WHAT’S YOUR CONNECTION TO SYDNEY?
‘I grew up in a southern seaside suburb with my German father, Australian mother and sister Simone. As young girls we’d spend the whole day in the sun – playing in the pool at home, hitting the waves on the beach or just running through the water sprinkler. I just love the way of life here, being able to go to work in the centre yet live surrounded by the natural beauty of the coastline. It’s unique.’
YOUR IDEAL DAY?
‘I like long, relaxed breakfasts and Bills on Bondi Beach has the best ricotta hotcakes. After that I’d set off on the coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte – the spectacular views never lose their charm – and go for a swim and read the morning papers on the rocks at Tamarama Beach. I’d have a late lunch at Sean’s: it’s cute, homely and free of any glitz or gimmicks, with a rickety-chic interior. In the evening, it would be cocktails and dinner at Bennelong in the Opera House, overlooking the Harbour Bridge, and then on to wherever the Martinis take me!’
ANY OTHER FOODIE SPOTS?
‘Icebergs Dining Room on Bondi is a classic – you can’t beat sipping a No. 8 while watching the surf roll in. The Italian-influenced menu includes fresh fish and a delicious risotto, and there’s a pea salad that comes as a side with everything. Another must is Alberto’s Lounge, a fun little speakeasy and restaurant bursting with character. You can show up unannounced any time and the staff are always so accommodating. I usually order extra burrata to avoid getting stabbed in the hand with a fork by my dining companions.’
WHICH ARE THE BEST BEACHES?
‘We are really spoilt here. Bondi and Bronte are my favourites – a dip in one of the ocean pools is a fantastic way to start the morning. But if I am looking for a quieter day out, I’ll head to the more secluded harbour beaches – Queens Beach, Kutti Beach or Camp Cove on the Watsons Bay peninsula.’
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND TIME ON WEEKENDS?
‘For people-watching you can’t beat Bondi on a Saturday with a coffee or fresh juice from Umu. And like most locals I cannot be trusted to walk past Messina without ordering a gelato. The salted-caramel flavour is dangerously good.’
A PLACE FOR AN EVENING DRINK?
‘In summer it’s lovely to be outside by the water – at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel they know their way around an Aperol spritz. And 10 William St in Paddington is an intimate wine bar that’s ideal for a date night or a few drinks before supper. Whenever I eat at farm-to-table restaurant Fred’s around the corner I always end up in the downstairs bar, Charlie Parker’s – it’s kind of dark and mysterious.’
THE MOST EXCITING GALLERIES?
‘The Art Gallery of New South Wales is impressive: it awards The Archibald, an annual prize for the most captivating portrait. One of the winners in 2020 was a painting of Kurdish-Iranian writer and refugee Behrouz Boochani, who spent six years in a detention centre in Papua New Guinea. The powerful image by Angus McDonald depicted him as strong, confident and peaceful. The Olsen Gallery in Woollahra is another amazing showcase for contemporary homegrown artists. I’ve decorated our house and stores with works by local talent including Stephen Ormandy and Tom Polo.’
WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR A DAY TRIP?
‘For a short break there’s Palm Beach, which is about an hour north of Sydney. It’s a bit like what the Hamptons is to New York and gets very busy in the summer, but it’s also wonderful in the winter. My family and I don’t tend to do too much here. There are lots of great cafés such as The Boathouse for breakfast, and afterwards we go for a long walk along the shore and up to the lighthouse at the northern tip.’
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE MARKETS?
‘The stalls at Bondi have a lively atmosphere and there’s always an array of fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables. I’m quite into vintage, and you can pick up some cool little pieces at the Kirribilli Markets, just on the other side of Harbour Bridge. Look out for the occasional surprise find such as a Seventies crochet dress.’
HOW HAS YOUR HOMETOWN INSPIRED THE SS21 COLLECTION?
‘I have always been interested in the city’s native flowers and botanical art. For a few seasons I’ve been trying to work this into our prints but struggled with the scientific aesthetic and what we could do with it. There is something so special about the golden light in Sydney, and I wanted to explore ways in which sunlight could play on the patterns and colours, so we used diaphanous silhouettes to let it filter through the garments to mimic rays falling across trees. For the native fauna, I found a book called The Flower Hunter, first published in 1898, tracing the drawings of the artist, naturalist and explorer Ellis Rowan. It really resonated with me – it was emotive and very Australian. I recognised the plants and birds, and I loved the way Rowan painted with such a feminine hand. We were fortunate to bring 10 of her works to life in our prints with the support of the National Library of Australia. The result was very relaxed yet vibrant and optimistic – something that’s very much true of Sydneysiders.’
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