David met Nicole (the people not the store) on Portobello Road, Notting Hill. They met in a pub, like all good English kids do, but it wasn't love at first sight; quite the opposite, they hated each other. Eventually they realised this hate was unfounded and they fell in love. Four years later, in 2003, they decided it was time to move back to Nicole's hometown. They flew to Australia, landed, bought a great little shop on Cleveland Street, Surry Hills and their first child David met Nicole (the store not the people) was born.
As soon as I opened the door I knew I had found a little piece of heaven; David was working his way in between what can only be described as a shop full of great stuff. For some this store may be overwhelming at first sight, but don't turn around. When you get over the initial reaction and look a little closer you'll find a store full of bits and pieces that have lovingly been chosen by David and Nicole.
Everything is sourced from around the globe. During their days working in London both David and Nicole made some great contacts. David keeps these close to his chest; an 'ask me no questions' I'll tell you no lies!!' sort of deal. These contacts mean that they are kept in the know, even if we are not. Once or twice a year they travel to UK, the States and various other places, bust out the white van and go on recon missions. Basically they drive around looking for other people's trash.
What you will find in the store includes: little watch gears, restaurant table numbers, toy tanks wheels, vintage wall clocks, original London street signs, Chinese lanterns, jewellery, vintage and contemporary clothes and more, much, much more.
David met Nicole is the perfect shop for those who love vintage clothes but are too lazy to fossick through the op shop crap to get to the good stuff; here the fossicking has been done for you. These two have a great eye and the vintage clothes they stock are marvellous - a green dress with little embroidered kids playing on the top caught my eye.
The contemporary women's clothes are by lesser known Sydney designers, David and Nicole don't want to stock any labels that you can find in a neighbouring store - what they want is great quality work by designers they know and respect. The relationship they have with the designers is give and take: the designers gain exposure and David met Nicole get good quality stock they really enjoy selling. Recently they launched a new range of David met Nicole menswear. The range is designed by David. There are no hard and fast rules to dictate the breakdown of contemporary to vintage but David assures me they never go above the 50% contemporary mark. It's just not what they want from the store.
David met Nicole have a list of accolades as long as me, they have been featured in string of local publications, House and Garden, Domain, Interiors, Inside Out, Vogue Living. There have popped up in a pretty impressive list of international publications, Homes & Property, Wallpaper, Perfect Home, Elle Decoration… I could construct a whole piece just on this.
In my opinion you haven't really lived a full shopping life unless you've fossicked around the treasure trove that is David met Nicole. But for those who delight in the beautiful and the slightly unusual, be warned, it's addictive. I know I will be going back, again and again and again.