Luxury shopping in Sydney

What does Castlereagh, George, and King mean to fashion-concious Sydneysiders you might ask. Well, social objections towards producing generalizations aside, one could propound that it is the Australian fashionistas dream to have their post-cremate leftovers scattered along the pavements of these Fifth Avenue-esque streets.

In 1986, Louis Vuitton became the first European luxury brand in Australia to have its own personal address, thereon the corner between Castlereagh and King street. Since then, it has moved to George Street, into a stucco, sand tone building with three floors dedicated to retail space; a behemoth by Australian boutique standards. What distinguishes this “Maison” from other LVs in Australia and the world for that matter, is that it offers customization services, namely in the form of made to order shoes for men, and bespoke handbags for women. Other attractions for window-shoppers include Vuitton animal sculptures; assembled entirely with their signature monogram bags.

David Jones Sydney Christmas Window 2010 CC Melanie Hughes

A few blocks down is the trench coat juggernaut, Burberry, which is roofed under a heritage-listed, grand building that was once home to a bank. The layout of the products in here are shaped like a U, with women’s wear on the left, men on the right, and children at the far back – once there, you must, must check out the mini trenches, they are adorable! From the khaki jackets to the tartan pattern accessories, it’s as well stocked as the flagship on Regent Street, London. Other notable features include an abundant use of technology; the huge and many display screens, showing the glitzy ads and recent runways, makes for a mesmerizing shopping experience.

The street with the highest density of fashion labels in Australia is Castlereagh. If Italian sophistication is the style wherein you associate with dressing, then the resplendent windows of Miu Miu, and next to it, its bigger sister, Prada, are two institutions you need to visit. Adjacent to the duo is another import from Milan, Gucci. It’s flashy gold and brown exterior is something of a razzle-dazzle that can only be compared to the Wynn in Las Vegas. Continuing with the Italian presence, the impeccable suit cutter, Ermenegildo Zegna, and the ultra-premium leather maker, Bottega Veneta, hold court here also.

Another place worth stopping for on this one-way boulevard is David Jones; the oldest department store in the world that is still registed under its original tradename. One feat that this Harrods-y shop likes to remind you about is that it was first to host Christian Dior’s “New Look” collection outside of Paris; so you can be assured that they have the discerning “eye” when it comes to picking out new trends. Moreover, the famous black-on-white houndstooth pattern motif that is emblazoned on all of its shopping bags, can be seen carried around all over the city, as those-that-tote-it like to advertise to those-that-don’t where it is they do their shopping.

Moving on. At the corner of Castlereagh and King streets, is Chanel, where the smart chic décor, gleaming floors, and many tweedy sofas evoke the feeling that one is standing in a contemporary apartment on the Faubourg Saint-Germain. Opposite to it, in an antique and handsome building, midst towering skycrapers on all sides, is the Dior cantonment. Juxtaposingly, past its grandeur front, is a futuristic interior where Raf Simon’s latest incarnations for the brand can be desired.

Adjoining Chanel is Elizabeth Taylor’s favourite jeweller, Bulgari. Housed  behind an ecru front, it is as large as it is quite; the kind of establishment where the patrons who enter are themselves dripping with gemstones. Opposite to this is its French competitor, the engagement ring master, Cartier.

Towards the end of Elizabeth Street, across of which is Hyde Park – a mini Central Park – in an egg shell hued building, lies the luxury goods house, the inimitable Hermès; offering a potpourri of their crafty products, from ready-to-wear, to scarves, to tableware. Don’t be intimidated to walk in and explore the treasures that abound this two-storey premise; the team there are professional, but are also really nice and never press.

And there you have it in a nutshell, the fashionable strips of Sydney, and the glitzy boutiques that call them “home”.

On the other hand, if you’re planning on a shopping trip in Sydney or any other Asia Pacific city, then be sure to check out the latest promotions from Accor called Destination Campaign ; think of it as saving money on one thing to aid the purchase of another – one that you can wear!