On April 4th, we opened the doors to our first international retail home – a curated space within the We Wear Australian store on Mercer Street in SoHo, New York. It was such a surreal and exciting moment for us, made even more special by being represented alongside such an incredible collection of Australian brands.
We couldn’t help but fly over for the opening in April, which coincided with Bridal Fashion Week – a week we really made the most of. We held private client appointments at the new SoHo space, hosted a dinner with Silk Laundry at Mamo (an iconic Italian New York restaurant) and collaborated with Watters Bridal on a runway presentation at The Waldorf Astoria. We squeezed every moment out of our time there and came back completely invigorated by seeing our pieces against the backdrop of the city.
We were determined to see and do as much as we could whilst we were there, completely overwhelmed by Instagram recommendations and recommendations from friends. We did a mix of dropping by places on a whim, seeing where the night would take us and dropping in to eat at places based off the vibe but there were a few we had on our lists as musts.
Our first night set the tone. We raced from the plane to the hotel for a quick change before heading to the Australian Consulate for an intimate welcome drinks evening with the We Wear Australian group. We connected with brands there for the opening and sipped on champagne as we tried to soak in the excitement of the week ahead.
We left early, still running on adrenaline, determined to find somewhere for dinner. With no booking (which felt mildly stressful at the time), we ended up at a small corner wine bar, Copinette, for another glass of champagne before wandering until something felt right. We found a spot with a simple sign, steaks, salads, oysters, and that was enough.
We had the most charming bouncy waiter from Boston who helped us order all the best bits. Whether it was the jet lag, the champagne, or the first-night energy, those oysters from The Smith New York were unforgettable.
The night of the opening carried a similar energy, full, celebratory, a little chaotic in the best way. After the event, we made our way to Balthazar for spicy margaritas and oysters, managing to walk straight in despite the buzz. It had that classic New York feel, dim, busy, a little nostalgic and we ordered a huge plate of oysters and bread, soaking it all in.
Like everyone, we’d been quietly influenced by the recent obsession with Love Story, so a stop at The Odeon felt necessary. It delivered; classic, effortless, and exactly the kind of place you want to sit for a long lunch that turns into drinks. Oysters, Aperol spritzes, and a moment that felt very New York and perfect after a big day of sightseeing/mostly shopping.
Another night took us to Dante in the West Village. It was one of those places that invites you to stay longer than planned, a perfect nook to sit and gossip with girlfriends as we salivated over shared plates and wine.
A place we were recommended which I don’t think we would have come across was St. Jardim, the cutest wine bar filled with flavourful bites and specialty wine. I would say the oysters here were an absolute standout and the menu was so considered and refreshing against our streak of pizza pasta and steak frites.
Dinner at Mamo, where we hosted our event with Silk Laundry, was quintessentially New York, intimate, dimly lit, and full of energy. We were surrounded by a mix of media, creatives, and new friends of the brand, all curious and engaged. It was also where our oyster forks quietly became part of the conversation, passed around the table, used, admired, and woven into the experience in a way that felt completely natural.
