You might already have worked out from my Instagram account that I live in Armadale. This is the suburb I have called home for the last 8 years, it is where my husband and I spent our early married years enjoying our time together, hanging at the local cafes on the weekends and dining at the restaurants by night. We went from being a boring married young couple living in the burbs, to moving into a town house in Armadale with skinny latte’s at our door step and Scanlan and Theodore just a stone’s throw away. I started my blog because of my continuous inspiration from the fashion retailers on High Street Armadale and I never looked back.
Now, many years later, a house move to the next street and two little boys added into the scene, I am what you would call an ‘Armadale mum’. Yes, it is true and I don’t doubt it for a second, I am that mum who lives in her bubble, shops at the same supermarket (Thomas Dux), walks to all her appointments and refuses to get into her car for anything except to visit friends and family (ok, maybe for a few other things too…) I am a coffee snob, a gym-gear-wearing kinder mum and the retailers and coffee shop owners know my boys as ‘the Princes of High Street’.
With spring in the air and new stores opening up on High Street Armadale such as Dion Lee and Mecca and the Stonnington Hall of Fame event just around the corner, I thought I would share with you my favourite places on High (and a little further down the road to Chapel Street).
I usually start my day with a coffee from Grapeseed Café, I have trained my husband well to fetch me a coffee before he leaves for work in the morning, Grapeseed is usually the first café open. After kinder drop off, I usually sneak another coffee in or if I am feeling lucky, I will spoil myself with breakfast too, usually at High Society Café, their food is so Instagram worthy it isn’t even funny, I think even my mum would insta it if she knew how to!
It is almost time to start preparing my looks for the spring racing carnival and lucky for me I have the best of Australian fashion at arm’s reach and my first stop is always Thurley.
Another flagship store that is home on High street, I can’t get enough of the Thurley store and the beautiful, couture-almost garments that head designer, Helen creates, I suppose my love for them is evident when you look at my instram feed right?
Some other retailers I get excited about on High street are Veranda, a high-end designer store that stocks Moschino, Kenzo, DSquared and so much more, Rachel Gilbert, Viktoria and Woods, Carla Zampatti, Dion Lee, Ginger and Smart, Acne (should I keep going?) Camilla and Marc and some beautiful boutique multi brand stores such as Eco-D, Durance, John Cavill and so much more.
Here is a secret local tip- visit Janette Maree for some gorgeous, affordable spring racing metal headbands and statement necklaces! Shhhhhh!
When lunch time strikes, you will find me at Phillippas! I always order the same thing, a chicken sandwich and a slice of her Dundee cake, it is always so packed in there, actually when I think of the Phillippa’s brand, I think of her High Street store and how it is so iconic and truly embodies the definition of High Street Armadale with their cute little French-esque table and chair on-street-seating amongst the lollipop trimmed trees that line the strip from one end to the other.
Between shopping and eating, a little bit of pampering kind of just goes hand in hand with my day (my day off work that is) and speaking of hands, do you know how many nail salons High Street Armadale has? Four, not including the day spa’s that do them also. I am not sure what my excuse is for not having manicured nails all the time is when I have such a selection to choose from, oh, actually, it is called children, that’s right!
So far, can you see why I love High Street Armadale? You see, my passion for supporting strip shopping is so important to me, I think it is because I see, every day, how the retailers and shop owners are so proud of what they do, sell and supply, it isn’t often that we see a village like shopping destination like this, one of high quality fashion, food, beauty and interiors that make Melbourne the shopping capital of Australia.
The Stonnington Fashion Hall of Fame night is coming up, which I have been attending since I started blogging, it is an event to recognise the local retailers, brands and showcase’s the latest spring fashion and acknowledger’s the hard work it takes to make Stonnington fashion what it is today. This year, the inductees are the founders of KOOKAI, Danielle Vagner and Rob Cromb along with fashion industry mentor, Robert Buckingham. I will snapchat the night, this Wednesday, so be sure to stalk me on my snap (@whatwouldkarldo)
I could go on and on about what I love about High Street but I know your time is precious and I think it would be wise for you to come see for yourself, on a Saturday perhaps, with the many brides and her maids that invade the strip on the hunt for the perfect white dress? I will be the one wearing the gym-gear, pushing the pram with a coffee in hand, showing her magnificent polished nails off to a local retailer.
One more tip- my favourite spot for an after dinner drink is Lona Bar!
