Description
“By 1957, (Merivale) they had opened their first shop in Sydney’s Boulevard Arcade. John ran the business and served customers while Merivale designed hats and, later, clothing.
Within two years they opened the first House of Merivale fashion store in Sydney’s Theatre Royal building on Castlereagh Street. House of Merivale would expand into three stores in Pitt Street, two in Melbourne and one in Canberra.
In 1970 John purchased 194 Pitt Street, using it to sell fashion but also launch his first foray into the hospitality business with a Thai tea café. A year later he bought the Angel Hotel, opening it as a multi-level fashion outlet with a restaurant and espresso bar.
House of Merivale lit a fire beneath Australia’s staid fashion scene, introducing not just ‘modern clothes for people with a zest for life’ but a new concept to local retail. Aimed squarely at 18 to 25-year-old women, these eye-popping outlets styled by Merivale, introduced Sydney to the specialty fashion boutique.
John brought the Swinging Sixties into the Australian retail world; music pumping, youngsters lined up to get in and experience a series of firsts – first chance to hear the Beatles music in Australia, first place to buy the mini skirt or Merivale’s famous crocheted swimwear – all at prices they could afford.
House of Merivale produced a continual turnover of novel, limited edition in-house designs and stocked fashion by other cutting edge young designers such as Prue Acton, Kenneth Pirrie and Norma Tullo.”
Source: https://theshout.com.au/the-life-of-merivales-patriarch/
A spectacular iconic dress from Sydney Designers, House of Merivale. A beautiful silk number in a Merivale Design. The Merivale label is highly collectable. This dress is in mint condition & features a tie halter neck & peek-a-boo back. The skirt is in a sexy fishtail style, falling just below the knee. A beautiful ruffle around the bust complements this so sexy 70’s style. It will best fit a size 6 to 8.
