Big news, Gold Coasters—Inside Gold Coast is taking a fabulous leap into the world of fashion.

If you’ve been paying close attention to our weekly newsletters or caught our new “Fashion on the Street” reels, you’ve probably noticed the chic shift. In addition to our signature coverage of all things to eat, see, and do on the Gold Coast, we’re adding a stylish flair to our content. And it just feels right, doesn’t it?

Whether you’re planning a luxe day at PAC Fair, cruising James Street, or bargain-hunting at Harbour Town, shopping opportunities abound. And let’s face it, we love getting dressed up! Whether it’s a girls’ lunch, a romantic date night, or one of the many exciting events happening across the Gold Coast, there are plenty of reasons to glam up and show off your style.

And don’t even get us started on our workout gear. The GC is one of the most active cities in Australia and whether we’re hitting the beach for a surf, jogging along the esplanade, or sweating it out in a pilates class, we’re looking stylish while doing it. Let’s be real, our activewear collections could rival our formal wardrobes any day!

To celebrate this exciting new chapter, we hosted an extravagant Spring Sass-themed Rosé High Tea at The Langham Gold Coast, complete with all the fashion-forward vibes.

The event was MC’d by the super chic Carla Tooma. Inside Gold Coast’s Managing Editor, Carly King, couldn’t contain her excitement as she announced our new fashion section which will debut in the next quarterly Inside Gold Coast magazine—featuring a dedicated fashion flip-side with all the latest trends, style tips, and must-know fashion news.

As always, the magazine will continue to keep locals in the loop on the hottest happenings across the GC—with a new side of serious style.

So whether you’re looking for restaurant recommendations, event scoops, or a little outfit inspo, Inside Gold Coast has your back. Stay tuned as we keep things fun, fashionable, and quintessentially Gold Coast!

Words by Belinda Symons
Images by gcVIP.com.au

Frankly My Dear is a testament to affordable luxury and impeccable style, consistently delighting us with their unique pieces. And consistently lightening our wallets when we visit Pacific Fair! Together Amber Schmidt and Sammi Stephens have crafted a jewellery brand that captures the essence of the Gold Coast and resonates with women who seek both style and substance in their accessories.

These two dynamic women have built an incredible business from the ground up, expertly juggling the demands of business and family life, while inspiring future women in business to take the plunge and believe in themselves. We were thrilled to chat with Amber and Sammi, the brilliant minds behind Frankly My Dear, to learn more about their journey, inspirations and life on the Gold Coast.

How long have you been Gold Coast locals? 
Amber: I moved here 20 years ago, I am originally from Sydney but grew up in Toowoomba so it was definitely a culture shock that was well and truly embraced.
Sammi: I moved here 17 years ago from the Central Coast for a lifestyle change.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
Amber: I love the beach lifestyle, I like that you can be sandy and salty all day and then go get dressed up for cocktails at night. It is the best of both worlds! Mostly I love being a Mermaid Beach local and never having to drive anywhere on weekends with the best food and beaches at my doorstep.
Sammi: The beaches, culture and food. I love raising my children here and them embracing the Burleigh lifestyle, riding our bikes to the beach and eating out in Burleigh. 

Tell us a little bit about yourselves.
Amber: I am one half of the owners of Frankly My Dear, I am a mum of 1 soon to be 2. I graduated from Bond University but always knew I had a love and passion for being in business for myself so when the opportunity came up to join my closest friend and build Frankly My Dear I jumped at it.

We have built this business for the last 10 years and had the most incredible time doing it! I hope to inspire future women in business to take the plunge and believe in themselves and also to show mums that you can juggle it all (even though it is definitely a juggle!). I am what we call the ‘brains’ of the business while my business partner is the creative genius, having the two of us with such different strengths is what has made this business so amazing.

Other than raising a family and a business my husband and I love to travel, always active based holidays where we can snowboard or he can surf. 

Sammi: I’ve always had a creative mind, I believe you’re either one of two, an academic or a creative. Unfortunately, the latter doesn’t always pay the bills so I hung up my fashion designer dreams after school and went into the corporate world. It was only once I fell pregnant with my first child Frankie that I was able to stop and rekindle my love for designing again.

Fast forward 10 years and we’ve gone from 3 best friends making jewellery in the dining room to a team of over 30 incredible women, two stores and big plans for building many more. In my personal life, I’m a mum to 4 amazing kids. We’re a blended family so I have two of my own and two stepchildren.

What inspired you to start Frankly My Dear?
Both Amber & Sammi: We wanted to create affordably priced high-quality jewellery to ensure that all women could spoil themselves. We both have a nickel allergy so we were unable to buy pieces from your standard costume jewellery stores, we wanted to fill that gap and provide a product that you could enjoy wearing every single day without breaking the bank that was still on trend.

We have kept this starting mission in our business through the 10 years of growth and even when opening our stores we ensured that our prices stayed affordable. There is nothing more we love than when people are pleasantly surprised about the price and do spoil themselves (especially mums). Walking around the Gold Coast now seeing countless people wearing our jewellery is just the most incredible feeling. 

Tell us about the process of creating your jewellery.
Sammi: Each design is born from a pencil sketch, a rough drawing that I’ll refine and convert to a 3D digital image. Once the imagery is complete the next process is molding & casting the samples and then we go into final production.

This process can take months to complete. Predicting styles and trends 6 months out is a bit tricky, to say the least however as we hand piece our jewellery in-house this gives me the flexibility of designing each piece in person.

Once all my final components arrive, this will consist of the pendants, chains, pearls and stones I’ll sit with these pieces and design the full collection over the coming month before the shoot. I draw inspiration sometimes from the location of our final shoot (especially if it’s overseas!), who the model is and even down to the outfits we select. It all plays an important role in the entire design process. 

As Gold Coast locals, how has the local culture and lifestyle influenced the style of Frankly My Dear?
Amber & Sammi: The style of Frankly My Dear is very versatile and on trend. Naturally being such an active location centred around a lot of water activity we created pieces that are sweat-proof and waterproof so that you don’t have to take your jewellery on and off all the time.

We love that Gold Coast ladies love to follow the trends and are bold with their style so we can get very creative within the collections to allow them to create the perfect style. 

What’s next for Frankly My Dear?
Sammi & Amber: Expansion! We took this year off opening our third physical store so that I (Amber) could enjoy having a baby but next year we are back to getting bigger and better! Soon we hope to have a Frankly My Dear in every state.

We also really enjoy growing the online store and creating an amazing team of women who stand behind the brand. 

What are your Gold Coast favourites?
Café: Amber: Double Barrel, Mermaid Waters, Sammi: Custard Canteen
Restaurant: Amber: Social Eating House, Sammi: Light Years
Bar: Amber: Granddad Jacks. Sammi: Precinct
Beach: Amber: Mermaid Beach. It’s my local, so you can’t beat the beach you can walk to, Sammi: North Burleigh

How do you choose to spend your days off?
Amber: With my family, we usually do the rounds of cafes in the Nobbys/Mermaid Beach area, we spend as much time at the beach as we can and then a perfect weekend would be some drinks and dinner with the girls. Being the mum of a 3 year old my weekends have changed quite dramatically, but it is a lot more wholesome.
Sammi: My partner and all 4 kids play basketball so the large majority of the week is filled with being a basketball mum, which I love!  When we’re not cheering on the sidelines the perfect day off would be a Burleigh to Talle headland walk, breakfast by the water and then a lazy day in the pool with a glass of bubbles and a feast cooking on the BBQ. 

Sally Manhire is as stylish as they come and her IG account is one of our style go-tos. Since launching her personal styling business on the Gold Coast 7 years ago, Sally has been the go-to gal for hundreds of women looking to level up their look, particularly those fabulous 40-and-above ladies. Known for her laid-back, friendly vibe and an eye that can spot a killer outfit from a mile away, she’s a wizard when it comes to working with all body shapes, budgets, and lifestyles. She’s also a huge fan of Australian labels, boasting incredible product knowledge that makes her the go-to stylist for anyone wanting to upgrade their wardrobe with effortless elegance.

Whether it’s finding those elusive perfect jeans or giving someone a total confidence boost with a new look, Sally’s style mojo is magnetic. We chatted to Sally about her love for the Gold Coast’s outdoor lifestyle, how midlife has shaped her passion for helping women feel confident, and of course, her top tips for elevating everyday style. And yes, she’s got some juicy insider fashion trends coming your way for the Spring and Summer seasons — spoiler alert: jelly sandals are making a comeback!

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I have lived on the GC for about 12 years now.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
Being originally from the UK, this feels like the perfect place to live. The mild climate and outdoor lifestyle are a huge contrast to where I grew up, and it truly feels like paradise!

There’s also this laid-back yet lively energy which I love. I live in the middle of Southport and I still pinch myself that I can drive to the beach in 10 minutes for a morning walk and still have access to great dining, shopping and evening entertainment.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
As a personal stylist, I’ve spent the last decade helping hundreds of women redefine their style and feel confident in their own skin, something I have become increasingly passionate about. Interestingly, I kind of stumbled into this job, but I truly believe I’m where I’m meant to be. When I first began my personal styling business 10 has ago, I was unsure of my target audience but as I’ve moved into midlife, it’s become very clear and I absolutely love it.

It’s fantastic to have Pacific Fair as my workplace, where I get to spend my days enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and immersing myself in fashion and style.

Personally, I’m a mum of two grown children (who still live at home and don’t look like leaving anytime soon) and two fur babies. I am a twin (my twin sister lives very close) and I really enjoy a close knit family. One thing that age has taught me is the importance of connection, whether it’s family or community.

As a relatively new Gold Coaster, I’ve found it refreshingly easy to get involved in the community something I’ve always been keen to do. I am passionate about fitness (I’ve been a member of a brilliant gym for the past 8 years MyFit Health & Fitness Carrara) and I love the community vibe there. I also volunteer for Rosie’s, Friends of the Street, a brilliant volunteer community based organisation that supports Gold Coasters facing challenging times.

What inspired you to pursue a career in fashion and styling?
Fashion and styling has always been in my blood and growing up in London, I was surrounded by a vibrant fashion scene thanks to my mother’s market stalls. Some of my earliest memories are of exploring the eclectic shops and bustling markets across the city. My 20s and 30s were spent working in media, but my passion for fashion and styling was always bubbling beneath the surface. Even while raising my young family, I found myself increasingly drawn to the art of styling, often helping friends and family with their outfits for special events. When the time was right, this innate passion guided me to start my own Personal Styling business. Since then, I haven’t looked back.

Who or what inspires you in your styling work? Are there particular designers, trends, or public figures you look to for inspiration?
I am definitely inspired by the amazing collection of women I get to work with. Midlife can be a particularly tricky time in our lives. A time of much confusion and change. Helping women make sense of this is definitely a driving force for me.

I love classic and elegant styling, which is influenced by both my Australian and UK backgrounds. Australia’s laidback lifestyle really has me pining for effortless, laid-back clothing and my UK influence adds a touch of classic elegance to my style preferences. My style icons are Kate Moss and more recently, Naomi Watts.

I think Australian designers are amazing and I work with them as much as I can. I particularly love Viktoria & Wood and Scanlan & Theodore for high-end and brands like Assembly Label for everyday basics – I prioritize good quality over quantity every day of the week.

6. Do you have any tips or tricks for women looking to elevate their everyday wardrobe without completely starting over?
Absolutely! Here are some tips to elevate your everyday wardrobe without overhauling it:

Stop shopping and get organized! I have seen so many wardrobes over the years that are overstuffed with pieces bought in a panic with labels still intact. Take stock of what you already own and clear out what you no longer wear or need. Putting outfits together is a lot easier when you wardrobe only contains what you actually wear and love. Be ruthless.

Get to know your body now: a woman’s body journey is ever changing and you need to get to know the body you are in now and get your wardrobe working for who you are today. Women are very good at finding their flaws but I like to get women to notice and dress for her strengths.

Reevaluate Your Basics: Think quality over quantity. Invest in high-quality basics like plain tees, versatile sweaters, and jeans. All the pieces you wear the most. Pay attention to these pieces as the are the foundation of any wardrobe. Make sure they look and feel good and work with your lifestyle.

Be mindful: Stop the impulse buying and only shop when you genuinely need something new. When you do shop, arm yourself with a list of what you need, try it on and if you are not sure, take a breath. Walk away and put some space between you and the purchase. Do you really need it? Can it be worn with multiple outfits?

Play with Accessories: Accessories like scarves, belts, and jewelry can quickly refresh your wardrobe. They add a new dimension to your outfits without needing to buy new clothes or break the bank. It’s also a great way to play with trends without committing.

Update Shoes and Bags: Sometimes, a new pair of shoes or a stylish bag can refresh your entire wardrobe. Choose styles that compliment your existing clothes and have fun with them. The simplest outfit can be transformed by a great pair of statement shoes or bag.

What are some of your go-to wardrobe essentials that every woman should have in her closet?
If I’m putting together a hard-working everyday capsule wardrobe for a client, I always start with the following:

Great Jeans. I believe there is a great pair out there for everyone. The biggest tip I can give is to try on as many pairs as you have to. It’s a process.
White Button-Down Shirt. Timeless and versatile, it can be dressed up or down.
Tailored Blazer. Perfect for adding a polished touch to any outfit.
Everyday dresses. I love a “one-and-go” outfit and our lifestyle here in the GC offers the perfect climate and lifestyle for great, throw-on day dresses. With pockets, obviously.
Comfortable & Stylish Flats. Essential for everyday wear. I love every part of midlife but the foot situation is tricky. Those heels you squeezed into back in the day will come back to haunt you! Almost every midlife woman I work with has foot issues, so I am constantly on the look out for super stylish flats.
Style tip: Sneakers are always a good idea and look great on everyone.

As a professional stylist at Pacific Fair, what’s the process like when working with a new client?
I truly relish the opportunity to work with new clients. My approach starts with a deep dive into understanding who they are. Of course, details like body shape, sizes, and coloring are essential, but I believe the heart of great styling lies in grasping their lifestyle and personality. By getting to know what makes them tick, I can tailor my recommendations to fit in with their lives and leave them feeling confident and comfortable.

Once I have done this, I pre-shop for my client and have everything waiting for them to try on. It’s very simple, collaborative and fun.

What trends do you predict will be huge this year coming into Spring and Summer?
So many great trends already coming through. I find this time of year quite exciting and although I relish winter styling, I love the colours and fabrications of Spring and Summer.

One of the biggest trends this year is leopard print, whether that’s tops, dresses, slip-skirts, or jeans as well as cool accessories; bags, belts and shoes. Crochet and lace are more popular than ever this year, especially with return of boho-chic and Chloe inspired trends. The sporty athleisure trend is still going strong and Adidas are definitely still having a big moment with sneakers and apparel.

Footwear has been dominated by Mary-Jane’s, mesh-ballet flats, kitten heels and loafers. Summer will also see the a resurgance of flip flops and yes, I kid you not, the return of the jelly sandal!

I am already shopping spring/summer with my clients at Pacific Fair and pastel coloured linen is everywhere and just works so well here on the GC.

What are your Gold Coast favourites?
Café: Bumbles Cafe, Budds Beach
Restaurant: Blowfish Ocean Grill & Bar
Bar: The Garden Bar, The Star
Beach: Nobbys.

How do you choose to spend your days off?
When I’m not working, I am spending time with my two dogs, Dexter and Peanut, at one of our fantastic dog parks or shopping (at Pacific Fair of course).