The way we shop has changed — and so have our expectations of the experience. Increasingly, we’re looking for destinations that can do it all: somewhere to discover new fashion and beauty, stop for lunch, browse, explore and enjoy something unexpected along the way.
Chatswood Chase is embracing that idea this September, with its premium mix of fashion, beauty, lifestyle and dining joined by Self Expression Matters, an exclusive customisation experience created in collaboration with style ambassador Elle Ferguson. Running from September 10–13, the experience gives shoppers the opportunity to transform an eligible in-centre fashion purchase into something uniquely theirs, choosing from a curated selection of embellishments including embroidered patches, statement fringing, brooches, colourful accents and sparkling details.
But the experience doesn’t stop there. With a considered line-up of luxury fashion, beauty, lifestyle and dining, alongside a number of new store openings, Chatswood Chase offers plenty to discover in a single visit — whether you’re searching for a new-season wardrobe addition, catching up over lunch or simply browsing with no particular agenda.
It’s a reminder that the best shopping trips have always been about more than the transaction. I know this because some of my favourite shopping-centre memories have very little to do with what I actually bought.
For years, whenever I caught up with my nan, we’d often meet at a shopping centre for a coffee or lunch before taking our time wandering through the shops. It became something of a ritual, and somewhere that was convenient for both of us but also gave us everything we needed for a good afternoon together: coffee, conversation, a little window shopping and somewhere comfortable to simply spend time.
Looking back, I don’t necessarily remember the things I bought on those days. I remember the conversations, the familiar coffee stops, the browsing and the feeling of having nowhere else we needed to be. Because sometimes the thing you remember most from a shopping day isn’t what you bought, but who you were with, where you stopped for coffee or the unexpected thing you discovered along the way.
And that’s perhaps why the best shopping destinations today are the ones that give us a reason to linger.
A New Reason To Linger
Chatswood Chase isn’t the only Sydney destination embracing the idea. The Galeries, Queen Victoria Building and the Strand Arcade will also host Self Expression Matters, each bringing its own character to the experience.
The Galeries brings a contemporary fashion-forward energy to the experience, while the Queen Victoria Building pairs its iconic heritage architecture with a mix of fashion, beauty and dining. At the Strand Arcade, heritage meets an impressive edit of Australian designers, offering yet another reason to make a day of it.
Together, the four destinations offer different ways to make a day of shopping — and another reminder that the best retail experiences aren’t always about how quickly you can find what you’re looking for.
Because ultimately, the best shopping days aren’t measured by how many bags you carry home. They’re remembered for the people you spend them with, the places you discover and the moments that happen in between. Just like those afternoons with my nan, sometimes it’s the experience, not the purchase, that stays with you.
Self Expression Matters
The Galeries: Located on the Ground Floor, next to Incu Womens. Customers must make an in-centre fashion garment purchase between 13–30 August*.
- Friday 28 August: 11am–4pm
- Saturday 29 August: 11am–4pm
- Sunday 30 August: 11am–4pm
Queen Victoria Building: Located on Level 2, by the centre Dome. Customers must make an in-centre fashion garment purchase between 20 August–6 September.
- Thursday 3 September: 12pm–5pm
- Friday 4 September: 12pm–5pm
- Saturday 5 September: 12pm–5pm
- Sunday 6 September: 11am–4pm
Chatswood Chase: Located on Level 2, outside Georg Jensen. Customers must make an in-centre fashion garment purchase between 27 August–13 September.
- Thursday 10 September: 2pm–7pm
- Friday 11 September: 12pm–5pm
- Saturday 12 September: 11am–4pm
- Sunday 13 September: 11am–4pm
The Strand Arcade: Located on Level 1, Pitt St end, outside Scanlan Theodore. Customers must make an in-centre fashion garment purchase between 3–20 September.
- Friday 18 September: 11am–4pm
- Saturday 19 September: 11am–4pm
- Sunday 20 September: 11am–4pm
*Terms and conditions apply. Please see thegaleries.com/self-expression-matters, qvb.com.au/self-expression-matters, chatswoodchase.com.au/self-expression-matters or strandarcade.com.au/self-expression-matters for more details.
Chatswood Chase introduces an elevated luxury experience to Sydney’s North Shore, bringing together the city’s largest collection of luxury brands outside the CBD. Discover considered design, exceptional service and curated experiences, where style, inspiration and indulgence come together in a refined new destination.
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