Australia
Shopping online from stores based in Aust. means you get your stuff quicker for cheaper. On the downside, overseas fashion is a bit outdated and the range isn’t nearly as extensive as it is from overseas retailers.

About a Girl

So I’ve talked about this online store when I introduced minkpink – and here we are again. It’s made my top for Australian stores because it’s affordable, stocks a variety of labels (yeah they’ve expanded their range) and you get discount codes every now and then in addition to the great sales they have.
About a Girl stock Minkpink, sunnygirl, kid and kaboodle, and gingham and heels among others.

Freez

Don’t be put off by the boring brown theme of this online store – Freez is brilliant. Stocking minkpink, french kitty, sunnygirl, ladakh, pinkstitch, and junk among others, they have a massive sale section with awesome pieces falling to prices of $30 and under. Everything is reasonably priced. (watch out, their bandwidth got exceeded recently!)

Mint

Mint is a bit more expensive than the other two (and their site’s a bit dodge) which is why it’s at the bottom of my australian places to shop online. However they do have a much more extensive range featuring premium brands such as Something Else, MyPetsQuare, cheap monday, sass & bide, and Ksubi (among others that I won’t even pretend to know).

International
Buying from international stores may be a little more expensive (we’re talking america here so there’s the exchange rate to factor in + shipping) and might take a little more time, but these two online stores have a massive range.

80′s Purple

So much stuff!! 80′s Purple caters to a range of shoppers, so there are a variety of styles and prices. A lot of the stuff is really cool and also affordable. Brands stocked include insight, ed hardy, melissa shoes, salvage, cheap monday, disney couture, industry among many, many more. Seriously, that’s like 1/50th of the brands they stock. And the sale section is 20 pages long. Go have a look

Revolve Clothing

Again, here is a store that stocks a massive amount of brands and so has a lot of choice. The sale section is huge and the rest of the store is even bigger. Brands include Zimmerman, Vivien Westwood, Something, Something Else, Nixon, Minkpink, Ksubi, Insight, Juicy Couture and so on.

Also it’s not ‘top 10′ cause I thought the length of the entry was getting out of hand! 7 will suffice

!One – Cite

I picked Cite as the top place to shop because it’s affordable, accessible (being open in 3 locations) and has a variety of items to suit different people and different styles. Everything in the store hits you with a bang. I don’t think I’ve come across a store that was so ready to be so unique and out-there. A lot of the items are really pushing cutting edge fashion boundaries.

The chain has moved in fast and set up fronts in Whitford city, Carousel and now there’s one in Karrinyup shopping centre. Carrying a mix of skate and surf as well as fashion labels, Cite picks the best and edgiest each brand has to offer. They carry minkpink, something, little lady from (a venture by oneteaspoon), insight (including their latest, dopamine), oneteaspoon, Zoo York, Stussy, Local Celebrity as well as jewellery by Disney Couture, shoes by nike and adidas, watches by nikon and police and a bunch of other trendy accessories. A definite must visit!

!Two – Pigeonhole

Next on the list is my fave barrack st store. Johann, the store manager has got to be one of the most friendly and easy to talk to store managers ever. Never failing to make friends with a customer, he never lets the small store become cramped or awkward. Hand-picking everything in the store from Australian and international designers, everything is new and different and unique. A lot of things you’ll find have a way of getting to Pigeonhole first and then filtering out to other stockists – because Johann is actually the distributor for a lot of those items.

If you need that finishing touch on an outfit – say a brooch or a necklace or earrings, I’d definitely recommend this store. It’s also a go-to for unique gifts. While the clothing is a little on the pricey side, pigeonhole does tend to have sales that literally blow you away and you can find things reduced by up to 60%. Located in the Bon Marche Arcade on Barrack st, and also on Shafto lane.

!Three – Harry Highpants

Highpants I think was the store that got me into it all – hunting down small boutiques and checking out local culture. I chanced upon it when I was walking up william st just browsing.

Harry is just great. They stock not just cool brands, but cool clothes. Take insight for example. I think we’ll all admit that some insight stuff is pretty run of the mill. Harry picks out the best in each collection and stocks that. It’s great! They also have a bunch of clothes toward the back of the store that are second-hand, but totally retro/vintage and more importantly affordable. It’s like a version of retro vinnies that’s actually cool.

The store is mostly about clothes – stocking insight, my pet square, Swedish jeans, other random brands  – but they also stock books, cameras, and jewelery. The jewelery is notable – small wooden brooches, necklaces sporting teapots or miniature muffins, delicious stuff.

!Four – Atlas Divine

The ultimate in shopping experience – decadent and suave, lush and dramatic. Atlas Divine certainly makes a statement with its amazing decor, vintage wallpaper and furniture all decked out. What about the contents though? Atlas stocks a variety of designer clothes for both men and women and while I can’t say I was too impressed, what got me were the jeans, shoes and jewellery. An amazing array of women’s and men’s shoes – heels like you wouldn’t believe. They also stock Disney Couture – and did so long before Cite was ever on the scene – and Cheap monday jeans. Cheap mondays are just THE brand jeans to have. In my opinion they trump all other brands ( it must be the tag !)

Anyway it’s somewhere you have to go once, just to get the experience. It’s on the leederville strip anyway so on the way to a bunch of other fabulous boutiques.

!Five – The Basement

What’s that? If you haven’t been to the basement in Myers in the city, you must have been living under a rock. It’s a massive section occupying half of the bottom floor of Myers and catering to both men and women. The decor is uncharacteristic of Myers, dark and dimly lit and the clothes catering to younger age groups (14-30?) with smaller wallets. Not to say that things are cheap!

Stocking for women Pilgrim, Kenji, Riders, Bauhaus, French Kitty, Tokito, Miss Shop, Purr, Bluejuice, Golf Punk, Bardot, Ed Hardy as well as a bunch of other designers ( hard to keep track) there’s definitely a wide variety to choose from and it’s all deliciously subject to Myers’ wonderful sales.

!Six – Fi and Co.

Fi and Co. is a cute little store on William st that stocks all sorts – mainly in shoes and clothes. This was one of the first places that I saw Minkpink sold in Perth. Everything is definitely affordable (no ridiculous price tags a la subway DC or wheels and doll baby) and very individual. It’s a small independent boutique and worth the visit. One of the most notable products are definitely the shoes – an array of shoes, all different, all super duper cute! A definite visit, it’s part of the william st collective along with Keith and lottie, Harry highpants and Lalaorange. That leads me on to the next store!

!Seven – lalaorange

Lalaorange is faar away – it’s not a store you’d happen to chance upon, walking around Perth. It’s on william st on the same side as harry but further up, much further up. It’s also very small.

But it’s worth finding! As you’ll see by reading their blog, lala orange is filled with dreamy shopkeepers who are up to date with things fashion-wise, but also have a sense of humor. The store is small and narrow but it’s got the stuff. A collection of vintage designer clothing for men and women, as well as delightful jewelery and accessories. One of the blog posts mentions their new collection of Tilly Bloom jewelery – which you can see on their online store – and it’s absolutely delightful (though reminiscent of things I’ve seen on etsy – for less).

However as artists often do, she found that she wanted to go down paths of expression that weren’t necessarily in-sync with what Insight was about. And so came about something.. and something else.

Something and Something else (two separate brands, I might just inform you) are newly launched fashion labels by natalie wood. Quirky and stylish and individual might be some of the words used to describe the clothing – Natalie herself says of her designs; “…definitely more fashion-forward and high-end with more luxurious fabrics and polished designs. It is where I get to truly express myself so much more.” (Nylon – The insider: Natalie Wood)

Some notable places to find the labels in Perth include David Jones, Billie and Rose, Cite (new store open in Karrinyup!), Oneteaspoon and friends, and Varga girl.

The clothing is a little on the pricey side but there are definitely some winners in the collections, definitely recommended, have a look.

something.net.au

I’m talking cotton-on, rubi shoes, supre etc. I can’t dispute that from time to time you can find really nice things, and that sometimes a girl just needs a simple singlet or skirt. However when places like these become the go-to places for fashion, then I start to lose hair. It’s just depressing seeing the same outfits wandering through Perth. The clothing isn’t thought out, it’s probably made in a sweatshop, it’s poor quality and what’s worse – it was probably fairly expensive! Supre, cotton on, rubi shoes are all marketed to be fairly cheap fashion outlets but when you examine the quality of what you’re buying and compare it to the price, you’re being ripped off.

Look at rubi’s stock item: ballet flats. At $15 for one pair that fit well, initially I was stoked. But these shoes were made in a cardboard factory! Or at least that’s what one would assume, judging by how long they last. You can always tell when a girl is wearing rubi flats, because you look down to her feet and are disappointed.

Who is to blame? Stores are just trying to make a profit and will respond to demand like any other business. It’s your fault. You the reader, the consumer, who spends their money at supre or dotti, instead of trying to find an independent business to support. Without support, small independent boutiques will die, leaving Perth a cultural wasteland and me bald. If you buy rubi shoes, don’t. Look online, shop around, spend a little more because when you work it out a pair of shoes that lasts you a year will cost you the same amount of money as buying one pair of rubi’s every 2 months. And they will look better and speak volumes and do wonders.

Someone please go harass the morons at frankie mag forums.

Look At this Fucking Hipster

“Taste this. It’s wine I made out of bugs.”

“Hmm…well, the orange matches my helmet strap and the avocado goes perfect with my Yasir Arafat scarf. All I need now is something to go with my fucking disgusting sneakers, and I should be all set with groceries.”

It’s a ‘concept’ store, similar to Colette in Paris, featuring sculpture work by George Kustorkov originally made in the 1970′s for ‘Cardin Salon International’, a full length mural wall by Sydney artist Ben Frost, mannequins designed by anna sui and a black mickey mouse gesturing rudely, the store is an experience in itself. Can’t begin to guess at the startup costs of this.

For those of you interested in fashion, Wasteland houses a selection of premium brands such as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Martin Margeila, See by Chloé, M by Missoni, Ksubi, Commes Des Garcons, Junya Watanabe, American Apparel, Sass & Bide, Tina Kalivas, Mala Brajkovic, April 77, American Apparel, Les Bijoux de Sophie, Mawi, and Junk Deluxe.

They’ve also got a space for artists and a gallery showcasing them on their website also.

Sounds like an expensive joint to me.. however on their website they say: “Wasteland is more a destination than just a store because of the variety of stock we sell. There’s something in the store for everyone, and there’s no attitude at Wasteland, you can spend $15 or $15,000; everyone leaves with the same carry bags… and that’s the rule!”

Support Perth culture, check it out and spend some money. They have to make a return somehow.

website

First post for the new year – and what a find! I was looking for presents for a loved one and as I was walking down Hay street away from King street and toward the malls, I chanced upon this lovely store.

It’s definitely tucked away and a little hard to find, but packed full of lovely clothes, accessories, undies (the cutest!) and bags oh bags. So many lovely clutches, purses, shoulder bags. A variety of labels fill the shelves – and a lot of thought is put into the stock. One bag I looked at was designed by an Australian designer using Japanese textiles.

So have a meander and check it out. Of course there’s a sale going on now, prime time to go have a look.

http://pulseclothing.net

Minkpink is a fresh clothing label right here from Aust, and they’ve seen an unprecedented amount of growth since the brand started out in 2005. It’s no wonder, their pieces are just fabulous. As stated on their website, they take influence and ideas from ‘high-end designers, current trends, street styling and vintage pieces’, making for a varied, individual and inspirational line of clothing.

You can find the clothes at places like cite (in whitfords and carusel shopping centres) and also at fi & co., a store that’s part of the william street collective.

However for those who like to be thrifty and don’t mind waiting, you can also purchase minkpink clothing from a victorian stockist - aboutagirl.com.au. Because you’re purchasing online, the cost of the garments is significantly lower – one skirt I bought online for $15 retailed at about $70 at cite.

There you go. Both cite and fi & co. are relatively new, independent fashion retailers so I’d still advocate going down there and helping them out by purchasing their wares, but all the same, poor students like yours truly have to be careful.

However, Pigeonhole is celebrating its first birthday, with drinks in-store on friday, oct. 10th from 5pm to 9pm. I also do realise that a lot of our readers are on the pigeonhole mailing list and probably already know about this.

For anyone who DOESNT know, pigeonhole is a small store on barrack street that sells unique clothing and accessories sourced from independent designers all over the world. If you haven’t been, it’s cause you live under a rock.

Pigeonhole: 16/80 Barrack Street, down the bon marche arcade.

This is my very first post. Woo! There is so much to talk about so picking what to write about first was a dilemma!

One night, when I was on my computer looking for something unnecessary to buy on ebay and eating chocolate bullets, I came across this brand of vegan and environmentally friendly designer label handbags which nearly resulted in me choking on the chocolate bullets. The bags are not available in Perth as far as I know, but you can order them online. They are simple, elegant and gorgeous….and expensive. We’re talking a good couple of hundred for one of these gems. Worth it? Maybe. One of the benefits of this not being available in Perth is that if you do happen to buy one, I can guarantee you will be the only one who has one!

To find  out about the “Vegan Queen” range  head to http://www.veganqueen.com/
Speaking of vegan bags, something completely unrelated came to mind. Would you drink human breast milk as a vegan? Just put aside the idea that it is gross and think of it from an ethical perspective. We do not drink cows milk because it is unnecessary and cows cannot give consent and we have no right to steal from them. But, humans can give consent. So does that make it ethically sound? PeTA approached Ben & Jerry’s and asked them to use breast milk instead of cows milk. Now I really dislike PeTA because of their sexist ways, but they managed to make me dislike them even more today when I heard their spokesperson on the radio talking about how we should drink human breast milk instead. I just thought, as if they are going to get public support for that. Why didn’t they suggest soy milk, instead – something less likely to gross people out? But what took the cake about this whole issue is a statement by Ben & Jerrys spokesperson – “We applaud PETA’s novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother’s milk is best used for her child,”…now hang on a minute, aren’t cows mothers also? Don’t they have children? A fine display of speciesism right there, quite sad.

If I got you thinking about icecream then never fear, I have some news which will wet your tofu! For those who are unaware, there is a store on Plantation Drive in Menora called Kosher Mart. I bet you’re thinking “ohhh not some religious crap”. YES! They are religious, but we can take advantage of it! Jewish people cannot eat dairy with meat – so what do they do? They make dairy free dairy products! I highly recommend the dairy free MAGNUMS, CORNETTOS and VIENETTA ICECREAM CAKE by our very own Streets. Yes, streets make icecream from Tofu. This icecream is not just any crappy vegan icecream…it really tastes like the real thing. There is no way anyone could guess it is vegan. It is perfect to take to your next omnivore gathering to impress their pants off! Kosher Mart also sell Tofutti Cuties, several tubs of icecream in amazing flavours, spreads, dips, bagels, cookies, chocolate (lots of it), ready to go meals, pies, rolls, tomato flavoured chips (anyone miss atomic tomato like me?) and much more. If you are vegan and have been missing good junk food then you need to head to Kosher Mart now!

Anyway time for me to get back to work and for you to travel to a suburb with an overwhelmingly high number of old people homes to get icecream.

xx

Amy

AMY’S FEATURED PRODUCT:
Everytime I make a post I am going to feature either a food, clothing or miscellaneous vegan item that you can purchase in Perth!

These beautiful shoes here to the left are available at MAME. They are made of all synthetic materials according to the nice and excessively pierced lady at the counter. You can buy this at Mame Clothing 575 Wellington St.