urban walkabout sydney shopping

Behind the Label:
CONSTANCE & VIOLET

by Alexander Kendrew

When you meet designer Carly Andrews her modesty, charm and wit translate perfectly to her label, Constance & Violet, named after her two grandmothers.

“Tasmania is full of shops with vintage 30’s, 40’s and 50’s clothes.” A youth spent reworking these pieces under the watchful eyes of “Connie and Vi” helped Carly appreciate the finer points of tailoring and “dressing oneself”; she would often be found helping members of her Father’s band put outfits together.

Hungry for adventure Carly left Tasmania and moved to New York where she trained as an actor, “I didn’t want to be a waitress so I started making clothes and selling them at markets”, and so began her success.

Moving to Sydney in 2001 she started selling at Glebe and Bondi markets before setting up a stall exclusively at the Paddington markets. It was here Carly realised a huge gap in the market for tailored but pretty blouses. Building up a strong client base over two years it seemed only natural to open a store on Oxford street. With her usual bravado she took a plunge and signed a lease.This not only allowed Carly’s loyal customers a permanent base to visit but it exposed her unique style to new customers.

Working in the store Carly has received amazing feedback, “I was opening the shop the other morning and Colette Dinnigan was looking in the window, she said ‘It’s really lovely’”.

For inspiration Carly is seduced by the whims of her imagination, “I could make a short film around every piece”. Showing me her favourite at the moment hanging in the window she says “I was dreaming of holidays in the South of France and wanted a dress to walk along the prominades in.” The design gives a nod to the fifties whilst the digitally printed Japanese shantong gives it a contemporary kick.

Her signature piece however is the Constance & Violet blouse. Details like lace have come and gone but it has effectively remained a constant from the beginning.

To Carly details are very important but she doesn’t subscribe to the school of embellishment, less really is more and she prefers to hand stitch a hem than have it machine finished. This adds an air of timelessness to her designs “I would like a girl to be able to buy one of my pieces and still be wearing it in 10 years time”.

When pushed to describe her style Carly uses the words ecclectic, classic, feminine with a little rock & roll, “I’d say it’s Audrey Hepburn meets Deborah Harry”.