Mr Fray is a debonair fellow with a keen eye for understated style and great local beer. Mr Fray is also a pop-up event brought to Canberra by the lovely Amy Farrell and Andi O’Day; the ladies behind Mrs Fray, arguably Canberra’s most exciting new destination for bridal style.

I was lucky enough to be invited along to the opening of the Mr Fray pop-up this past Friday evening; and so I popped my Valentine’s Day plans on ice, made myself presentable, and headed off to meet Mr Fray.

After the break-out success of their bridal concept pop-ups leading to a permanent home for their boutique in the stunning Campbell 5 precinct; it makes sense that Farrell and O’Day would turn their attention to outfitting the grooms of their Mrs Fray customers. If Canberra is a market that has provided an underwhelming experience for its brides, then its grooms have been actively neglected. Outside of a handful of relatively new tailoring options, the suiting and formalwear scene in Canberra is a little… tired, to say the least.

So, you can understand my excitement at the prospect of spending an hour in the boutique checking out what Mr Fray had to offer.

Entering the boutique, I found myself immediately impressed by how far from the ‘wedding’ scene the space felt. I have been to a number of wedding fittings in my time, for brides and grooms, and they mostly left a lot to be desired. This, however, was something different altogether. A DJ flipping records in one corner, racks of beautifully made menswear impeccably pressed, and a delectable spread of nibbles across the counter. We weren’t even in the same neighbourhood as the stifling wedding stores that I am used to.  

Sydney tailoring house Mawson Ossa was on hand to share their incredible range of fabric, styling, and of course a brilliant selection of ready-to-wear pieces. Tailor Grant Streater presented a refined trunk show of what Mawson Ossa has to offer, and shared his knowledge with eager patrons over Capitol Brewing Co. beers.

It felt bittersweet to be instantly so enamoured of Mr Fray and to know that as a pop-up, his presence in Canberra is limited to this past weekend. When I chatted to the hosts however, it was hinted that Mr Fray would be making further appearances later this year. So we will meet again.

I took my time and browsed the collection, thumbed through the vast array of fabric swatches, and before I could cave and buy something (voiding my no new clothes challenge for 2020), I said my goodbyes and spirited myself away in an Uber.

As I headed back towards Gungahlin and Valentine’s dinner with the boyfriend, I found myself reflecting on the evening. It was a great introduction to Mrs and Mr Fray, and it left me feeling incredibly hopeful for style in our nation’s capital. We’re not necessarily a city that is known for ground-breaking style or setting trends: but where we excel is in these pockets of understated brilliance tucked away in corners of our secret city.

Need to know 

What: Mr Fray pop-up
When: Finished (but watch this space…)
Where: Unit G31, 12 Provan Street, Campbell
Website: mrsfray.com

Photography: Grant Heino | poorly shot on an iphone