bag it in Brisbane

We hit the streets with Brisbane jewellery designer Chelsea de Luca to shop for funky fashion, accessories, homeware and gorgeous gifts

WORDS MARIE-CHRISTINE SOURRIS
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID COLLINS

Discover the charms of Paddington

One of the most exciting names in Australian fashion right now, Chelsea de Luca is a designer of vintage-inspired jewellery that harnesses the romance of the 1920s to the 1940s. De Luca develops her collections from her Brisbane studio while seeking inspiration from her travels. “I think my influences come from fantasies,” she says. “It’s always nice to find something special to add to an outfit to make it your own.”

With a taste for old-fashioned Hollywood, it’s no surprise that the glamour set, including Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow and Elle McPherson, has been quick to snap up her designs.

Stocked in prestigious UK and Australian boutiques, including Sana in Perth and Fleur Wood in Sydney, de Luca recently opened her first stand-alone boutique in the newly revamped TCB centre, in the heart of Brisbane’s fashion district, Fortitude Valley. We let her take us out for a spot of savvy shopping in Brisbane.

Forever Fashion

At Miss Posh Poodle, stock up on amazing 50s clothing – from prom princess to burlesque pieces – with vintage hats a house speciality. All designs are authentic (no replicas) and you can even sell your old clothes here too. “I love this shop for its fabulous, feminine vintage finds,” says de Luca.

Vintage is new again in the hands of Chelsea de Luca

“Blonde Venus has great jeans and designer pieces,” says de Luca, who loves the cut of her high-waisted Bacall jeans from 18th Amendment, purchased here, and the frilly bikinis by Australian label Jemma Jube. Pop around the corner to see Blonde Venus’ kid sister shop, The Outpost, if you’re after affordable edgy T-shirts, shirt-dresses from Antipodium, eclectic Karen Walker jewellery and denim by Swedish label Cheap Monday.

YOUR SHORTCUT TO SHOPPING IN BRISBANE

 

Make yourself at home in Boudoir ChicDon’t be fooled, Brisbane has plenty to offer fashionistas and with its balmy weather, everyday is a shopping day.

Retail centres in the CBD, such as Queens Plaza and The Wintergarden, are home to a great mix of designers at all fashion price points – look for Zimmermann, Saba, Gorman, Lisa Ho, Kookaï, Midas, Wayne Cooper, Alannah Hill, Cue and Veronika Maine.

Head further up Queen Street Mall (which sees more than one million visitors a week) for exclusive finds from boutiques in Broadway on the Mall; everything from vintage antique watches to award-winning bridal gowns in the iconic Brisbane Arcade, and fast fashion fixes from chain stores in the Myer Centre.

Just outside the city, leafy James Street in New Farm is lined with boutiques: sass & bide, Bettina Liano, Little Joe by Gail Elliott, Scanlan & Theodore, Mimco and Queensland shoe maven Nat-Sui. Turn a corner onto Doggett or Robertson Streets, however, and you’ll find yourself among the interior design showrooms and warehouses of Natuzzi, Parterre, Space, Deka and Charcoal Interiors.

Fortitude Valley is a juxtaposition of street art and gallery exhibitions, grungy pubs and chic bars, and op shops and high-end fashion, with the city’s longest-running markets also held on the weekends. At The Emporium complex, find European childrenswear, contemporary jewellery, luxury accessories and imported fashion.

Nick Goding searches the globe for
his store’s vintage goodies

On the other side of the river, the former Expo ’88 site at Southbank has transformed into a lifestyle precinct with shopping and dining; while nearby West End is a haven for organic delicatessens, vintage stores and live music.

Finally, don’t miss the inner-western suburb of Paddington: a series of Queenslander cottages-turned-shops selling everything from rustic antiques, gorgeous French fabrics and designer shoes to streetwear and Italian lingerie.

When Nick Goding returned to Brisbane after working in a London vintage fashion shop for years, he was frustrated at the lack of similar stores here, so he opened his own and called it Box Vintage. Goding sources men’s and women’s pieces from the 1950s to 1980s – “99% of everything here is recycled fashion,” he says. The shop is great for uncovering quirky bargain finds, such as the earrings fashioned from guitar picks (AU$10), Hulk Hogan slogan 80s T-shirts (from AU$15), vintage dresses (from AU$30) and handbags created from vinyl records. De Luca’s faves? “Cute tea party dresses,” she says. “I just bought this little white one with big black polka dots, perfect for a weekend shopping trip.”

With an exquisite eye for patternmaking and delicate sewing, Brisbane designer Julie Grbac trained at London’s prestigious Central St Martins before launching her own label. A standout at the recent Mercedes-Benz Brisbane Fashion Festival, her feminine couture is available from the Grbac boutique in the TCB. “Go to this shop for glamorous silk numbers,” says de Luca.

Essential Accessories

 

Frame your face at OptikoOf course for modern jewellery with a splash of vintage head to Chelsea de Luca. The boutique is also the exclusive Australian stockist for the Parisian brand Monyette Paris, a French Polynesian range of oils, body wash, lotions, mists and candles favoured by the likes of Cameron Diaz and Gwen Stefani.

Optical boutique, Optiko, stocks the widest range of designer eyewear in town. The first shipment of Chloe sunglasses has just arrived in-store; make like de Luca and try a pair of over-sized Charme frames.

The latest addition to Boudoir Chic’s homage to lingerie (in a beautiful “boudoir” bedroom setting) is the adjoining Little Black Dress Shop. Inspired by the couture salons of a bygone era, this boutique carries a fabulous range of – you guessed it – little black dresses, timeless suits, stunning separates and exquisite accessories from labels such as Maje, Paul & Joe and Filippa K. “I love the beautiful lingerie sets and Wolford tights here,” says de Luca.

Home Sweet Home

 

Bookworms will be browsing for
hours at Avid BooksBe warned: one step inside Kova and you’ll find yourself swooning over things you never knew you wanted. “It’s the perfect place for homeware shopping,” says de Luca. “I love the beautiful handmade crockery sets.” Owner Bianca de Luca carries a diverse selection of all things lifestyle – Portuguese candles and soaps, Kikki K recipe folders, luscious spa products and Corban & Blair leather albums and frames.

Fiona Stager opened Avid Books 10 years ago with the aim to carry the best books in every genre. That means whether it’s cookbooks, children’s books or classic novels, “You’re sure to find something you like,” she says with a smile. Adding a coffee shop inside, has created “buzz, smell, conversation… people love it!”. De Luca says: “I love it because it’s got quirky, interesting books rather than conventional ones.”

Kova’s range of collectible crockery

Vive la France! Renowned French bistro Belle Époque Patisserie is perfect for grabbing a pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant) on the run or sitting down to enjoy a delicious croque monsieur (toasted sandwich filled with camembert cheese and ham).

Very reasonably priced, these French delicacies are the ultimate pick-me-up after a day of retail therapy.

FIND IT:

Miss Posh Poodle
103 Latrobe Tce, Paddington, tel: +61 (7) 3372 6370
Blonde Venus/The Outpost
707 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, tel: +61 (7) 3216 1735
Box Vintage29
Vulture St, West End, tel: +61 (7) 3846 6862
Grbac
Shop 25a, TCB Building, Brunswick St Mall, Fortitude Valley,
tel: +61 (7) 3252 5525
Chelsea de Luca
Shop 34, TCB Building, Brunswick St Mall, Fortitude Valley,
tel: +61 (7) 3252 2246
Optiko
Shop 10, Tattersall’s Arcade, 215 Queen St Mall, Brisbane,
tel: +61 (7) 3012 8883
Boudoir Chic/Little Black Dress Shop
199 Latrobe Tce, Paddington, tel: +61 (7) 3367 8808
Kova
Shop 9, 23 James St, Fortitude Valley, tel: +61 (7) 3257 7055
Avid Reader Books
193 Boundary St, West End, tel: +61 (7) 3846 3422
Belle Époque Patisserie
Emporium, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, tel: +61 (7) 3852 1500

Marie-Christine Sourris says:
While stuck in an elevator for 20 minutes with our photographer Dave, we shared anecdotes to pass the time. Like how Chelsea’s pieces ended up on Gwyneth Paltrow. “My sister met the PA for Coldplay (Paltrow’s husband Chris Martin’s band) in London,” says Chelsea. “And the PA said, ‘Gwyneth would absolutely love that necklace!’ My sister took hers off and gave it to her then and there!”