Everything I bought in Australia

Some great brands from Sydney that you can get here too

I miss many things about Australia. But there is one thing I’ve had little cause to be positive about over the years is the shopping in Sydney. It’s often a great disappointment. Generally speaking, I usually find you either get outrageously expensive designer end, or flammable crap. And nothing in between. 

Well, Sydney’s changed in the five years it’s taken me to get round to visiting again. This time, I found quite a few lots of things that had me happily parting with my money. Here’s what I bought in Australia and it’s mostly from brands you can shop here too. Maybe some of them will be new to you, as they were to me.

This Oroton shirt

OK so Oroton is not a new brand. They’re quite the stalwart in Australia, most famous for their metallic mesh handbags, which were a must-have for every fashion-conscious woman of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

An Oroton ad from the 70s.

I used to half-inch my mum’s silver one every chance I got. But when the 90s rolled around, and every woman in Sydney was wearing Levi 501s, a band T shirt and Doc Martens. Honestly it was like it was the law. And suddenly Oroton was just a bit naff and a punchline about dated style. Happily they’re having a revival and their clothing is great for those of us who want polished clothes with just a hint of an edge. That’s what I got with this black shirt - a great basic elevated by the lace detail. 

This Peggy T shirt

I got the blue one.

A former fashion buyer has this gorgeous store in Avalon village called Peggy Concept Store. Avalon is my favourite place to be in Sydney. It’s rammed with great cafes, cute boutiques and other great shopping. My daughter was hyperventilating when, two days after we were back in London, her favourite Kpop idol from Stray Kids was posting pictures from all the same cafes we’d been eating in. And it’s all a quick walk from a beautiful beach. The Peggy Concept Store is a beautifully curated selection of fab Aussie brands like Alemais and Oseree. They also do their own range of clothes and I couldn’t resist picking up one of their T shirts, which you’ll have already seen if you follow my weekonawall series on Instagram. 

This Miffy cardigan

I love it. Ross hates it. But what is there to hate about Miffy? He thinks I won’t wear it. He’s wrong. I bought it in the very touristy Queen Victoria Building in a shop whose name I can’t remember. It was full of utter toot to be honest. Which Ross says includes this. 

This Lee Mathews dress

Hurry up and piss off will you, Winter? So that I can wear this beauty. Lee Mathews is a former Vogue art director, whose kitchen table business designing clothes for herself and her friends launched her status as one of Australia’s best designers. I was smitten with absolutely everything in her Avalon store. In the end I allowed myself this splurge, because I convinced myself that a black dress is ‘always an investment’ that I ‘will wear everywhere, for years’. So far it hasn’t made it off the hanger in my dressing room. Better times are coming, black dress. They have to be. 

Coldplay tour T-shirt

It was an incredible night with my best friend and I wanted a souvenir. I love the design of this and I love the message - Everyone is an alien somewhere. 

This plate from Palm Beach

I can’t remember the brand or find it anywhere, but I bought it at this fantastic deli and wine shop in Palm Beach. I still can’t decide if her destiny is to be in my hallway and show me where my keys are at all times, or proffer savoury snacks when guests drop round. I think the former because every time I look at it, I think about glorious Palm Beach and that feels like something I should do a lot. I mean, look…

Cotton On jeans

Couldn’t resist a little budget moment in Cotton On’s homeland. They’ve come a long way since the last time I visited home. Cotton On’s stores used to be a shambles, but these days they have more of an ordered Uniqlo vibe and it makes for a much more pleasant shopping experience. Don’t tell my mate Donna Ida that I bought jeans from a brand that is not hers. These are so comfy. Predictably Ross also hates them, being that they are so very bell-bottomed. 

These gluten-free Tim Tams

Britain’s doing well these days in catering for the gluten-intolerant of us, but Sydney is a next-level, gluten-free paradise. And these versions of every Aussie’s all-time favourite biscuit are outstanding. I cannot taste the difference at all. Also polite request to all the Poms: No lectures on how they’re ‘just the same as Penguins’, this is embarrassingly incorrect, I thank you.

Las Ninas dress

Not an Aussie brand, but one I found in a cute Aussie shop in Paddington called Love Duck. Las Ninas is a slow fashion brand from South America, specialising in hand-crafting and championing local artisans. This pink dress I’m wearing here is a one size only piece of brilliance that feels comfortable and baggy but also glamorous all at once. I hope she gets to see another hot summer somewhere soon. Pictured with my friend, Louise, serving you Wicked vibes.

Let me know your thoughts and your favourite cities to shop in.