In Conversation With The New Trend’s Vanessa Spencer On Style, Strategy & The Brisbane Move
The Brisbane Edit
By Kiri Johnston | 8th October 2025James Street has evolved into a cultural heartbeat for Brisbane — a place where international names and homegrown talent sit side by side, and every detail feels intentional. With each opening, the precinct continues to grow, reflecting the city’s increasingly sophisticated fashion landscape.
The latest arrival is The New Trend (TNT), one of Australia’s leading multi-brand luxury retailers, unveiling its first Brisbane boutique at The Calile. Known for its considered edit of international designers and local labels, TNT brings a fresh perspective to the street — and a new way to shop for elevated, everyday style.
For Co-Founder and Brand Director Vanessa Spencer, expanding to Brisbane was all about timing and instinct. We chatted with her to learn about the new store, curating a collection, and TNT’s DNA to Brisbane.
What drew you to Brisbane for your fourth boutique?
We have had our eye on James Street for years, but it never quite felt right. When the site at The Calile became available, it was the perfect fit. Brisbane has such an incredible energy right now, the customer is curious and craving something new. The Malouf family has curated a precinct that feels considered and special, so it made complete sense for TNT to finally call it home for the years to come.
For those unfamiliar with The New Trend, how did it come to life?
Fashion has been my world for as long as I can remember. My career has spanned styling, design, buying and product development, with formative years in New York at a leading multi-brand retailer, shaping how I see the industry. When I returned home to Melbourne, I felt there was a real gap in the market. Where was the excitement, the curation, the service, the personal relationships? I wanted to create a space that felt both inspiring and intimate – like stepping into your best friend’s wardrobe, where every piece feels carefully considered, from core essentials to statement moments. That vision became The New Trend. Eight years on, we’ve grown into a national business with boutiques in Melbourne, Sydney and now Brisbane.
Each store has its own unique style. How would you describe Brisbane’s?
Sophisticated, modern, and warm. We have designed the space with Queensland in mind, championing natural textures, organic forms, and pieces from local makers. However, the space is still very TNT at its core: elevated and understated, with a point of view that makes it feel far more than just a traditional retail space.
Who’s behind the design and build?
We had a clear vision of the space from the very beginning and worked closely with AKI to bring it to life. We also collaborated with incredible Australian creatives, from Simone Tops, who created a bespoke architectural piece that anchors the store, to Sarah Nedovic, who crafted custom lighting that gives the space its unique ambience. For us, it was important to invest in local makers, their work brings authenticity and soul to the boutique and creates a backdrop that feels as considered as the edit itself.
Which designers will define the Brisbane edit?
You will see international favourites like Wardrobe.NYC, Coperni, and Cult Gaia alongside Australian and New Zealand powerhouses like Christopher Esber and Harris Tapper. We have also got some exciting new brands making their debut in this space. We cannot wait to introduce them to our Brisbane client.
How will the boutique reflect Brisbane’s pace and personality?
We have tailored the edit with climate and lifestyle in mind. We will have the lighter layers, resort-inspired silhouettes, and pieces that move effortlessly from day to night, which truly resonate with a Brisbane customer. However, we are also bringing the TNT DNA with us, a little Melbourne sensibility in the curation and styling, balanced with a Brisbane flair.
The New Trend isn’t just retail, it’s an edit. How do you define your curatorial eye?
It always starts with instinct. We know what we like and what works, but we’re constantly considering the bigger picture: how each piece fits within the season’s colour story, how it works back with 80 other brands, and how she will wear it in real life. Fabric and hand feel are so important, as are the finishing details, even the things you can’t always see. We do not want just trend-driven pieces that disappear in a season; we look for brands and products with meaning, longevity, and intention. The edit has to feel cohesive, like stepping into a stylist’s wardrobe where everything works together but still excites you.
What kind of experience do you want someone to have walking through the doors?
We want it to feel welcoming and effortless, like stepping into a space where everything has been thought of for you. Yes, it’s about the edit, those pieces that inspire confidence and excitement but just as important is the human side. The warmth of the team, the genuine conversations, the feeling that someone understands you and your style. That connection and rapport is what makes the experience memorable, and why she’ll want to return.
With TNT now part of James Street’s line-up, Brisbane’s fashion offering steps forward once again. The boutique reflects where the city is headed: modern, confident, and quietly elevated — a space that’s as much about how it feels as what it sells.
Who is The New Trend client in your eyes?
She’s confident, curious, and has a strong sense of her own style. She values quality and longevity, but she’s also not afraid to have fun with fashion. When we first launched, she was mainly Melbourne-based, but today she’s in Sydney, Brisbane, and shopping with us online from abroad. Just like TNT, she’s evolved, her wardrobe has become more refined, more intentional, but always with that spark of individuality.
What excites you most about shaping the future of luxury retail in Australia?
Supporting and growing with local designers, giving them a platform to reach more women, while simultaneously bringing international powerhouses to our clients in a way that feels personal and accessible. That mix excites us most – offering our customer the chance to discover new talent alongside the global names she admires, all within an edit that feels modern, thoughtful, and uniquely TNT.
If The New Trend Brisbane was a beverage, what would it be?
A French 75, sophisticated and sparkling, with the brightness of citrus that feels perfectly at home in Brisbane’s sunshine. It’s refined and timeless, but still light and playful, which is exactly the balance we wanted for this boutique.
We stepped inside the boutique to check it out ourselves.
Now open on James St beside Bassike, pop in to explore the expertly curated collection.
