Romance Was Born is hard to substitute, because the thing that makes it distinctive is the hand drawn artwork rather than a silhouette you can find elsewhere. But if you are after the same appetite for print, colour and craft, there are three labels on Luxury Handbags that get you close from different directions.
Alémais, for the same artist-led instinct
Alémais is the closest match in temperament. It is Australian, it builds collections around commissioned artwork, and it takes the same view that a print should be made rather than bought in. The palette is a little softer and the pieces sit slightly easier in a normal week, so it is the natural first stop if Romance Was Born feels like a lot. Browse Alémais at Luxury Shoes .
La DoubleJ, for maximalism with an Italian accent
La DoubleJ matches Romance Was Born for sheer volume of pattern, and beats most labels for archive depth, since its prints draw on Italian textile archives. The difference is attitude: La DoubleJ is retro and domestic where Romance Was Born is narrative and theatrical. If you love the print density but want something that reads Milanese rather than Sydney art school, start here. Browse La DoubleJ at Luxury Shoes .
Zimmermann, for the polished version
Zimmermann is the other great Australian print house, and the most wearable of the three. Florals, broderie and resort shapes, cut with more restraint and more commercial polish. You give up the one off quality and the art collaboration, and you gain a piece that slides into an existing wardrobe without negotiation. Browse Zimmermann at Luxury Shoes .
Also worth a look
If the appeal is specifically Australian design rather than the maximalism, Aje, Rebecca Vallance and Acler cover the occasion end with cleaner lines. For colour and print handled the Scandinavian way, Stine Goya is the one.
How they compare
| Label | Origin | Signature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romance Was Born | Sydney | Hand drawn artist prints, beading, one off pieces | A collectible statement piece |
| Alémais | Sydney | Commissioned artwork, softer palette | Artist-led print you can wear weekly |
| La DoubleJ | Milan | Archive Italian prints, retro shapes | Maximalism with a vintage accent |
| Zimmermann | Sydney | Florals, broderie, resort tailoring | The polished, easy-to-wear version |
What to buy if you want the Romance Was Born version
For the artist-print dress the others are compared against, the Poppy Polka Petal Dress and the Persimmon Garden Dress are the two to look at. For separates that carry the same artwork, the Acid Gum Chiffon Frill Top with the Acid Gum Wrap Midi Skirt. For the evening end, where construction rather than print does the work, the Taffeta Balloon Skirt and the Persimmon Ruffle Dress.
What none of them replace
The museum holdings and the one off pieces. Romance Was Born is held by the National Gallery of Australia, the Powerhouse Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the South Australian Museum, and showed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2019. If that is why you want it, a comparable print will not scratch the same itch. Read the full story of the house. Browse Romance Was Born at Luxury Shoes .
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