Personal stylist and wardrobe consultant Sally Mackinnon is passionate about fashion and helping people discover the perfect fit. When clients visit her home city of Melbourne, she points them straight to Collins Street, a premier shopping and cultural destination.
“Collins Street is a destination for world-class theatre and high-end shopping,” Mackinnon said. “Its grand architecture and wide footpaths make it a picturesque place to shop and stroll.”
A perfect day on Collins Street, she says, begins with a “long black and a piece of cake” at the historic Hopetoun Tea Rooms in the Block Arcade. Located at shops 1 and 2, 282 Collins St., Hopetoun serves classic fare in a heritage setting. If dessert first isn’t your style, their hearty breakfast options are tempting — think creamy scrambled eggs with fresh basil pesto, thick-cut leg ham and Vienna toast.
After breakfast, Mackinnon suggests crossing the street to Tiffany & Co. at 267 Collins St. for a timeless piece of jewellery. “With my blue box in hand, I’d head up to Miss Louise for the latest European designer shoes,” she says.
Miss Louise, located in The Westin on Collins Street, has offered European bags, shoes and accessories since 1964. It’s also a gateway to the “Paris” end of Collins Street, where fashion houses such as Chanel, Max Mara, Gucci, Hermès, Bally and Louis Vuitton create an elegant shopping precinct.
Mackinnon often stops by Australian jeweller Jan Logan at 90 Collins St. to add finishing touches — for example, a pair of South Sea pearl earrings. She might then treat herself to a glass of wine and a small plate at Pei Modern, located at 45 Collins St.
Pei Modern is an acclaimed newcomer with a seasonal menu that showcases fresh market ingredients. Dishes rotate but have included grass-fed steak tartare, ricotta dumplings with wild broccoli, nettle and hazelnut, and almond gazpacho with blue swimmer crab.
If Collins Street’s boutique and designer offerings sound overly feminine to some visitors, Mackinnon points out there are excellent options for men as well. “There are a few favourites on Collins Street,” she notes. “One being Harrolds gentlemen’s outfitters. If you’re a man with style and money to burn, this is the place to shop.”
Not affiliated with the British department store, Harrolds at 101 Collins St. caters to the fashion-conscious Australian man. Stocking labels such as Tom Ford, Givenchy, Balmain Paris and Comme des Garçons, it’s a destination for men building a refined, contemporary wardrobe.
Whether you’re seeking timeless jewellery, European shoes, cutting-edge designer pieces or refined menswear, Collins Street offers a concentrated stretch of Melbourne shopping that combines heritage architecture with international and local brands. For Mackinnon, it’s where style, shopping and a bit of indulgence come together.