Vibe Check: Brisbane’s wellness, lifestyle and beauty news you might have missed this week
From boutique buzz to lifestyle loves – and the hidden gems in-between – Vibe Check is your finger on the pulse to what’s hot and happening in the world of beauty, design and fashion in Brisbane. When we checked the vibe this week, here’s what we found …
Function Well to open second location in West End
A premium wellness destination is making its way to West End, combining performance, restoration and lifestyle in one luxurious space. Guided by the philosophy of Yin and Yang, Function Well is more than a traditional gym, but a sanctuary for physical, mental and social wellness. The four-level, design-led wellness hub will feature world-class equipment, reformer Pilates machines, infrared saunas, magnesium recovery pools, a heated immersive yoga room, plus hot and cold plunge pools. Members can also take advantage of red-light therapy, massage, and functional training sessions and classes, before finding ultimate rejuvenation in the Recovery Cave or the Restoration Zone where traditional and advanced recovery methods are combined. Function Well is also a place for building social connections, with a cafe serving wellness-focused food and beverages alongside a dedicated business lounge where members can catch up on work. Function Well founder Darren Bain said the West End location will be the team’s most elevated offering to date. “We set about designing a premium, high-performance space that thoughtfully and seamlessly incorporates our four pillars – mindset, movement, nutrition and restoration – and offers our members everything they need to optimise their health and enhance their wellbeing.” With an established site in Newstead, this second Brisbane location is set to open in West Village by April 2026 with the waitlist to join now open.
Adore Beauty opens doors at Chermside
Following the success of its first Queensland store at Westfield Carindale, Adore Beauty is set to expand its Queensland presence just in time for Christmas, with its second Brisbane store to open at Westfield Chermside on Thursday December 11. Shoppers will discover a curated range of more than 100 brands, personalised skincare treatments, expert advice from qualified dermal therapists, and the much-loved bonus Tim Tam with every purchase. Designed to blend high-tech services with a warm, welcoming in-store experience, the Chermside store offers in-depth skin analysis, LED light therapy, bespoke facials and complimentary consultations. A private treatment room will host monthly brand takeovers, kicking off with global skincare favourite Dermalogica, giving customers an exclusive opportunity to experience hero products firsthand. Digitally integrated kiosks provide an ‘endless aisle’ experience, granting access to Adore Beauty’s full 14,000-plus product range. To celebrate the opening, the first 300 customers will receive an exclusive goodie bag packed with samples from some of the retailer’s most-loved brands.
Heidi Middleton’s ARTCLUB arrives on James Street
Globally recognised designer and artist Heidi Middleton has come to James Street, bringing her hybrid gallery, atelier and retail concept ARTCLUB to the glitzy strip. Launching on Saturday October 25, ARTCLUB heralds a bit of a homecoming for Heidi, who is also the co-founder and creative director of acclaimed fashion house sass & bide. ARTCLUB will be taking over sass & bide’s old James Street boutique, implementing a new model for creative retail that fuses fashion, art, sculpture and design. ARTCLUB will boast a 6-m gallery wall adorned with Heidi’s original artworks, while impressive abstract sculptures will transform the space into a surrealist, gallery-like experience. A mezzanine level overlooking the gallery will be home to a working atelier, where made-to-order garments (produced in limited runs and crafted from remnant of natural fabrics) will be hand cut, sewn and finished, reinforcing ARTCLUB’s overarching commitment to slow fashion and a circular model of craftsmanship. The ARTCLUB concept will continue to evolve into next year, hosting collaborations with likeminded artists and designers. In 2026, Heidi Middleton will introduce a curated edit of objet trouvé (objects Heidi has sourced through her travels), as well as a range of limited-edition furniture and sculptural pieces that chart the designer’s exploration of form, material and storytelling. ARTCLUB will open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and on Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
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The New Trend reveals first Queensland boutique at The Calile Hotel
The New Trend (TNT) has marked its long-awaited debut in the Queensland market, softly opening its James Street boutique at The Calile Hotel last month. Since launching in Melbourne in 2017, TNT has played a pivotal part in redefining women’s luxury wear, blending international favourites like The Attico, Coperni and Wardrobe NYC with leading local names such as Christopher Esber, Alemais and ESSE Studios. The James Street flagship is designed by AKI Studio with custom contributions by Australian artisans Sarah Nedovic and Simone Tops, both adding artistic elements to give the space a sense of warmth and expression. TNT is both a shopping destination and a celebration of local design. Step inside prepared for your wardrobe to thank you.
HOT TEC’s cheeky yet clinical approach to skincare treatment
In August, New Farm welcomed HOT TEC, a shiny new tech-forward skin clinic that’s flipping the script on skincare. With a nurse-led team and science-backed treatments, this skin, laser and wellness haven is delivering maximum results at its minimalist New Farm destination. HOT TEC’s gender-neutral menu offers everything from facials and health injections to hair removal and balding treatments, all supercharged with global-grade tech equipment and the clinic’s bold and inclusive approach. Having already made a splash with Korean lifting facials, HOT TEC is dazzling Brisbane beauties with its no-fluff approach and slightly naughty personality. Visitors can treat themselves to clean and quick hair removal with the help of high-tech equipment like the Alma Soprano Titanium laser or see instant glow-up results with NAD+ and B12 injections delivered by nurses. With no memberships required, HOT TEC’s no judgement salon is located on Merthyr Road and ready to guide you through your skincare journey.
Makras Optical brings refined style and in-depth care to James Street
An elevated optical boutique has hit James Street with a simple mission – to help you see the world not as it is, but as you are. Makras Optical, founded by therapeutically endorsed optometrist Michael Makras, is Brisbane’s newest home to cutting-edge eyewear, blending refined sensibilities with a scientific approach. Each frame has been thoughtfully curated by Michael himself, using his clinical expertise and decades of experience across the UK and Australia to bring a sense of integrity and daring craftsmanship to the eyes of Brisbane. With a focus on uncompromising care, Makras Optical utilises state-of-the-art technology to detect and monitor eye conditions. From wide-field Optos retinal scans and OCT imaging to high-resolution retinal photography, Makras is making its name through early detection, precision diagnosis and personalised treatment. Makras Optical stocks several brands including RAEN, Cutler and Gross, Ottomila and DITA, chosen for their boundary pushing ways and dedication to artistry – meaning you won’t find anything ordinary lining the shelves here.
A laidback luxury showroom from MCM House just opened in Fortitude Valley
Sydney-based interior design brand, MCM House, has arrived in Brisbane to continue its key mission — to help people transform their homes into sanctuaries. Located on Fortitude Valley’s Wickam Street sits the flagship’s bold red exterior, with the showroom laid across multiple levels. Inside, the brand’s signature features of timber textures, oversized linen sofas and its newest outdoor Dell’Oro collection compliment Queensland’s relaxed urban lifestyle. Over the last three years, MCM House has opened seven spaces across Australia, including Byron Bay and Noosa. With its rapidly growing reputation as a cornerstone of home design, MCM House’s new Fortitude Valley showroom invites Brisbane to explore the brand’s classic and effortlessly cool furniture range.
Alter Albion’s simple yet sophisticated wedding experience
You no longer need to break the bank to get hitched, as Alter Albion, a new wedding venue destination specialising in subtle but special ceremonies opens its doors in Brisbane. With registered Celebrants, stylishly simple interior and a seamless experience, couples can tie the knot on a budget, an experience that emphasises love and sincere connections. With many packages on offer, couples can have a complete wedding ceremony with 50 of their nearest and dearest for $995. Alter Albion’s registration process is simple and easy, so much so that you and your significant other only need to show up to the venue 10 minutes before saying ‘I do’. Afterwards, couples can get photos taken at beautiful locations across the site and head to the nearby Craft’d Grounds for their reception. Alter Albion’s new era of wedding experiences has been designed with couples in mind, who are craving connection and meaning over excess.
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