Dagmar Rousset

Fitzroy's new colourful kid on the block - Dagmar Rousset in Gertrude st, stocking incredible hypercolour knitwear by emerging US fashion label ALL Knitwear, and oversized soft sculpture by Melbourne label NotToday!

I fell head a bit in love with the enormous soft 'cake' sculpture on the central table, by local crafter / designer Gemma Patford (aka 'NotToday!)

Dagmar Rousset is the very entertaining alter ego of Melbourne-born french teacher Julia Pound.  It's also the name of her brand new shop on Gertrude st - a shop I can only describe as 'bonkers brilliant', in the most affectionate way!

OK firstly, how awesome is it to have a shop which, by day, sells kooky hypercolour knitwear and 'objets d'art' - yet by night becomes a French classroom!?  Awesome.  There should be more of that.  We'd all be much more intellectual.

Secondly, Julia sources the most unusual selection of product from both here and abroad - a collection which you are just 100% unlikely to see anywhere else - it includes clothing by Eley Kishimoto (London), hand crafted soft sculptures by Melbourne label NotToday, fabulous paper goods and bedlinen from Sydney's wonderful new product design team The Lowercase, and handmade lingerie by Melbourne's own Hopeless amongst many others.  Fabulous.

I cannot begin to describe how magical this little shop is.  It just seems to transport you to another country / alternate reality!  But it's not necessarily the stock, the cute interior or even the French classes which makes it so special... it's the whole package, and a big part of the store's unique personality is Julia herself.  There is just something special about her - I can't put my finger on it, but to me she seemed kind of like a mysterious character from a French movie... someone you feel like you may have met in a previous life or something.  I fear I am not making much sense.  You kind of have to GO THERE to get it :)

I particularly love how Julia describes the shop in her press info -  'With absolutely no background in fashion or retail, Julia is having a lot of fun making it up as she goes along'.  HOW refreshing!  I think she's nailed it.

DO POP IN for an alternate reality experience at your earliest convenience!

Amazing colourful knitted bags by Melbourne based Allysha Coghland - whose label is called Reckless Exuberance.  Each bag is made by hand using a knitting machine and is a 'one-off' piece.  Felt soft sculptures, foods and body parts etc... Fabulous leather accessories by local designer Sarah Russell whose label is 'Scotatto', and the most colourful knitwear you have ever seen by emerging US designers ALL knitwear.