Poor Sydney seems to be rather fed up with its moniker as Melbourne’s big, brash, boozy cousin. Sure we have places like Ivy that are considered Sydney institutions, but a watering hole’s cool factor now seems to be determined by how difficult it is to find. Alleyways, industrial-strength doors and unspecific addresses rate highly; unambiguous signage is an obvious faux pas. Shopping has followed in the same vein. While most cool stores, unlike bars, are actually able to be located on Google Maps, exclusivity is instead conveyed through unassuming facades and an array of décor so eclectic you’re not sure whether they’re in the business of clothes or crockery. 

Sometimes exclusivity is conveyed in the same, as is the case with new Sydney fashion boutique For Artists Only. It’s one of those shops that you’re not even sure if you’re hip enough to be allowed in to — and, once you consider the fact that it’s located in the sleepy suburb of Rose Bay, finding out almost doesn’t seem worth the hassle. But FOA contains such an abundance of cool that it doesn’t mind if those of us without a VI in front of our P status infiltrate its sleek interior to soak some up. And we definitely want to do that. With years of experience in both the fashion and music industries, curators Kristie MacDonald and Marty Salmon are pretty clued on to what cool girls want to wear. Gracing their hangers already are fresh local fashion labels like Sass & Bide, Zimmermann, Ksubi, ManiaMania, Lover and Shakuhachi, and there are supposedly talks with international cult favourites Alexander Wang and Pamela Love in the works.

So, you’ve managed to enter the store without being asked for portfolio samples and you’ve established that FOA stocks some of the finest threads in Sydney. Your next question is probably along the lines of “What’s with the drum kits hanging precariously from the ceiling?” Well, MacDonald and Salmon’s boutique is also about sharing their love of music. The pair claims that the space is inspired by the musical artists they love — a simple concept, and one totally in line with their wish for FOA to encourage artistic self-expression (take note, stores who think music means blasting so-cool-you-haven’t-heard-of-it progressive Swedish electronica).

Since FAO opened the duo have launched an equally sleek website promising that live entertainment and musical merchandise will accompany their designer threads. This is where they have announced the brilliant concept of collaborating with touring artists to offer gig-goers well-cut alternatives to the usual boxy band t-shirt. We hope MacDonald and Salmon shamelessly employ all their music industry connections to make this become a thing, because it could even be more amazing than the fact that they served Ms. G’s Vietnamese sandwiches at the opening party.