Crown Street, Surry Hills is positioned as a key destination for vintage fashion and accessories, with fixtures such as Grandma Takes a Trip, Puff ‘n Stuff and C’s Flashback. On the other side, in the nearby suburb of Paddington, leading designer flagships line the streets with the likes of Scanlan & Theodore, Sass & Bide, Kirrily Johnston and Zimmermann.
It was with this in mind that Sylvie Cornu decided to strike a balance between the two offers, her +EstateofMind boutique stocking merchandise from emerging designers such as Michael Lo Sordo, Flowers for a Vagabond and Cherrytree Road in a eclectic store setting.
“The store draws a strong influence on my love of the dark and quirky,” she explains. “It has been styled using a collection of skulls I accumulated along my travels throughout Europe, especially Mexico.”
These elements have been paired with a gothic mix of skeletons, vintage bric-a-brac, rich red roses, studs, tassels, leather, lace, birdcages and church candles. There are also more traditional visual elements, such as metal garment racks, black mannequins, perspex shelves and floating hangers featuring statement fashion items. Even the store sign seems to be suspended in mid-air, overlooking a predominantly black-and-white 55sqm site.
Cornu created the concept herself, believing that a monochromatic palette would allow brightly coloured clothing and accessories to shine through. She has plans to shake up visual merchandising concepts on a regular basis.
“I am getting my labels involved in the store by having monthly window installations of each label, giving them the chance to be as creative as they want and really draw attention to their brand. In the future, I’m looking forward to having art installations and collaborating with a wide range of creative types.”