CBR Trails: The Fashion Itinerary

Posted on 13 February, 2016

Get your retail therapy by getting off the beaten path and into some of Canberra’s best boutiques. Here’s how to spend a stylish day exploring some great local fashion.

9am Get energised

Ona on The Lawns: the perfect place to start your fashion trail.

Before a massive day of shopping it’s best to get energised with a light breakfast. You don’t want to feel bloated before a big day of trying on clothes but you also want to have enough energy to get through the day. ONA on The Lawns award-winning brew will give you a caffeine kick, while their all-day menu will have you ready and raring to go.

ONA on the Lawns | Shop 4, Palmerston Lane, The Lawns, Manuka | onacoffee.com.au

10am Boutique Heaven

Explore local fashion as it happens at Cardif Collective.

You’ll find a wide selection of funky boutiques in Manuka’s fashion precinct. Start across the Lawns from ONA at Bodhi Leaf, which stocks eco-conscious fashion from emerging Australian designers, as well as many Scandinavian and US brands. Take a walk through Manuka Arcade and you’ll stumble across Mania Shoes and its gorgeous collection of special occasion shoes and headwear.

Other stores worthy of a browse include Things of Desire, Escala, and Momento Dezigns. You’ll find a selection of high quality designer apparel, accessories and shoes within these boutiques.

Department of The Exterior is truly a hidden gem, tucked away in the Manuka Court arcade, and carries local designers such as Edition; while Phillip Paris stocks beautiful European items. Up on Manuka Terrace, you’ll find Wolfie—a fashion forward boutique for little people (you’ll wish the pieces came in adult size!)

If you’ve got time, pop on over to nearby Kingston to Honeysuckle & Lace, where you’ll find interesting labels from all over the world. Climb the stairs to Cardif Collective to discover what is probably Canberra’s biggest range of local designer items—there’s something for all ages and styles.

MANUKA

Bodhi Leaf | Shop 3, Palmerston Lane, The Lawns, Manuka | bodhileaf.net.au

Mania Shoes | Shop 2, Manuka Arcade, Manuka | www.mania-shoes.com.au

Things of Desire | Shop 6 Style Arcade, Manuka | todesire.com.au

Escala | 21 Bougainville Street, Manuka | escala-shoes.com.au

Momento Dezigns | 17 Bougainville Street, Manuka | momentodezigns.com.au

Department of The Exterior | 1/11 – 17 Bougainville Street, Manuka 

Phillip Paris French & Euro Gift Shop | Shop 8, Manuka Village, Manuka | www.frenchshoponline.com.au

Wolfie | Shop 10, Manuka Terrace, Flinders Way, Manuka | wearwolfie.com.au

KINGSTON

Honeysuckle & Lace |Shop 23-27 Eyre Street, Kingston | @HoneysuckleLace

Cardif Collective | First Floor, Cusack Centre, Green Square Kingston | www.cardifcollective.com.au

Noon Pit Stop

Say g’day to Tim at Highgate Ln Coffee Roasters.

By now, you’ll be in desperate need of a pit stop to rest your weary feet. Luckily, Highgate Ln Coffee Roasters is literally downstairs, serving up house-roasted coffee and some tasty lunch options.

Highgate Ln Coffee Roasters | Ground Floor, Cusack Centre, Green Square Kingston | @Highgate-Ln-Coffee-Roasters

12:30pm Urban Walkabout

Hop back in the car and make your way to the city—leave your car in one of the multi-storey carparks and get your walking shoes on, rather than circling the block for a spot nearby.

Head to Mussen in Garema Place first – here you’ll find labels such as Wish, Cooper St, Staple the Label, and Bebe Sydney.

Landspeed Records’ new and vintage fashion, as well as a wide range of CDs, records and band merch is a delight to explore, as are the preloved finds at The Green Shed Café.

Sancho’s Dirty Laundry is a must for fans of indie tee labels — you’ll also find graphic artist supplies, vinyl art toys, stickers, accessories, low-brow art and graphic artist skate decks.

Want to get your high street fashion fix? Canberra Centre is a must-visit.

Mussen | 9/70 Garema Place, Canberra City | mussen.com.au

Landspeed Records | 30 Garema Place, Canberra City | @landspeedrecords

The Green Shed Café | Garema Place, Canberra City | www.thegreenshedcafe.com.au

Sancho’s Dirty Laundry | Level 2, 181 City Walk, Canberra City | @SanchosDirtyLaundry

Canberra Centre | Bunda St, Canberra City | canberracentre.com.au

2pm The Hipster Underbelly

The Hamlet on Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

After lunch, make your way across to Braddon and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the stylish strip overflowing with interesting boutiques that feature local designers.

Make sure to stop at The Hamlet, Tip You’re It, Designer Op Shop, Lellow Kids, Pink Ink and continue on to the Ori building which houses Rebel Muse, itrip iskip, Assemblage Project and Braddon Tailors. Finish with a second dose of Things of Desire at their TODX store just a stone’s throw away.

The Hamlet | 16 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | @The-Hamlet

Tip You’re It | 5/18 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | tipyoureit.com.au

Designer Op Shop | 18 Lonsdale Street, Braddon |  designeropshop.com.au

Lellow Kids | 129/24 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | www.lellow.com.au

Pink Ink Boutique | 130/24 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | pinkinkboutique.com.au

TODX | 32 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | www.todesire.com.au

ORI BUILDING – 30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon 

Rebel Muse | rebelmuse.com.au

itrip iskip | itripiskip.com

Assemblage Project | assemblageproject.com

Braddon Tailors | braddontailors.com

5pm

Italian & Sons: Bacaro

Time to rest your weary feet and celebrate your purchases. Head to Bacaro—Italian & Sons’ elegant wine bar for a glass of vino, cheese and house made salumi. A super chic way to finish your fashion trail.

Bacaro | 7 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | www.italianandsons.com.au/bacaro