Pretty Suss
The new corner shop bringing vintage joy to Uptown.
Words: Carolyn Enting
Photography: Blink Ltd
Molly Scelly has the knack for sourcing and restoring quality vintage and second-hand pieces. It's something her family and friends, as well as herself, agree that she's good at.
Shoppers also concur when they first enter her cosy store, Pretty Suss, snuggled on the corner of Burleigh St (near the junction of Mount Eden and Boston Roads). It's a treasure trove of post-modern glassware, collectable porcelain, pottery, eclectic vintage art, board- games as well as quality clothing and accessories from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, to 2000s "Y2K" stuff.
You'll also find shop dog Luna - a friendly 1.8 kilo chihuahua - hanging out in her upcycled pink doghouse.
The fact that Molly literally dreamt of opening the shop is also worth a mention. For years, she's had a recurring dream that she had a vintage shop/art gallery/space to play. "I've redreamt this space so many times," says Molly. "Pretty Suss is a culmination of many things I'm passionate about, it's about finding joy and being playful. The world needs more of that."
Molly has been passionate about objects and vintage clothing for as long as she can remember. "To me, it's a form of creative expression." Molly was raised in a family where thrifting was the norm. Her mum was a sewer and together they shopped to find quality clothing that would last, and Molly learned a lot about fabrics.
When sourcing for Pretty Suss, she looks for quality of design, pattern and fabric - pieces she knows can be styled in a modern wardrobe or home. "When I'm curating, every piece has to feel like 'this is amazing', was made to last, and stands the test of time in quality and style," she says. "Sure, there are going to be some vintage trends that come through and you can buy a remake of it in a modern store, but that's just not the same. It doesn't evoke that same sense of pride in a piece when you know that it's got a history behind it."
As mum to three boys - aged 8, 10 and 12-running her business on her terms provides flexibility to be there for her kids, as well as time for sourcing and laundering her special finds (everything at Pretty Suss is washed).
Molly is also a multi-disciplinary artist. She studied at Elam, where she mostly focused on photography as an art form, and has an eye for interesting vintage artwork to which she often adds a bit of whimsy - such as hand-painting Pokémon into landscapes.
"I do what I call collaborative pieces, though I'm collaborating with an artist that has no idea I'm collaborating," she says. "I like to add in something to change it up, make it more playful for a modern home, like I've done with Pokémon. When this series of works started, it was a process of me getting back into creating. With my children getting older, I worked on making time for that. And in creating these, it's that conversation between all these elements. And in a way, it's also something about making art that speaks while also appealing to my kids. There is intention, and the Pokémon are a part of that."
She has also made space to support some small local makers - Scrappy (knits using vintage yarns on a vintage knitting machine); hand-carved jewellery by Billy Tooth; Sybs soy candles (jars can be returned to Pretty Suss once used); Pads Pearls vintage jewellery and vintage remade jewellery; Sly Studio socks and KK handmade hand-painted ceramic tumblers.
As for the name, Pretty Suss, is a throwback to '90s slang and play on words. "Honestly, the way Pretty Suss has been received and the endless positive comments has been everything, just that feeling of 'yes, that's how I was hoping it would be experienced"," says Molly. "It really is a space of joy that reminds you that the little beautiful moments matter. That coming together in an intimate space that feels so welcoming when you enter. The pink warm hug of small business."
Pretty Suss
42 Burleigh Street Grafton
Open variable hours, check Instagram for any changes Regular hours: Wednesday to Friday 11am to 2.30pm Saturday 12-6pm
Instagram: @itsprettysuss