The Australian, Shopping Guide

Where to s heoatp

melbourne Chadstone (01) Boasting more than 500 stores (and expanding), Chadstone is Melbourne’s premier shopping centre. With the largest collection of designer brands under one roof, its offering includes Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, Prada, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo. Complemented by day spas, beauty salons and an array of dining offerings, it’s easily accessible from the CBD with a free shuttle available to tourists and extended trading hours on Thursday and Friday nights. Clean, bright and airy, it is currently in the processes of adding a state-of-the-art cinema, new dining precincts and over 45 retailers including international fashion flagship stores.

1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone chadstoneshopping.com.au

Chanel (02) Just over a year old, Chanel’s prominent address on the corner of Russell Street and Flinders Lane looks straight out of Paris. Australia’s second flagship store, it adjoins the Grand Hyatt hotel and boasts over 700 square metres of retail space. Accessories are on the chic ground level, ready-to-wear on the first floor. Inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel’s Parisian apartment on 31 rue Cambon, it’s fitted with a sofa, coffee table and even a screen streaming footage of the latest runway collections. The stylish living-style space was designed by NYbased architect of-the-moment Peter Marino. Stylists are on hand to assist VIP customers in the private shopping area.

140 Flinders Lane, Melbourne chanel.com

words: carli philips

Christine Hidden in Flinders Lane and accessible via a secret tartan staircase, the adored Christine has an expertly curated offering of international women’s accessories. From jewellery to soap, scarves, gloves, handbags and sunglasses, it’s the go-to place for millinery (custom Philip Treacy, Maison Michel) and is especially popular during the Spring Racing

Carnival where owner and local legend Christine Barro is on hand to give personal advice over a glass of bubbly. The red, Parisian-style salon is an Aladdin’s cave of products with the right balance of eclectic and classic. While Lanvin, Etro and Belstaff are represented, their edit is at the quirkier end of the spectrum and sits alongside lesser-known graphic brands like Swash London, Emma Shipley and Christopher Graf.

181 Flinders Lane Melbourne christineaccessories.com.au

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Crown The most prestigious international luxury brands can be found at the CROWN Casino complex in Southbank, conveniently located alongside the suite of Crown hotels – Towers, Metropol and Promenade. While there’s a plethora of impressive dining options, spas and entertainment, shopping is the major drawcard, in particular high-end luxury goods, jewellery and watches from Bvlgari, Omega and Paspaley who all have standalone stores here.

The latest to open is local brand Bensimon Diamonds, which recently designed the engagement ring for supermodel Nicole Trunfio. Multi-brand Monards specialises in Swiss watches, offering a broad range of magnificent timepieces from the likes of Piaget, Chopard, Longines and Breitling.

8 Whiteman St, Southbank crownmelbourne.com.au/ shopping

navigate, it showcases the first standalone Australian stores for Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Brooks Brothers alongside Australian labels Oroton, R.M. Williams and Zimmermann.

It’s easily accessible to major department stores David Jones and Myer, both of which stock designer collections, the later showcasing a gorgeous dedicated beauty floor.

287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne emporiummelbourne.com.au

and Famous denim. With over three decades in the rag trade, Harrolds has earned its stripes and is considered the go-to place for suiting in Melbourne.

Their service is exceptional, with a coffee bar and generous VIP room where customers can be measured and fitted for bespoke suiting from Brioni, Tom Ford and the store’s own internal made-to-measure service.

101 Collins Street, Melbourne harrolds.com.au

Ermenegildo Zegna Ermenegildo Zegna recently refurbished its Melbourne store and the expanded space stocks both the Ermenegildo Zegna and Zegna Sport labels including ready-to-wear and accessories. The new store Collins Street store also offers made-to-measure suiting.

45 Collins Street, Melbourne zegna.com

Hermes (04) The ever-chic Hermes has upsized and relocated to a 260sqm retail space spread over two levels. Restrained but beautiful, the store is set in a heritage building and reflects the French brand’s timeless luxury.

The collection is represented almost in its entirety – from leathergoods to perfume, tableware and even a bicycle. If sizes or colours aren’t in stock, delivery can be organised swiftly and efficiently, usually within 24 hours. The store has an extensive variety of the iconic Twilly scarves and represents globally limited edition product runs such as collaborations with international artists.

71 Collins Street, Melbourne australia.hermes.com

Giorgio Armani Collins Street is also home to Giorgio Armani and the brand’s diffusion label, Emporio Armani.

Giorgio Armani stocks men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, and one block west you’ll find the Emporio Armani store which stocks the men’s and women’s collections.

45 Collins Street (Giorgio Armani) and 123 Collins Street (Emporio Armani), Melbourne armani.com/au

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Emporium (03) The remarkable multi-milliondollar Emporium is Melbourne’s newest shopping district, connecting thousands of stores in the city with a network of bridges, tunnels and pathways over two blocks and 188,000sq m of retail space. It’s the largest designer precinct in the country, and offers a convenient concierge service that can coordinate travel arrangements and complimentary parcel delivery to hotels. Easy to 03

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Gucci Gucci expanded its offering in the Melbourne CBD last year with two newly renovated stores at 161 Collins Street.

Melbourne is the first city in Australia to have separate men’s and women’s stores in order to showcase the full range of ready-to-wear, accessories, jewellery and watches.

161 Collins Street, Melbourne gucci.com Harrolds Voted one of the top 10 most innovative men’s wear boutiques in the world, Harrolds claims the esteemed title of being the only Australian store with a Tom Ford shop-in-shop. The family-run business showcases fashion super houses including Balmain and Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent Paris, Lanvin and Balenciaga in addition to younger labels like Tom Coppens and Japan’s Naked

Dolce and Gabbana (05) Located at the “Paris end” of Collins Street, Dolce and Gabbana only recently entered the Australian market with this plush standalone store. The interior reflects the designer’s rich, sumptuous clothing, with velvet chaises, brocade wallpaper, Murano glass chandeliers and volcanic stone shipped from Sicily. The twostorey space houses menswear and womenswear, with a grand staircase leading to the eveningwear collections. There’s also a good selection of readyto-wear and bags, fragrance, shoes and jewellery.

171 Collins Street, Melbourne dolcegabbana.com

Where to shop

Le Louvre (01) Le Louvre is the stuff of legend.

Catering to the city’s most affluent ladies since the 1930s, the cutting-edge salon has had a revamp and relocated to an unassuming South Yarra laneway. Spanning designer womenswear and high-end fashion, ready-to-wear, formal and red carpet, there’s a combination of on-trend and classic pieces. Long-lived brands such as Chloe, Celine and Courreges sit alongside edgy, contemporary imports like Isabel Marant, Acne Studios and Christopher Kane, which appeal to the younger generation.

There’s private shopping for Le Louvre loyalists and an intimate bridal salon available by appointment only with gowns from Monique Lhullier, Jenny Packham, Marchesa, Lanvin and Roland Mouret, all of which are exclusive to Le Louvre in Victoria.

2 Daly Street, South Yarra lelouvre.com.au Louis Vuitton (02) Louis Vuitton has three stores in Melbourne, each with all the elegance you’d expect from the French powerhouse. The city location is the only standalone shop and carries the latest product offering in womenswear and menswear, leather goods, jewellery, watches, shoes, ties, belts, fragrance, accessories and writing instruments. Attentive staff in the contemporary “maison” are on hand to consult with the retailers made-to-order services which includes the recently expanded monogram collection. Private appointments and package delivery can be arranged. The big, ever-evolving windows are always an eye-catching masterwork of design.

139 Collins Street, Melbourne; 8 Whiteman Street Southbank (Crown); 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone louisvuitton.com.au

Marais (03)) The new multi-million dollar Marais store on Bourke Street feels like a dark Disneyland.

One of the first retailers in Australia to stock premium labels like Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Rick Owens, Balmain, Kenzo and Lanvin, the independently owned business is the first multibrand boutique in the world to a have a Céline shop-in-shop. A 20,000 quartz crystal chandelier casts light upon the decadent emporium, which stocks ready-to-wear accessories, shoes and apparel as well as exclusive pieces that have made it a favourite of Kim Kardashian and Beyonce. The owner keeps limited edition items out the back to be made available upon request.

73-77 Bourke Street, Melbourne marais.com.au

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Miss Louise Miss Louise has cemented itself as the city’s primary destination for imported shoes and bags, with a loyal customer base and VIPs who flock for hard-to-find styles. Its famous seasonal sales have ladies queuing around the block for hours. A candy-coloured crush of accessories, with Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Sergio Rossi, Moschino, Chloe et al represented, and its location adjoining The Westin Hotel make it a convenient and popular destination for visitors.

On-trend style staples are complimented by more fashionforward pieces such as crystal loafers and glitter boots. There’s also a selection of bridal shoes.

New season stock from Italy and France drops on time but sells out fast!

205 Collins Street, Melbourne misslouise.com.au

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Where to shop

Paul Smith (01) Paul Smith’s quirky city store (the only one in Australia) feels like an artful Victorian home, with couches, fireplace and brilliant framed wall of curiosities, artwork, prints and even a guitar. Renowned for his uniquely individual stores, the British icon had a personal hand in designing the interior, which stocks a vast range of womenswear and menswear merchandised through various rooms. There’s a dedicated jeans section and a suiting area with a good range of price points. There’s also a fun selection of cheeky homewares, accessories and books evoking Cool Britannia. The charmingly spirited merchandising alone makes it worth a visit.

120 Collins Street, Melbourne paulsmith.co.uk Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren’s two Melbourne locations stock the Ralph Lauren Home, women’s Black Label and men’s Black Label, Polo and Purple Label. While it’s not the full collection, it feels just like shopping in any one of Ralph Lauren’s international stores, or rather, walking into an aspirational upper-crust home.

Sartorial offerings are from the more contemporary Ralph Lauren lines, with the women’s Black Label showcasing a sophisticated range of sexy and sleek clothing. It’s everything devotees have come to expect of the label’s timeless Americana.

181 Collins Street, Melbourne; 1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone ralphlauren.com.au Scanlan and Theodore (02) Avoiding trends, its timeless appeal is what makes Scanlan and Theodore the country’s most lusted after label. Designed entirely in-house, its flagship Melbourne boutique showcases the entire collection alongside imported accessories. The breathtaking yet understated space with internal courtyard features oversized leather armchairs, marble fittings and soaring ceilings. Each season brings exclusive new prints, crepe knitwear, and the clever, flattering silhouettes that it is so renowned for. Revered for streamlined elegance and classy edginess, the sophisticated

cult brand is loved equally by teenagers and working women.

285 Little Collins Street, Melbourne scanlantheodore.com Sneakerboy (03) The award-winning Sneakerboy has the best selection of premium sneakers for men in Australia. The one-stop shop stocks updates on heritage brands like the Adidas Originals x Raf Simons and Reebok Pumps x Keith Haring lines as well as entirely new styles from Balmain, Lanvin and Saint Laurent. It’s one of the best places in the world to find rare designer sneakers all in one place and there’s a sensational variety of futuristic bling in addition to highly sought after, on-trend monochrome styles from the cult Kris Van Assche and Buscemi. Sneakerheads can try on samples but purchases are made in store via integrated iPads or on personal mobile devices at their leisure.

While the hip, small showroom in Little Bourke St is men’s only, women’s is available online.

1/265-281 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne sneakerboy.com

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Zambesi The avant-garde Zambesi sits in a expansive space at the base of a beautiful old heritage bank building in the edgy Flinders Lane. The New Zealand-based brand is quietly unassuming with relaxed, sheer tunics for women and precise, well cut garments for men. Renowned for its textural mix of leathers and silks, womenswear is designed to be layered, its monochromatic palette steering clear of trends.

It’s the only store in Australia, and has been a favourite among Melbournians since it was founded by husband-andwife team Elisabeth and Neville Findlay in 1979. The retailer also stocks a small collection of pieces from Nom*D, Maison Margiela, Rick Owens, Raf Simons, Helmut Lang and Acne.

167 Flinders Lane, Melbourne zambesistore.com

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