Inside the Melbourne boutique curating your favourite labels, from Ganni to Nagnata

“It’s the sort of place you can see yourself lounging and shopping in for hours, a bit of a wonderland really.”

After first opening its doors over 14 years ago, well-loved Melbourne fashion destination Filly’s Stable has recently undergone a makeover. Adopting a more contemporary feel, the new Stable (yes, sans the Filly’s) is all about luxury that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The Albert Park boutique, founded by fashion buyer Lauren Nicholls, stocks brands from Australia and beyond, including favourites like By Far, Paris Georgia and JW Anderson.

Discover more local designers in our Fashion section. 

With the help of Fitzroy-based interior design firm Studio Manifold, Lauren says Stable has transformed into “more of a slow-paced, sensory experience”. Complete with a lush lounging area, vintage Italian furniture and floating shoe shelves, Stable is an all-encompassing shopping destination. Below, Lauren shares how the store vision was brought to life.

How would you describe the store’s aesthetic?

We felt like brick-and-mortar retail had become a little stagnant over the last few years due to COVID-born challenges and the rise of online shopping. We wanted to create more of a slow-paced, sensory experience where our customers could take some time out for themselves, meet up with friends try on a new look in a relaxed and aesthetically-pleasing environment.

We love the way the eye is drawn not only to the products we are selling but also to the art, sculptures, vintage lights and beautiful textiles inside the store. The very first day we walked into our new store, it reminded us of a French bistro and bar – kind of old-world and not too fancy, but with the right kind of quirks that represent Stable. It’s the sort of place you can see yourself lounging and shopping in for hours, a bit of a wonderland really.

What was the process like putting the store together and were there any challenges or roadblocks along the way?

The conceptual time took a few months but once the build began, we were so impressed with our team.

Who did Stable collaborate with when bringing the store to life?

Studio Manifold really spent the time sitting down with us to know what we were really about and how we wanted to create a new-wave style of retail and customer experience. We adopted a strong focus on elements of play and joy. They ran wild with this and we didn’t have too much input afterwards, other than some real retail-focused pointers. The result is so impressive from this creative duo.

What’s your favourite feature/area of the store?

I love the new fine jewellery cabinet. Every time I look into it and open it up I discover something new about a particular piece or a designer. It’s been a real learning curve for myself and the team to transition from stylists into jewellery consultants now, too. But it’s something we are all really excited and passionate about.

This elevated area of the store is super cosy with its couch and custom chair — it’s a great space to hang out in, whether it be trying on your selected fine jewellery edit or a fun shoe, or listening to changeroom banter.

What do you like about the area/the Melbourne creative scene in general?

We feel very lucky and love being part of a village. It’s a unique thing to have blurred lines between work and fun, and be surrounded by customers who really feel like friends. We’re always super excited to meet new customers in-store, we love to show them our brands and tell them what we are about. One of the main focuses we had with the new store design was to create the ultimate backdrop for more collaborative events.

We really wanted to build on our Stable community and collective by doing more with designers and creatives. We want to be able to inspire and educate our customers with trunk shows, jewellery masterclasses and collection launches. The renovation is allowing us to expand creatively and bring more to Melbourne, which we are so thrilled about.

Browse the Stable collection here.