This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Anu Verma, a trauma recovery coach , podcast host, and author of the book "Victim 2 Victor."
18.09.2024 - 17:27 / lonelyplanet.com
Sep 18, 2024 • 4 min read
In our 5 Shops series, we’ll point you in the direction of our favorite independent shops across some of the world’s best cities. From food markets to bookshops, vintage and homegrown design, we’ve found a diverse and exciting mix of local retailers where you can pick up one-of-a-kind pieces.
Australia’s creative heartland, Melbourne is all about idiosyncratic shops artfully stocked with progressive streetwear, prized vintage finds, acclaimed local literature and standout wines, cheeses and more. Writer, glutton and hardcore Melburnian Cristian Bonetto sheds light on five spots that encapsulate his hometown’s standout style, signature flavors and irrepressible spirit.
Melburnians are Australia’s sharpest dressers, and you’ll find some of the country’s most exciting designers on Gertrude St. My favorite store on the strip is Handsom, lit by a winged, neon penny-farthing. “Our best friend designed the logo. It encapsulates both the timeless and the contemporary,” explains fashion designer Sam Rush, who founded the label with partner Henry Allum.
The design is the perfect representation of Handsom’s carefully, ethically produced pieces: classic yet street-smart, functional yet playful. For me, the label encapsulates Melbourne’s knack for merging elegance, restraint and subversive edge. The knits are especially popular; my current crush is the Fuzzy Stripe Knit. It’s like one big, bright hug under brooding Melbourne skies.
It’s not every day that a vintage clothing store is run by the National Trust. But Vault is no average vintage store. Suitably set in Melbourne’s historic Block Arcade, this not-for-profit funds the preservation of Victoria’s architectural, cultural and natural heritage. “All the stock is donated, and once we’ve checked whether anything can go into the Trust’s Fashion and Costume Collection, we curate the best pieces to go into the store,” says Vault’s retail coordinator Jack Fordham.This might include a silk flapper dress from the 1920s or a Georges Rech two-piece from the 1980s. Collectors quickly snap up pieces from Melbourne’s long-gone Le Louvre designer label, while Vault itself commissions local designers to upcycle dated or damaged stock into anything from cocktail dresses to headwear. Prices are surprisingly reasonable; some frocks go for as little as A$55, while a small selection of menswear includes ties from A$30.
Since Melbourne is a UNESCO City of Literature, it’s only fair that it should claim the bookshop crowned “World’s Best” at the 2016 London Book Fair. The champion in question is Readings, an independent bookseller as utterly Melbourne as Kylie Minogue and fickle weather. Since 1969, the store has played an important role in Australia’s
This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Anu Verma, a trauma recovery coach , podcast host, and author of the book "Victim 2 Victor."
After a dramatic four-month delay, Villa Vie's residential cruise ship has finally set sail on its around-the-world voyage.
Qatar Airways announced that it intends to acquire a 25% stake in Virgin Australia as part of a deal that could drive more competition in the Australian market.
If you’ve long wished to explore the Outback, but don't want to give up your job, there's a way to live out your day dream—Australia's Working Holiday visa programs are a great option for people between 18 and 30 years old (35 in a few cases) to live and work in Australia for the short-term.
Sep 26, 2024 • 6 min read
The Australian city of Gold Coast is about to shine even brighter — at least, for World of Hyatt fanatics — when the first Andaz opens in the coastal city next year.
From #BookTok to celebrity book clubs to high-profile literary film adaptations, it's safe to say that reading hasn't been this cool in years. So it's not a big surprise that our favorite nerdy pastime has also begun to seep into the world of nightlife.
There are two types of train trip: The long, slow, and often luxurious train journey that takes you through beautiful scenery that you book specifically to spend time on the rails; and the speedy, no-nonsense, cheap train ride you take to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. In the first category, you’ll find grand trips like Australia’s The Ghan, South Africa’s Blue Train, and Britain’s Caledonian Sleeper. In the second, there are trips from London to Brussels in just two hours, from Rome to Venice in four hours, and from Miami to Orlando in three hours. And if you’re a train traveler who belongs to the second category and likes getting places fast without flying, there are plenty of trains in this world that do just that at speeds previously unimaginable on land, including the fastest train in the world and its closest competitors.
The opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris is designed to be a major spectacle on July 26. Yet issues have plagued the games before they’ve even begun. Just hours before the opening ceremony, arsonists attacked France’s high-speed rail network and disrupted travel to Paris from around Europe for 800,000 people — fans and athletes alike.
Iceland is known as one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, as it sits just south of the Arctic Circle and is known for clear winter skies. But with numerous outdoor activities ranging from coastal hiking to horseback riding and trekking through ice caves, it’s a bit hard to stay awake every night to watch the skies.
I met my partner in New Orleans right before COVID changed everything, and I never thought our relationship would involve dealing with international borders and visa rules. As an Australian, I was used to long-haul flights, but the emotional challenges were something I didn't expect.
The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon apply to visitors from from Europe, Australia, the US and Canada.