Nothing inspires a spontaneous gasp in a European quite like telling them you are from Australia.
'Ohhhhh - is very far, no?'
'How long, how long it take, to fly?'
And on and on it goes.
In 'The Tyranny of Distance', the historian Geoffrey Blainey explained how Australia's geographic isolation was a decisive factor in its late colonisation - basically, it was too far and thus uneconomic to produce anything here, until whales were discovered close to our shores.
Anyway, I'm not going to endorse any of Blainey's views, mostly because he could well be a racist, right-wing nutjob, but I think his book's title is an elegant and eloquent phrase for the neglect we suffer at the hands of the international high street brands.
In this 2-part series, I run through my wish-list. We'll start with the Swedes.
Rumoured to open next year at Westfield Sydney. Unfortunately, next year is too late to catch the Lanvin for H&M capsule collection which goes on sale on 23 November 2010.
The funny kids over at The Vine have compiled a list of ways to get your hands on pieces from Lanvin's H&M collection, which include appointing a personal shopper at $95/hr and getting a German post box. My strategy of choice is to ask one of my London-resident mates/family members to forward me my goodies that I'll buy through the H&M UK online store, which opens on 16 September. Given every Aussie knows someone in the UK, that would seem to be the most logical and cost-effective approach. Unless the Lanvin collection isn't available in the online store. Then I'm stuffed.
Something happens to me when I walk into this store - the incessant babble that is my inner monologue quietens and is replaced with songs by The Knife. Or La Roux's remix of Fever Ray's 'When I Grow Up'. Is that weird?
So you know Cheap Monday? They actually do more than jeans - they do mens and womens everything from clothing to shoes to sunglasses. Really, well, cheap, wardrobe basics with a dark Scando twist. Cheap Monday is owned by MTWTFSS Weekday, who also do men's and women's everything with a dark Scando twist, plus selected vintage and regular collaborations with up-and-coming designers. Last summer it was Central St Martins graduate, Peter Jensen (I bought a hot electric blue corduroy mini from his collection), and this A/W 2010, its a new (to me) Swedish designer, Diana Orving. Some pics of this collaboration below.
This is the store you go to when you (a) want to buy some cool basics like T's, or black pants, or a jumper, or some cheap sunnies; (b) have a lil sumthin special to go to but you don't want to buy a whole new outfit, you just want something extra to make an old outfit look new; or (c) are bored and just want to buy something. You will definitely buy something here because everything screams 'useful' enough for the price. Clever Swedes.
A footnote: La Roux's mash-up album 'Sidetracked', released just this month in the UK, is splendid fun. You should just buy it. Right now. And check out Diana Orving's website. Its my birthday on the 20th. Just so you know.
A visit here is equivalent to aerobic exercise for me; my heart rate is at, like, 160 the entire time I'm in the store (which can be hours, really).
Think Country Road. Same, but different. Ideally, you want both. But Cos is cheaper, more directional and never compromises on quality. I have no idea how they produce clothes of such great design and tailoring in such divine fabrics ALL THE TIME. There's no weak links like you sometimes get at Zara. And there's new deliveries every week. The real discriminator are Cos staff - they're so helpful and knowledgeable and...happy! Yes - you're still in Europe! Even in the Hague! (sorry, the Dutch aren't known for their commitment to customer service)
Bit of corporate trivia, these guys are owned by H&M, who also own Cheap Monday and MTWTFSS Weekday. And another label Monki, that the kids just love, but for me, it's a bit tat. It's becoming a very tight comp between the Swedes and the Spaniards. Oh how I love a good rumble!
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