Following on from my first road trip last month down William Street, I decided to head down Beaufort Street in Mt Lawley to experience yet another area of Perth whose fashion scene is expanding so quickly new places are popping up each week.
The fashion stores in Mt Lawley – an area that has really come into its own in the past 4 or 5 years – could be described as a little more fluid and varied than those found in William Street. Whether you are looking for labels, a specially tailored outfit, latest designer jeans, or a special shirt with French cuffs to add that special touch of glamour to an outfit, these can all be found in Mt Lawley.
Beaufort Street offers something for everyone, and to do it justice, you should spend a whole day taking in the ambience of some of Perth’s best cafes that sit snugly alongside some of the city’s best exclusive fashion stores. So, grab a coffee or an herbal tea, sit back and relax as I take you along the strip that has reinvented itself as a real clothes shopping destination for those seriously into fashion.
Keeping with my theme from last month, I will focus on 3 stores that will give you a sense of the eclectic mix of styles available on Beaufort St, but be aware that there are more options opening up every month along the strip.
Just past the Walcott Street lights and down the arcade that takes you through to Brumby’s is the wonderful SAINTS Clothing.
Saints started five years ago and proprietor Gigi has a depth of fashion knowledge that makes the experience of shopping there a real treat. SAINTS has a range of top end labels that include Akira, Nicola Finetti, ae’lekmi, Willow and Mad Cortes for women alongside great jewellery by Sophie Kyron. The men’s range includes ksubi, tsubi, suu kyi, ae’men, CHAUNCEY, RIP jeans and t-shirts, the very funky Chocolate City and amazing boots from Zambessi. This is simply sensational fashion from some of the best labels around.
‘Mt Lawley has seen some great changes in the past few years. From what was once really just a café strip to a street that has a real eclectic feel and a great mix of stores,’ Gigi observed. ‘There are now so many options to choose from, and I am finding that people are coming from all over Perth to shop in Mt Lawley.’
SAINTS is smart, sassy and in a great location. You will get excellent advice on what works for you and what doesn’t from the very chic Gigi. There are even some great bargains to be had. When I was in the store, they had a special (and very tempting) 20% off day!
Though further up Beaufort Street are some newer additions, such as Billie and Rose and Hal, we’re going to head further down the strip to two very different, very special stores sitting side by side. Both have a great range of top fashion options and a distinct style that is all their own.
Method is one of those stores that will remind you of your last shopping trip to Melbourne. Funky, cutting edge fashion of both men’s and women’s labels is mixed with stylish jewellery options.
For men, there is, among others, the latest from Mayson, Saboture, Hamb, ae’men and Triple Five Soul as well as Coyaba ties and Loop belts (which are actually for both men and women).
For women, the range is extensive and includes the labels Rebecca Thompson, Elsie-Jean, Religion, Marilyn Seys, Hamb, ae’, One Fell Swoop, Miyoko and Morrison as well as vintage handbags and jewellery from Sophie Kyron and Josephine Stone.
Method has been on Beaufort Street since 2004. The current owner Dale took it over in December of 2005 and has been really conscious of getting a blend of both local and national design talent into her store.
‘I love to support local designers, but need to be realistic about what I have in the store. So, I offer everything that I think works in the market place here in Perth,’ she said.
‘Mt Lawley style is obviously a real mix that includes a proportion of gay and lesbian shoppers mixed with students, artists, individual dressers and even backpackers. This mix has evolved over the past few years, and I think that Mt Lawley is now seen as a great shopping destination.’
The store is filled with an attitude that is fun, contemporary and definitely not stuffy. Dale is also aware that people are finally realising that there are some great new stores opening along towards the Highgate end of the strip. ‘People need to come down the road and not just shop around the traffic lights at the corner of Beaufort and Walcott Streets. There are so many great stores to shop in right now.’
If you take five steps to your right when you leave Method you come to one of my favourite clothing stores in Perth – Preacher.
Preacher has been in existence for four years and the clothing stocked in the store is exclusively designed for Preacher by Pat Kong. She has built a loyal following in the past four years and makes ranges for both men and women. She also stocks handbags from Codice, belts from Loop and Bonton, and jewellery from Estelle Kendall.
Pat sees Mt Lawley style as cool and believes that her clientele view the buying environment in Mt Lawley differently from other shopping strips. People love the fact that most days when they come into the store, they find the designer behind the counter. ‘People are really surprised to see me here and really embrace the ability to talk to the designer when they are buying clothing,’ she said. ‘I have a strong gay community following in my store. The guys are so good at PR and supportive of me and my designs.’
Pat noted that there is a hole in the market for men’s wear because Perth’s industry as a whole is not really focused on menswear fabrics, making them hard to get. While there are some great new designers coming up, Pat is also trying to fill that void by creating stunning looks that combine crisp shirts with French cuffs, suiting with detailing that gives it a real point of difference as well as pants and a new range of Preacher t-shirts.
‘Fashion in WA is blooming and is a real creative hot spot. There really is so much talent around right now – so much more than 4 years ago when I was starting out. It is so great to see,’ she concluded, as I headed out the door and down the street to put my feet up and enjoy a lemon grass tea at Soto.
Mt Lawley really has come into its own as a first class shopping destination and it is, as all of those I interviewed said to me, like going shopping in Richmond or South Melbourne. As I said in my previous article, our options in Perth are expanding in terms of fashion choices, and Mt Lawley – with a strong smattering of gay and lesbian residents and visitors – is another highlight on the Perth fashion map.
Store details:
Method Clothing
- 557 Beaufort Street
- Mt Lawley WA 6050
- Phone: (08) 9227 8944
Preacher
- 555 Beaufort Street
- Mt Lawley WA 6050
- Phone: (08) 9328 6766
Saints Clothing
- Shop F/647 Beaufort Street
- Mt Lawley WA 6050
- Phone: (08) 9382 2542
