If you play along with me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter you would have seen that I was out and about last night … hunting me down some bright new-season colour.
Now, I must say it does take a lot to coax me out of my uggs on a winter’s night and drive 1.5 hours to the city for a glass of champagne a canape but when the invite arrived to attend the official opening (and arrival in Queensland) of Dinosaur Designs in the revamped Wintergarden Centre … well, they didn’t have to ask me twice.
Why?
To me, Dinosaur Designs is one of Australia’s most enduring jewellery and homewares brands.
Since kicking off in 1985 at Sydney’s Paddington Markets – yes, that’s not a typo – 1985 – back when you carried silver coins to call your boyfriend from a pay-phone and you had to get up from your chair to change the channel , the designers behind the brand – Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy – have grown and evolved with the times, all the while staying true to their aesthetic.
Yes, you can pull out a DD design from five, 10 or more years ago and it will still make a fashionable statement. You can add to your existing collection and give that statement a fresh boost. That’s the enduring part I love.
Stephen spoke briefly last night and said that they had long been looking at Brisbane to open a store, originally “sneaking” around the Valley before plans for the new Wintergarden came to fruition. The Brisbane store is the company’s sixth – with two in Sydney, two in Melbourne and one in New York. There are stockists throughout the world and it’s now possible to get your DD fix online.
Before online, I would get my fix on trips to Melbourne to Sydney … or phone the Sydney shop for a mail order.
As, I did for this pink collection (pictured below – all except the pale pink are DD) before an NBCF fundraiser I was on the committee for six years ago:
The sushi plates in the next photo are a treasured wedding gift from one of my bridesmaids. I’ve We’ve had them almost eight years ago and they don’t get used for sushi … they give me something very lovely to rest some of my other accessories on. Sorry, Mr Styling You, I can’t share this gift.
The salad servers? Bought in Chapel Street on my first trip to Melbourne 10 years ago with Mr SY. The red bangle? A treat for myself from Chapel Street again … this time I was accompanying my eldest son for a school competition. We had limited shopping time but I made a beeline for the store. I’m strategic like that.
Each of these pieces holds meaning and value to me. They are handmade works of art. I love the feel and the look of resin. I know there are now others using this medium but there’s something about DD that draws me in. Every. Time.
Last night, not surprisingly , it was the colour that had me transfixed. So much zesty contrasting goodness. Neon green, orange and plum; neon green, cobalt and cream; fuchsia, aqua, gold and cream. Vivid combinations that would make suitable fancy icing on anyone’s outfit cake.
Come … take a look round the store with me …
Can you imagine how excited I was to see chartreuse AND orange in the same display? Look closely at the ring above wrapped around my glass … yes, that little baby is now sitting on those blue sushi platters in my bedroom. Right where it should be.
Do you own any Dinosaur Design pieces? Were they bought for something special? Or just because? Are you excited about how much colour is popping up in stores already? I forecast a very bright spring and summer ahead.