Sydney’s Most Fashionable Shopping Precincts

Sydney is spoilt with an abundance of chic corners for when only the best retail therapy will do. Get your wallet ready…

The Intersection, Paddington

An antidote to the sterile shopping mall, The Intersection Paddington, is all about Australian high-end fashion, fresh air and footpath wandering. Sitting pretty on the corner of Glenmore Road and Oxford St, there’s a high chance you’ll spot a celeb browsing the racks. Brimming with Australian designers – from internationally recognised labels like Zimmermann and Bassike to local favourites Manning Cartell, Alice McCall, Viktoria + Woods, Dion Lee and Scanlan Theodore – it’s a destination that offers some of the country’s most polished threads. You’ll also find stores that spruik cool and casual streetwear such as athleisure emporium Mode Sportif and the eternally relaxed Ksubi.

Five Ways, Paddington

A short walk from The Intersection along Glenmore Road, you’ll find Five Ways – named because five streets miraculously meet at one roundabout. The picturesque terraces lining the streets are home to some of Australia’s most in-demand designers, including Kym Ellery’s high-end eponymous store and the style set’s go-to Camilla and Marc. Those on the hunt for their dream wedding dress will also appreciate that bridal boutiques Steven Khalil and Pallas Couture are in the vicinity.

Barangaroo

Barangaroo burst onto the Sydney scene with some impressive food offerings but the precinct also has a curated edit of fashionable stores to justify dropping your credit card, too. The Waiting Room, Standard Store and Belancé all stock hard-to-find Australian and international clothing and accessories brands for men and women. Don’t end your credit-card workout there, though, stop into the nearby David Jones concept store to browse through mainstream high-end labels.

Crown Street, Surry Hills

If Crown street had to be described in four words they would be: come as you are. Stores selling unique vintage clothing finds stand side-by-side with shops dedicated to unexpected offerings. U-Turn Recycled Fashion, Cream on Crown and Miss Brown Vintage all have a serious dedication to the type of stock that second-hand fiends can’t get enough of, plus Collector Store for Romance Was Born and Second Female.

Avalon

Coastal cool attire is right at home in this northern beaches suburb of Sydney and ready to be purchased at Splice Boutique – a store owned by two sisters, Marisa Young and Gabby Manderson and stocking the likes of Acler, KitX by Kit Willow and Lover. In the rare event you don’t find anything worth splurging on, you’ll also find a great selection of denim at One Teaspoon, everyday basics at Bassike and on-trend pieces around the corner at Witchery.

Bondi Beach

For almost 20 years the beachside boutique store Tuchuzy has delivered an excellently curated range of international clothing and accessories from the likes of Celine, Alexander Wang and Rag & Bone, as well Australian favourites Bec & Bridge and SIR the Label. Post Tuchuzy, wander down Gould Street to find accessories darling Lucy Folk, sleek and affordable eyewear retailer Bailey Nelson, streetwear staple General Pants and understated Jac + Jack. Afterwards, head up Hall Street where you can fit right in with some oh-so-Bondi athleisure attire from Nimble Activewear.

Military Road, Mosman

Mosman’s Military Road has some serious shopping game with labels such as Rebecca Vallance, Camilla, Bianca Spender, Carla Zampatti, Lee Matthews, Camilla and Marc, Country Road and 2XU within minutes’ walk of each other. Need to stock your beauty bag, too? Mecca Cosmetica, Jo Malone, MAC and Bobbi Brown are all within easy strolling distance.

Sydney CBD

Set aside half a day to visit Sydney’s picturesque Strand Arcade, the Queen Victoria Building and The Galeries, which encompass an abundance of stores offering an enormous range of womenswear, menswear and accessories. Oh, and did we mention the Westfield centre on Pitt Street? Perhaps the most impressive in Sydney, it has hundreds of stores including Givenchy, Harrolds, Céline, Miu Miu, Chanel and The TDE Apartment – a shoppable boutique that feels like you’re browsing in a million-dollar penthouse rather than a conventional accessories store. For those with a more conservative budget, Zara and H&M both deliver an excellent, fast-fashion retail fix.

Castlereagh Street, Sydney CBD

Home to some of the world’s best jewellery designer stores, Castlereagh Street is where you can splurge big. Really big. Find a platinum sparkler at Tiffany & Co., purchase the iconic Love Bracelet at Cartier for someone special, admire a statement piece at Bulgari or invest in your next status symbol at J Farren Price. For more sculptural jewellery, try Georg Jensen or Canturi.

Top image: The TDE Apartment