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In a self-effacing white terrace on Paddington’s famed retail strip of William Street awaits a portal to Los Angeles. As if in a spritz-induced dreamy haze—perhaps brought on by a visit to one of the suburb’s many wine bars—a trip to the neighbourhood’s latest resident will take you away to Melrose Avenue. Proverbially, of course, but the inviting glass windows, pop of greenery and ubiquitous presence of ‘dreamgirls’ wearing floral print silk dresses fashioned into flirty cuts might just make you do a double take.
It’s here, at number 29, that you’ll find the pop-up boutique for cult label Réalisation Par. A homecoming worth waiting for, with the Australian co-founders, Alexandra Spencer and Teale Talbot, marking their return down under just in time for the start of summer. Their suitcases filled with the brand’s signature hand-drawn and bias-cut pieces, which now languidly hang on racks waiting to sculpt your body and swath your sun-kissed skin.
Since the label’s inception in 2015, Teale and Spencer—who were, imperatively, then denizens of the Sunset Strip—captured the zeitgeist with sell-out pieces that pandered to a lifestyle. Selling dreams of Californication, the brand—which translates to ‘Made By’ in French—soon became a cornerstone in the enviable wardrobes of ‘It girls’ around the world.
Armed with campaign images shot in Spencer’s backyard featuring SoCal cool girls Devon Lee Carlson and Rainey Qualley, or local Australian girls about town including Jeet Pavlovic and Valentina Ruby, its loyal adherents quickly catapulted the brand to the zenith of covetabillity. Though started in La La Land, their feminine, yet unfussy, creations embody the cities you’ll never see on screen.
In their pieces—namely, the 70s bell-sleeved and floor-length Gia, 60s sweet calf-grazing and halterneck Sadie, or the dress that started it all, the floral milkmaid-style Juliet Dress in Rouge Fleur—places become imbued with perfection. Moments become worthwhile to be captured, (especially with the brand’s trademark intimate lens).
Whether barefoot in Malibu wearing the Carla, sauntering down Marylebone to SoHo after dark in the Brigitte, or sartorially embodying Sydney in December in the micro Leila in Sunburst, Réalisation Par is glamour, nostalgia and sensuality made tangible.
This essence saturates every corner of their boutique; their first-ever stand-alone brick-and-mortar. Though a permanent store will soon follow in London’s Mayfair, conquering the ‘Dreamgirl’ market is a result of following an unwavering commandment: Always for Réal.
This doctrine translates to their design methodology of creating pieces, not collections, and trotting around the globe to bring styles once relegated to a specific locale to the mainstream. Now, on William Street, Realisation Par awaits you with open doors and open arms. As the girls themselves say: “Together we are everything.”
In anticipation of the opening, GRAZIA caught up with Spencer and Talbot to discuss the secrets to their success, styling their ‘anytime, anywhere, go-to, on-the-go’ pieces, the creative process and the making of a dreamgirl. Their answers, ahead.
GRAZIA: Take us back to the beginning of the brand in 2015. What gave you a leg up in translating the spirit of enviable ‘It’ girls into covetable pieces?
Alexandra Spencer & Teale Talbot: Our intention was never to design for the “it” girl but rather what we wanted to wear ourselves. We started just the two of us in Los Angeles with eight pieces and our friends in the backyard taking pictures. We have had many viral pieces, but it was the Alexandra silk wrap dress that showed us what we wanted, others did too.
We were one of the very first direct-to-consumer brands utilizing social media so at the time we didn’t know what we were creating would become what is now known as “BFF marketing” we were just doing what we always do with who we do it with! And as for the experience…You will have to come and visit us in London in Spring 2024 to find out 😉
GRAZIA: Réalisation is so inherently tied with L.A. Why choose London and Sydney as the first locations for your boutiques?
AS & TT: Réalisation has always been an extension of us and our lives. We started Réalisation in LA because that’s where we were living at the time, pop-ups in London and Los Angeles because that’s where we are based now and coming home because this is where we are from and it’s the first chance we’ve had!
GRAZIA: The visual language of Réalisation is important to the brand. It’s nostalgic, sexy and glamorous. Why do these qualities resonate with your customers, nearly a decade on?
AS & TT: I think what people love about the images and imagery is the authenticity. The girls are really laughing, the smiles are genuine, and the moments we capture are real moments happening.
GRAZIA: Vintage-inspired silhouettes and prints are Réalisation’s bread and butter. Talk us through your creative process. Where do you find inspiration?
AS & TT: We feel everything is over-saturated with everyone sharing the same references—so where things usually start is; where are we going and how do we want to feel. We love vintage shopping to learn about construction and detail, and travel for a different point of view.
GRAZIA: What makes a ‘Dreamgirl’?
AS & TT: … Réalisation Par!
GRAZIA: What pieces are staples in the wardrobes of ‘DreamGirls’ and how are they wearing them?
AS & TT: The Gia Dress, The Carla, The Gemma and the Christy dress… and we suspect the Sofia Dress will be added to that list…
They are wearing them on holiday, to weddings, red carpets, the airport, birthday parties, the office, date nights, the farmers market, everywhere really! We recently saw one of our clients rock climbing in the Valentina!
Our focus is creating pieces that make it easy to get dressed no matter what you’re doing or where you’re going.
GRAZIA: Bringing your customers into the “real world” of Réalisation seems to be your focus with the pop-ups. What is one thing you want people to take from visiting the boutiques versus experiencing the brand on social media or e-commerce?
AS & TT: We are very sensory so we want our dreamgirls to touch, try and feel Réalisation in real life. To see the quality—all of our pieces are 100% silk, The details of the prints, all hand drawn. The way the bias cut drapes on the body. We know how good it will look and feel and we just want to share that.
The Réalisation Par pop-up will run at 29 William Street, Paddington, from December 1st – 31st.
