H&M Australia Melbourne GPO

H&M has arrived in Australia! The store opened Saturday, 5 April at 10:00am with 3000 fans or more through the doors.

H&M GPO Melbourne Interior - picture courtesy H&M 

This is their second largest store, 5000 square metres comprising of 3 levels of fantastic fashion, accessories and stylish home wares. Customers queued all night and where generously catered to in the morning by H&M Care Carts serving coffee and juice, while beauty carts offered touch ups! At 9:00am  DJ Anna Lunoe rocked the crowd into a party spirit! The first shoppers where rewarded with a unique t-shirt designed by Sharon Clues at RMIT.

Queuing crowd for H&M 5 April 2014 - picture courtesy H&M

This celebration of fashion is what H&M is about. When speaking to the senior management team at the VIP event on Thursday, 3^rd April their enthusiasm and passion are contagious, their aim is to rejuvenate, excite and create an amazing shopping experience in the heart of Melbourne!

The heritage (General Post Office) GPO building is painted a clean Scandinavian white; the garden party theme with deep green foliage is fresh and youthful, with dressed-up mannequins on swings adding a sense of fun and freedom! The vastness of the gallery lends itself to the stunning grandstand displays of clothed mannequins highlighting the most desirable looks.  The high quality and on trend fashion at purse friendly prices are irresistible! Pictures below from VIP Event shopping!

It's vast and beautiful!

She swings - so fresh, so chic!

Accessories looking delicious, so were the hors devours created by Melbourne-based chef Adam D'Sylva

Designer inspired shoulder bag 

The Look - floor to ceiling fashion inspiration

It's a fashion station with luggage trolleys!

Check out!

The Haim sisters DJ'd the party - picture courtesy H&M

Launch party - picture courtesy H&M

Go online to H&M and see the whole range, its worth coming to Melbourne for! It’s all available at the GPO and there’s more with a limited edition range designed exclusively for Australia, you just have to be in Melbourne to buy it because the online store is yet to be launched, but until then get into town because this store makes you want to shop!

I have always loved the children's wear at H&M and whenever we have been in Stockholm have bought the girls a couple of cool outfits. The prints range from pretty floral prints (but look closely there might be a skull and cross bones hidden in amongst the flowers) to quirky cats, with ribbon and button details. The accessories especially hats, gloves and beanies are great, we've had many pairs over the years and they last and last! I love the fact that my children look like children and not mini adults. I often get compliments on their clothes and asked "where did you buy it?"  Now I can say "you can get it from H&M!" 

Children's wear on the top shelf, actually the 2nd floor of the GPO

Homewares on the 3rd - cushion covers for only $9.95

Over the last 7 years H&M have grown the number of store by an average of 13% and have plans to open more stores across Australia. The H&M team from Stockholm had a tight itinerary with flights up and down the coastline looking at other beautiful buildings to breathe new life into. To date H&M has 3192 stores worldwide, in 2014 they plan to open 375 new stores worldwide.

Men's wear at H&M is a hidden treasure. The clothes are well cut and fabrics a good quality, Swedish men look great and always look sharp. The styles are mostly classic with some nice suits, blazers and lots of good basics. 

Mens Suits, Shirts & Ties at the GPO

Good basics for men

Love the pony - perfect for men in Victoria's winter

Most of the people that I know who work at H&M have been there for many years. This to me says a lot about the culture of a company when they can retain their employees and grow and promote staff internally. Their dedicated staff know the company systems and they way it works from the ground-up. I think this is what makes them so successful and confidently ambitious, it’s a loyal family with a shared set of values and the same vision.

Leather jacket, animal print blouses & knits

Denim bohemian tassel tunic & hanging to the right the embroidered velvet drawstring bag!

That dress!

...and That Jacket!

That's for your motorbike Jenny!

Lots of lovely boots, and the star print tunic I'm holding is stella!

Richard Nylon & Jenny Bannister - Australian Legends!

Delightful staff to share a laugh at the counter!

As for my gorgeous family, we no longer need to buy yet another suitcase when in Stockholm to pack all the H&M outfits into to bring back to Oz we just need to hop on the tram!