labels like Gimaguas, Paloma Wool, Miu Miu and Baum Und Pferdgarten. Its newly opened boutique joins Aussie names like Camilla and Marc, Hansen and Gretel, and Venroy on High Street, Armadale.