Miss Gladys Sym Choon

When Gladys Sym Choon opened her shop on Rundle Street in 1923, she had no idea she was creating an Adelaide icon that would remain the city’s go-to clothing store.

Originally selling luxury items from Asia such as lace, silk and rosewood, she sold the store in 1985 to Joff Chappel, who set his sights on a more stylish transformation.

Today Miss Gladys Sym Choon is an overflowing fashion emporium that spans three levels. Ground floor is dedicated to shoes, casual wear and accessories, level two is formal wear and level three menswear. The Miss Gladys family has also expanded to include shoe store Gladys’ Corner down the road, as well as a mini Miss Gladys in Aldinga.

Timeless brands such as Dr Martens, R.M. Williams and Converse join recent favourites such as Status Anxiety, Ziggy, Rollie and Maud Dainty. The street-facing walls on the upper two levels remain black and charred after a fire in 1993, and dust-covered bottles of chilli punch, shoehorns and Wrigley’s chewing gum survive on shelves as a slice of the original Miss Gladys store.

It’s a diverse environment that incorporates its rich history and timeless style.