For all the convenience of online shopping, there really is something magical about browsing in a great department store. There’s a nostalgia and sense of discovery about shopping in this way – a magic that only comes with the possibility of finding and falling in love with something you’re not necessarily looking for (as opposed to something you’re actively googling).
Of course, the appeal of this good old fashioned shopping experience relies on a great retailer to do the curating for you. Enter David Jones’ new season Home collections – a bold new move from Australia’s oldest department store.
Last week, David Jones unveiled extensive new designer home collections, with a renewed emphasis on furniture, international designer brands and also, an encouraging nod to local design. Brands such as Cult, HAY, Great Dane, Vitra, Gubi, Tom Dixon, Callesella and Menu are represented, alongside local favourites NAU, Dinosaur Designs and Robert Gordon.
Launching as part of David Jones’ autumn / winter campaign, The Art of Living, the new Home collections mark a distinct shift towards a refined, luxury aesthetic, underpinned by established international brands.
However, perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the Australian brand collaborations I’m especially excited about! With a respected reputation for championing Australian fashion, it’s great to see DJ’s following suit in the home department. Sydney design heroes Dinosaur Designs have produced exclusive product, whilst an exquisite range of Australian-made tableware created in collaboration with Robert Gordon really steals the show for me (I’m seriously considering a full new set of tableware – it’s that beautiful!). It’s also great to see locally made furniture from NAU in the mix – featuring key pieces by Adam Cornish, Kate Stokes and Adam Goodrum (some of which you might recognise from our last TDF Open House event!).
David Jones General Manager of Home, Yvonne Stinson, has been driving this new approach to all things home. “David Jones’ autumn winter home collections capture the essence of artful living, and have provided us a platform to celebrate the best of local and international design’ she says. ‘We’re delighted to offer an innovative selection of design products that caters to our customer’s sense of style beyond their wardrobe.” Hear hear!
The new home collections are available in selected David Jones stores from this week – Melbourne peeps can find the range in the Bourke Street Mall (Menswear Building) store, or, if you must, yes, you can also shop the collection online!
Shop the new homeware collections at selected David Jones stores, and at www.davidjones.com/bellehome.
The photos in this story appear courtesy of David Jones, as featured in the latest issue of Belle magazine, out now.