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Never has flying high looked so stylish. On June 1, Qantas announced its new Sydney to New York route—a saviour for well-travelled Australians wanting to skip the lengthy immigration check (and dreaded baggage haul) at LAX. From June 14, the airline will begin operating the route with a short and friendly stopover in Auckland, before the non-stop journey to New York City. And Qantas have tapped Rebecca Vallance as the designer of the new Business Class “sleeper suit” on this specific route.
For a limited-time, those on the pointy end of the plane will receive a complimentary set of Rebecca Vallance pyjamas and an amenity kit. In a deep navy and incorporating her monogramed Avenue Astoria Collection print, Vallance pays tribute to New York in the 1970s, and specifically Waldorf Astoria, a place frequented by Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, and the glamorous likes.
“It’s an honour to partner with the iconic and globally recognised Australian brand that is Qantas,” says Vallance, whose pyjamas also feature updated SYD>NYC flight numbers QF3 and QF4. “New York has always felt like a second home to Rebecca Vallance, and we hope to be visiting even more with the opening of a bricks and mortar retail store in SoHo in the near future. We curated the bespoke Rebecca Vallance design as an homage to one of the world’s most vibrant and exciting cities, with inspiration from our latest collection, ‘Avenue Astoria’.”
While the journey will be super glam, we all know New York really begins the second you touchdown. It’s big, it’s buzzing, and, to many, it’s overwhelming. Ahead, Vallance gives GRAZIA readers her recommendations on where to eat, what to drink, places to sleep and things to wear in the Big City.
GRAZIA: We really love seeing you do so well in the States. How challenging was it to crack that market?
REBECCA VALLANCE: Rebecca Vallance has a global aesthetic which is something that I have focused on since the inception of the brand. I’ve always viewed the business as international and have invested time in building the business overseas, that’s why travelling to the US is so important to me and why I invest in building relationships with our sales agents, buyers and customers overseas. The biggest hurdle is maintaining control from a distance alongside the timezone challenges. However, we are very well versed in managing this now. I spend nine out of 12 months of my year travelling and connecting with our retail partners to ensure that the distance isn’t an obstacle.
GRAZIA: What do you think it is about Rebecca Vallance that Americans are drawn to?
RV: Our signature collection offers a range of sophisticated tailoring, luxurious fabrications, and meticulously crafted garments—each piece is thoughtfully designed with the modern woman in mind.
“Our American customer, specifically our NY customer, loves to dress up and push the boundaries and isn’t afraid to be the most glamorous person in the room.”
GRAZIA: Rebecca Vallance has a high glamour feel to its pieces (sparkles, feathers, embellishments), an aesthetic that resonates with the romance of the New York night. Would you agree?
RV: Definitely! New York is the inspiration to a lot of what we do at Rebecca Vallance. When designing the PJ and Amenity kits for Qantas, we wanted to pay homage to the romance of New York and incorporate the Avenue Astoria Collection print. Avenue Astoria is a nod to the glamorous characters of New York’s Waldorf Astoria in the 1970s, a place where the comings and goings of style icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Ross were well documented.
GRAZIA: How would you describe the energy in New York?
RV: There is something so electric and vibrant about New York City, it really is the city that never sleeps.
“You can dress up, go out for a late-night dinner any night of the week, wearing sequence or feathers and no one looks twice at you. I love how fabulous and unapologetic it is.”
GRAZIA: The city was hit really hard during COVID, what is the vibe like now?
RV: New York is back and the energy is infectious!
GRAZIA: Can you tell me three restaurants you love, and why you love them?
RV: Casa Cruz is one of my favourite restaurants in New York. It’s located on the Upper East Side in a beaux-arts townhouse on 61st Street between Park and Maddison Avenue over five floors. The wallpaper is incredible in the dining rooms, and Warhols and Boteros are scattered amongst the walls, and overhanging the fireplaces.
Pastis is a New York favourite and I always visit when I am in town. It’s easy-going French food that I love and in the Meatpacking district.
The Polo Lounge is a New York institution. I love to sit in one of their banquettes with a group of friends. The dover sole and New York cheese ake are a must!
Can you tell me three wine bars you love, and why you love them? (And which Rebecca Vallance piece you would personally wear to these wine bars)?
RV: The Nines is a speak easy and supper club. The “Nines” says it all and they have a strict dress code which encourages patrons to “dress to the nines.”
Rebecca Vallance Cherie Amour midi dress, $799 SHOP NOW
The Aman New York is a private Jazz Club in Midtown and perfect for a late night drink in the city that never sleeps.
Rebecca Vallance After Hours feathered mini dress, $679 SHOP NOW
Dante is a fabulous cocktail bar in the West Village and owned by Australians. I love to enjoy one of their signature Negroni’s. The food is Italian and delicious!
rebecca Vallance copacabana bow mini dress, $679 SHOP NOW
What is your drink of choice in NYC?
RV: A Tommy’s Margarita.
GRAZIA: Number one travel trip for NYC?
RV: If travelling from Sydney, I recommend booking in to RV: La Prairie’s newly opened, first of its kind lounge where you can experience a signature La Prairie facial prior to international flights. The La Prairie facials are bookable online pre-flight and available to any and all travellers for the best pre-flight experience ever.
GRAZIA: What are your top three recommendations for places to stay in New York, and why?
RV: If staying uptown, I love the elegance of the Baccarat Hotel and the interiors are decadent and luxurious. I love the newly opened Ritz Nomad in Soho – it’s definitely my favourite area to stay in and I love being so close to all the boutiques in Soho and feel like a New Yorker when I am staying here. Another favourite is the Mark Hotel – it’s so iconic New York and made famous by the Met Gala and the celebrities that stay there.
GRAZIA: Can you tell us your top three shopping destinations in Manhattan?
RV: I love the boutiques in Soho around Wooster Street – the store fit outs are so incredible to see and I also love the people watching and the fashion. The street style in New York is so effortless and cool.
Nordstroms is also a fantastic department store with an amazing range on Contemporary and luxury fashion and also stocks Rebecca Vallance. I love how the US do department stores.
And Glossier of course! I love bringing back presents from Glossier for my friends and the team as it still isn’t available in Australia so is always received well.
Aside from restaurants and bars, what your top three things to do in New York?
RV: I love to check out the Met – it’s always inspiring to see the latest exhibition. I am headed back to New York this week and intend to see the Karl Largerfeld exhibition while I’m there.
If I have time in my schedule, I love to get across to Brooklyn and walk along the Promenade. The views back in to Manhattan are spectacular with the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. I love to then stop by Dumbo House and enjoy the sunset over the bridge.
The Guggenheim Museum shows art inside of Art. The stunning exterior rotunda is so beautiful and inside is the most incredible collection of cubist, Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist works, as well as the largest collection of Kandinskys in the United States.
A limited number of Rebecca Vallance Qantas Pyjamas and Amenity kits will be available to purchase at Qantas Marketplace through a points redemption purchase.
