take me there

Photo: Bobby Chen

somewhere
Level 2, Royal Arcade 314 Little Collins St, Melbourne

When you’re a student, and a lover of fashion, I can vouch two things: one, you probably have little money (…or none, I’m just being polite here); and two, you frequently receive the icy daggers of shop assistants who think you have little right to be in their store because of your appearance.  They might be able to presume your steamy liaison with aforementioned problem one, but that’s not the point.  Scuffed shoes and a baggy shirt with a hole in the armpit should not be your passport to belittlement.

And that’s where somewhere comes in.  Perched high above the Royal Arcade, this homage to Nordic style and design sits sleek in an airy white studio.  Don’t be intimidated by its appearance, though: somewhere provides some of the friendliest service encountered within Melbourne’s fashion scene, and has a distinct and carefully curated range of wearables to back it up. 

Local talent is combined with emerging and established designers from around the world to create a considered – and affordable – retail environment free from affectation, stocking labels such as Handsom, Cheap Monday, Why Red, Won Hundred, Carly Hunter and Resteröds.

somewhere’s cool and friendly nature is reflected in the sharp, classic aesthetic of its wearables.  And as if you needed anymore convincing, the store also has a gallery space aimed at supporting local artists and fostering an environment of collective creativity.  The accessibility of their retail endeavours, extended to young artists and designers alike, means that the two spaces symbiotically nurture creativity in a welcoming setting. 

Go visit somewhere and you’ll be assured a great experience in effortless design and clothing by some really cool people.  And what about the next time you’re in a store with a snotty shop assistant who faux compliments your appearance or new shirt as a totally transparent sales technique? Tell them you picked it up from ‘oh, somewhere’.