IT GIRL ANTHROPOLOGY: VANESSA SPENCER
Behind one of Australia's luxury fashion retailers is Vanessa Spencer, co-founder and brand director of The New Trend. With experience spanning styling, buying, design and product development, Spencer has established herself within Australian fashion through her eye for emerging talent and understanding of contemporary luxury.
A CAREER BUILT AROUND FASHION
Before establishing The New Trend, Spencer worked across several areas of the fashion industry, gaining experience in styling, design, buying and product development. Her formative years working in New York for a leading multi brand retailer helped shape her understanding of luxury retail and the relationship between brands and their customers.
Returning to Melbourne, Spencer identified an opportunity to create a different kind of shopping experience. Rather than establishing a conventional designer boutique, she wanted to bring together a carefully selected mix of international and Australian labels, supported by personal service and a more individual approach to shopping.
That idea became The New Trend, which launched in 2017 and has since expanded across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The retailer has developed a reputation for its designer selection and distinctive boutiques, establishing a presence within Australia's contemporary luxury market.
THE ART OF CURATION
As brand director, Spencer oversees the selection of designers and collections stocked by The New Trend. Her role involves identifying labels that complement the retailer's existing offering while introducing customers to new designers and different perspectives on contemporary fashion.
Fabric, construction and finishing details are important considerations, alongside a designer's ability to maintain a recognisable point of view. In a 2025 interview with Style Magazines, Spencer discussed the role of instinct in buying, alongside the importance of understanding how individual pieces will fit into a customer's wardrobe.
The retailer's selection spans established international houses and emerging labels, with names including Christopher Esber, SIR., ESSE, WARDROBE.NYC and Coperni. The result is a mix of designers with distinct aesthetics, brought together through Spencer's understanding of The New Trend customer.
HER PERSONAL STYLE: CLASSIC FOUNDATIONS, DIRECTIONAL DETAILS
Spencer's personal style moves between relaxed everyday dressing and more expressive fashion choices. Tailoring, denim and simple wardrobe staples form the foundation of many of her looks, often paired with statement accessories, interesting proportions or unexpected textures.
In a styling feature published by The New Trend, Spencer demonstrated this balance through a series of outfits that offered an insight into her approach to dressing. A double denim combination from DARKPARK was paired with a white singlet and Bottega Veneta sunglasses, while a cropped WARDROBE.NYC blazer was styled with SLVRLAKE jeans and an AGOLDE bodysuit.
Her wardrobe also makes room for more expressive pieces. An embellished Des Phemmes skirt was worn with a classic T-shirt and heels, while a sheer silk dress by SIR was styled with minimal accessories. These combinations demonstrate how Spencer balances statement garments with familiar pieces, allowing individual designs to stand out without overwhelming the overall look.
In a separate conversation about building a capsule wardrobe, Spencer identified a black blazer, tailored trousers, simple tees and tanks, a versatile dress and well fitting denim among her wardrobe essentials.
While these pieces provide a practical foundation, her styling is far from limited to minimalism. The combination of relaxed silhouettes, structured tailoring and occasional embellishment gives her wardrobe a distinctive balance between everyday dressing and more experimental fashion.
SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN DESIGN
Alongside its international offering, The New Trend has become an important retail platform for Australian designers. Spencer's buying decisions help introduce emerging labels to an established luxury customer base, providing opportunities for greater visibility within the local market.
During Australian Fashion Week in 2026, Spencer identified Solaqua, Rylan, One of Others and Nelson Made among the Australian brands recently introduced to the retailer. She also highlighted Christopher Esber, ESSE and SIR. as particularly strong performers, recognising their consistent design direction and understanding of their customers.
For emerging labels, securing a place within an established multi brand retailer can be a significant step in their development. Through The New Trend, Spencer contributes to the visibility and commercial opportunities available to Australian designers.
BEYOND THE BOUTIQUE
The New Trend's expansion across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane has extended Spencer's influence beyond buying and into the wider retail experience. Each boutique has been developed with attention to its physical environment, incorporating architecture, interiors and local creative contributions.
The retailer's Brisbane boutique at The Calile, for example, brought The New Trend into one of the city's established luxury destinations, with a space incorporating natural materials and contemporary Australian design.
Spencer's career highlights the influence of those working behind the scenes in fashion, from the selection of emerging designers to the way collections are presented and introduced to customers. Through The New Trend and her own personal style, she has developed a recognisable presence within Australia's contemporary fashion landscape.
With love (and frankness),
Bea x
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