James Street - Brisbane's Shopping Mecca

Grab the girls for a day on James Street

“Shall we do EP first or S&B?” I asked my girlfriend as we pulled up in the car.

“Oooh...tough one. Let’s start at Sass & Bide, grab a coffee and then make our way up to Easton Pearson,” she replied. Deal! 

My faithful shopping companion and I had arrived for a day of retail therapy on James Street, Brisbane’s stylish oasis for Fashionistas, Fashion Die-Hards and us, the Fashion Wannabes. 

Located in Fortitude Valley on the north side of the CBD, James Street is the Queensland capital’s equivalent to Sydney’s Oxford Street and Chapel Street in Melbourne, and today it was our playground. Yippee!

As we entered the double-glass doors of Sass & Bide (Cnr James & Doggett St) we realised we might need more than a coffee to keep us going, because our arms were full of goodies and we’d only just started.

After deciding on a bright orange statement necklace (her) and a stunning ruby red Tee (me) we picked up two espressos to go from Jamie’s (Cnr James & Robertson St) and headed straight to James Lane (65 James Street), an enclave of boutiques alongside the main street. 

Made up of FrockShop (the online store’s first Australian retail space), Jules & Roc, Vanguard Design Boutique, Nat-Sui Shoes and many others, James Lane is a style hub in its own right.  It’s also home to Paul Hunt, a Brisbane couture label gaining international attention for its bridal gowns.

Taking full advantage of the buzz of caffeine, we crossed the road to try-on jeans in French Connection (50 James Street), embellished skirts at Easton Pearson (60 James Street) and amazing dresses in Kisses (50 James Street) - a much-loved boutique dedicated to offering a range of gorgeous women’s fashion including Collette Dinnigan, Paige and Josh Goot.

Remembering I had to pick up a birthday present for my Mum, I turned back towards Libertine Parfumerie (181 Robertson Street), a Parisian inspired boutique for world-class fragrances, while my fashion-savvy friend continued her way up James Street to drool over the shoes in Gary Castles Sydney (73 James Street) and admire one-off samples in Leona Edmiston Vintage (60 James Street entry via Arthur Street). 

Apart from the international designers and leading Australian labels (think Witchery, Mimco, Scanlon and Theodore, ksubi, Alexis Dawn etc...) that make up the fashion landscape of James Street, the area originally found success in the 90s as a place for well-to-do locals to purchase luxury home wares and see independent films at the cinema.

Today, the shopping hub offers visitors a skilful mix of food providores, independent art galleries, spa retreats, award-winning restaurants, and of course, fabulous fashion. But it was a satisfying glass of Sauvignon-Blanc at Cru Bar & Cellar (22 James Street) that provided well deserved respite for two shopping-tragics at the end of a very fashionable day.

“So, same time next week for the other half of the street?” I asked. “Absolutely, I’ll drink to that!”  

Image provided by Tourism Queensland

Shop. Bop. Drop

A Canadian friend of mine – who I met on a Contiki tour several years ago – emailed recently to let me know she was visiting the land down under and asked for my help in deciding whether to spend a few days in Brisbane or Perth on the way home.

Without a second thought I compiled this short and sweet low-down on Brisbane. I enjoyed writing it so much and seeing my town from someone else's point of view I thought I would share it with you too. Why not print it out and keep it handy for your friends and rellies in case they drop in one day.  Actually, if that does happen - eek! - you might just want this handy coffee listing too!

 

Shop

Many people (especially those who live outside Brisbane) will tell you to shop in Sydney or Melbourne because Queensland fashion is bare and boring. This might have been the case 10 years ago but Brissie has certainly come of age – not to mention fashion cred – in recent years. 

Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall is the best place to head if you’re short on time but want to shop hard and fast. The must-visits (in no particular order) are Queens Plaza for Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Saba, Alannah Hill, Mimco, Zimmerman, David Lawrence, David Jones etc... Walk a block to Edward Street and you’ll find Ralph Lauren, Oroton and Hermes. If you’re not in the mood for high-end you can’t miss the many boutiques spilling out across Fortitude Valley.

James Street could be considered a much shorter, less "showy" little sister to Melbourne's Chapel Street...and I love it! You’ll find excellent Aussie labels Sass & Bide, Scanlon & Theodore, Camilla, Gary Castles Sydney, ksubi and Easton Pearson to name a few. James Lane is a quaint section of the same street just one block away from the main 'hub' and is the place for many smaller, but no less, amazing designers. Keep your eyes peeled for Australia’s only retail space for online shopping mecca Frockshop. Over the road are several high street staples including French Connection, Witchery and Mimco. You’ll spy treasures created by Chelsea de Luca if you stroll east towards New Farm Park, plus Stone & Metal and Ivy + Bird.. Here you can pick up a statement jewellery piece or three – choosing just one is torture!

Bop

I know how much you love a tipple so wet your whistle at any of these decadent cocktail bars: The Laneway (Mary Street Brisbane City), The Bowery (Anne Street), La Ruche (also Anne Street, however beware of how many drinks you’ve had before going to this one otherwise you’ll swear you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole), and my personal fave Canvas in Woolloongabba. It’s over the bridge from the city but you could start the night here followed by dinner at either Pearl Cafe, Bristrot Bristro or The Crosstown Eating House. 

Depending on the type of night you’re after - dancing, casual drinks, both? - I’d stay on the south-side and mix it up with the locals in West End (a less try-hard version of the Valley which is now a slave to the cashed up uni-crowd) with drinks at Sling, Archive Beer Bar or The Rumpus Room. Be sure to drop in at The Boundary, one of the suburb’s last remaining ‘old-man’ pubs and lock stocked full of character. The free live music on Friday and Saturday nights is second to none and a real hoot! Your hubby will love it too. 

Drop

Check in at either Emporium Hotel (Brisbane’s most awarded boutique hotel with a delectable cocktail bar and rooftop pool) or The LimesHotel for it’s designer appeal and outdoor cinema. Both are in great proximity to the city so you can easily drop off your shopping bags and keep going. If you’re after something a little grander, with views of the water and our sparkling Story Bridge, the Stamford Plaza Hotel is one of the best (it should be, HRH Betty II stayed here as well as most visiting celebs including Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift, Gwen Stefani and Pink). On-site you’ve got several restaurants and cafes to recharge your batteries, but I'd have dinner by the water at EagleStreet Pier which boasts some of the city’s best restaurants including Sake, Aria and Jellyfish. I'm drooling just thinking about it.

P.S. Unfortunately my mate went with Perth because it was easier to fly back to Canada from WA than QLD. Oh well. Maybe next time.