Hot To Trot: Sydney’s Best New Fashion Store Openings This Summer

According to Sydney, in-person shopping is alive and well. A host of brands have recently doubled down on the bricks-and-mortar experience, particularly in shopping centres. In summer, we need no excuse to pop into an air-conditioned shop, but these brand new spots offer much more than a chance to cool off.

There’s something about the buzz of a new store – perhaps it’s the smell of new paint or the space’s barely-trodden floor (or the anticipated dopamine hit of retail therapy) – it’s exciting and inviting. These are some of the best new stores that have opened in Sydney recently. 

Incu, Chatswood

It’s hard to picture Australia’s fashion landscape without Incu. Launched by twin brothers in 2002, the concept retail store quickly became a favourite, with its enviable selection of womenswear, menswear, footwear and accessories from global and local brands. Its newest location is part of the recently expanded Chatswood Chase precinct. The store features a subdued, warm colour palette and soft furnishings, complemented by wooden and marble finishes. Shop international names like Ganni, APC, Paloma Wool and Needles, alongside local labels like St Agni and Blanca.

Lee Mathews, Paddington

Part exhibition space, part boutique, beloved Australian designer Lee Mathews has refreshed its Glenmore Road store. The elevated space is soft and inviting, and textured wall details and fabric lampshades add to its undone appeal. Designed in collaboration with Sydney designer Felix Grech, the new space houses Lee Mathews’s womenswear collections, as well as a selection of beauty products, books and other ephemera.

Maap, Darlinghurst

Your cycling friends are stoked about this one – Maap has opened its first Sydney outpost. Since launching in Melbourne in 2014, Maap has steadily become a cult favourite among bike enthusiasts for its innovative designs and fashion-forward styles. Originally an online brand, Maap opened its first flagship store in its hometown in 2022 before stretching out globally in cities like Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Seoul, Berlin and Taipei. Now it’s back on home soil, planting a flag in Darlinghurst with its signature pop of colour. With the help of Clare Cousins Architects, Maap’s Sydney location combines a terracotta palette, stainless steel and decorative ceiling moulding.

Asta Resort, Paddington

Luxe resortwear label Asta Resort has opened its very first Aussie bricks-and-mortar location. Founded by Danish-Australian sisters, Asta Resort captures the beauty, glam and fun of summer dressing. Sultry, sparkly outfits are what the four-year-old label is all about, with celebs like Olivia Dean and Hailey Bieber among its wearers. After setting up shop in New York City, the pair set their sights back on their home of Sydney. The Paddington boutique is homey and channels the intimacy of a personal dressing suite.

Date Night, Marrickville

A new multifunctional space has settled into Sydney’s inner west. Date Night is the queer-owned floristry service that’s opened up a bricks-and-mortar store, that also sells home goods and organises events. Founders Pia Hambour (private chef and owner of Bodega Deli) and Luemma Pilcher (co-owner of Brooklyn-based floral studio, Lulo Floral) have taken seven years spent living in New York City and channeled it into this creative gathering space.

Sorry Thanks I Love You, Paddington

The new 25 Hours Olympia hotel has brought in new restaurants, bars and even an underground cinema. Among the new openings is Sorry Thanks I Love You’s second Sydney store. The multi-brand fashion boutique brings its sought-after variety of labels to Oxford Street, from Comme Des Garcons and Issey Miyake, to Maison Margiela and Marni. Find Sorry Thanks I Love You’s own apparel line in-store too. 

Adore Beauty, Warringah

Australian beauty retailer Adore Beauty is not slowing down in its quest for retail domination. The ecommerce company has opened up 11 stores in under a year. This is Sydney’s second store, following its first in Broadway. In its new Westfield Warringah Mall home, you’ll find more than 100 brands, like Dermalogica, Medik8, Kevin Murphy and Estee Lauder. This outlet offers a more in-depth look at the skincare experience, with dermal therapists on hand to provide skin analysis, facials and treatments. And of course, complimentary Tim Tams will be given out with every purchase.

Chloe, CBD

Chloe has opened its first boutique in Australia in Sydney’s luxury precinct. This is the first time the French fashion house has set up shop here. The new store embodies Chloe’s signature bohemian aesthetic, embracing femininity with edge. At just over 100 square metres, the flagship is pared back, with earthy details and an understated fit-out. Here, you can peruse its ready-to-wear womenswear, leather goods, footwear and accessories.

Balenciaga, CBD 

In Westfield Sydney, Balenciaga has opened its biggest Australian store yet. The two-storey space reflects the Spanish luxury house’s attention to raw minimalist design, seen by brutalist concrete fit-out. Fans of the fashion brand can shop its ready-to-wear menswear and womenswear collections, along with footwear, eyewear, jewellery and other accessories, as well as its newly launched fragrance range.

RM Williams, Hornsby 

RM Williams has been busy. In the space of a week, it opened up three new stores in New South Wales – in Chatswood Chase, Castle Towers and Hornsby. At the latter store, the 93-year-old heritage brand brings its extensive range of men’s and women’s apparel, footwear and accessories to level 2 of Westfield Hornsby. The Adelaide-made leather boots and belts the brand is famous for take centrestage here, with master boot fittings available on request. Plus, you can admire the original artwork by Australian artists Tiarna Herczeg and Andre de Vanny that lines the walls. 

Lindberg, CBD

Danish eyewear label Lindberg has settled into its first Australian home – its first outlet in the southern hemisphere, to be exact. In collaboration with local independent optician The Eye Piece, Lindberg has launched a dedicated space on George Street. The interiors and furnishings were designed by Lindberg’s team, bringing its Danish DNA to every element of the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the corner establishment, giving enticing views of Lindberg’s innovative glasses, which are known for their use of titanium, gold, horn, wood and diamonds.