To me, Australia is the mecca of active wear. Even back when I lived in Switzerland, I used to order most of my workout clothes from Australian online stores. But not only have they perfected the active wear trend, but they are also on top of the athleisure movement. Leather jackets casually worn over crop tops, sweatpants paired with a stylish blazer, sneakers worn from home to the office to the gym - I'm not sure what it is, but Aussie's definitely have a hand for rocking luxe leisurewear.

One of my favorite drool-worthy leisurewear Instagram accounts has always been Mode Sportif, a luxe, leisurewear online boutique founded by Deborah Symond in 2013. Believe me when I say I've spent hours browsing through their feed wishing everything I see would magically appear in my closet. Their online store is filled with stunning pieces made for the contemporary woman looking for a wardrobe that takes you from studio to the street (who doesn't want that?!). Think a mix of international ready-to-wear designers and athleisure brands like Adidas Originals, Nike, The Upside and Olympia Activewear. Essentially, Mode Sportif is one of the few where you can pick up a new pair of sneakers and a new designer dress in the one place.

And now Mode Sportif has opened it's first ever bricks and mortar store at The Intersection in Sydney's Paddington, where it will stock a curated edit of their online offering. Open since the beginning of July, it's been receiving heaps of attention from the press, and rightly so.

Besides wanting to pop in to look at the beautiful design of the store, I'd been dying to get a State of Escape bag. For the longest time I couldn't make up my mind about which color I wanted, but lucky for me they stock a whole range of colors in the store so I was able to see them in flesh. Made with neoprene and sailing rope, these carryall bags effortlessly double as a gym bag and office hand bag. And the best part? You can throw them in the washing machine! I opted for the Escape Bag in Khaki in the end (the one in the picture however is the Luxe Charcoal Marle), but I have a feeling this might not be my last color..

Or my last visit to the store, for that matter. See you again soon Mode Sportif!

Mode Sportif - 24 Glenmore Road, Paddington

P.S.: If you're heading to Paddington to check out the store, why not grab a fresh juice at Orchard Street or head for a coffee at the Cafe Bookshop? I'm totally in love with the area!