Fashion coup: Top Australian designer reveals plans to open first store in Queensland

She’s one of Australia’s top designers, dressing celebs across the globe - and now she’s finally opening her first Queensland boutique

Rebecca Vallance Rocco top and midi skirt.

Renowned for her red-carpet gowns, celebrity following (Lady Gaga and Eva Mendes are huge fans) and international prominence, Rebecca Vallance has finally expanded her Australian presence and opened a stand-alone boutique in Queensland.

The highly anticipated storefront is in QueensPlaza, in the heart of Brisbane city, and – similar to her design aesthetic – strikes a harmonious balance between timeless elegance and contemporary design.

It houses Vallance’s signature cocktail dresses and elegant suiting, with her designs favouring opulence and glamour with bows, pearl trimmings and intricate detailing serving strong festive season inspiration.

Fashion designer Rebecca Vallance is opening a Queensland store.

The brand thrives on a “cocktail” dress code, therefore the Brisbane boutique is a perfectly timed retail addition for both brand and customer.

The latest Resort collection, Mia Bella, is made for a Queensland summer where linens, printed maxi dresses and sunray pleated skirts embrace fashion, function – and the impending humidity.

“Queensland customers definitely love our colourful garments,” Vallance says.

“Our Resort collection boasts impeccable dresses that are perfectly suited for racing, long lunches, and daytime events, all while incorporating a delightful array of vibrant colours.”

Despite her “country Ballarat” upbringing in Victoria’s central highlands, Vallance’s foray into the fashion industry was anything but modest.

When she launched her label in 2011 in Paris, Vallance picked up the Harvey Nichols department store as an initial stockist, which ultimately cemented her luxury status and resulted in a strong UK, European and US presence.

Rebecca Vallance Queens Plaza store render.

Having recently launched into Selfridges and Harrods (and with plans to expand the international bricks and mortar presence to New York), the label built its reputation and business on foreign territory.

“I had always dreamt of building an international brand, and after working in fashion PR for such a long time, I finally took the leap, launching and establishing Rebecca Vallance in London before returning home to continue our expansion,” she says.

In 2012, Vallance opened in Australia, easing into the market and establishing communities within Victoria and NSW first. Now the Brisbane boutique has arrived to a warm (literally and figuratively) reception and Queensland shoppers keen to embrace the Rebecca Vallance lifestyle.

“The delay in opening a stand-alone store in Queensland was primarily due to our extensive nationwide and international expansion efforts,” she says.

Jackie O wearing Rebecca Vallance’s Gia Midi, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Gemma O’Neill.

“With a vibrant fashion scene and the increasing demand for our products in the region, we are responding to the demand for a Brisbane boutique.”

With a firm fashion footprint in both local and international markets, the brand has seen incredible year-on-year growth post-pandemic, proving the world is ready to forget the sweatpant era.

Vallance’s sales are largely driven by the European and North American markets and don’t appear to be changing or slowing down.

“Rebecca Vallance is positioned with a strong emphasis in the international market while the Australian business is smaller in comparison,” she says.

“Considering the width of the audience and the roots of the brand, this is not surprising and not something we expect will dramatically change as we grow further.”

Vallance says her favourite piece from the new collection is the Eva midi.

Lady Gaga in the Eva Midi Dress in Las Vegas.

“The Eva midi dress radiates sophistication and opulence with its pearl-trimmed design, while the contrast of the puff sleeves and pencil skirt ensures a flattering and timeless silhouette,” Vallance says.

It does take incredible skill and balance to design for both the northern and southern hemispheres, but Vallance has nailed that worldwide brief of making women feel good.

While high glamour is a cornerstone of the brand’s aesthetic, Vallance herself is down-to-earth and practical, with the sole objective of making women’s lives easier through the power of a fabulous dress.

Ultimately, the brand knows what women want when it comes to fashion.

Originally published as Fashion coup: Top Australian designer reveals plans to open first store in Queensland