Established in 1974
by Geri Leijon
Wesson Boutique is located in the centre of Ivanhoe, just 15 minutes east of the Melbourne CBD. Wesson Boutique offers a personalised high-end shopping and styling experience, stocking a range of coveted luxury Australian and European designer labels for men and women.
A fashion icon of Melbourne
Our History
From Wesson’s inception in the mid-seventies, it built its reputation as a fashion icon of Melbourne. By the nineties, there were a dozen Wesson stores throughout the city, yet the Ivanhoe boutique was, and remains, the flagship bricks and mortar heart of the Wesson brand.
Throughout the eighties and nineties, Wesson produced its own highly successful label which was distributed through Myer and other major boutiques. The brand also produced its own exclusive suiting label from 2000 – 2004. Always firm believers in quality over quantity, all suits were tailored to perfection in Melbourne, with Geri overseeing the design, fabric selection, pattern making and production supervision, all whilst also managing the retail side of the business. Not only is Geri a talented and highly trained fashion and style guru, she is also a keen business woman, with a charisma and warmth that has awarded her a bevy of loyal clientele.
Geri and the Wesson brand are synonymous with luxury Australian fashion, as well as bringing the exclusive collections of sought-after European couture houses to our shores. Geri’s passion for styling and keen fashion sense was inherited from her mother who was a couture dressmaker, unveiling to young Geri a world of tailoring and style.
Fast forward to post-school and Geri had undergone dressmaking, tailoring and fabric courses (the latter undertaken at Myer), and was trained as a section head at Yardley of London (a British personal care brand and one of the oldest firms in the world to specialise in cosmetics), in charge of beauty makeovers for their clients, before embarking on opening Wesson.
Geri has been dressing and styling men and women for 50 years, with her clientele ranging from global superstars to successful CEOs. Geri has a reputation for sourcing ‘classic edge’ styles from across the globe, creating client wardrobes that are as unique and chic as her loyal clientele. With names like international multiplatinum recording artist Patrizio Buanne, Aussie icon Rhonda Burchmore, actress Sigrid Thornton, singers Christine Anu & Sara MacLiver, presenter Daryl Somers, newsreader Jo Pearson and Real Housewives of Melbourne’s Janet Roach, to name but a few, it’s little wonder Geri is a trusted and sought after stylist and fashion guru.
Celebrating a 50 year milestone
It’s this heritage and history of the Wesson brand that has brought it to where it is today – celebrating a 50 year milestone in the Australian fashion industry. As a trusted supplier of the world’s most luxurious designer brands, Wesson has been curating looks from European fashion houses for decades; jet-setting every season to bring home exclusive looks fresh off the runways of Milan.
Always ahead of the curve, Wesson has its finger on the fashion pulse of the world, and delivers it direct to their savvy and loyal Australian clientele.
Wesson is also dedicated to nurturing Australian talent, whether they be designers, models, business people or professionals across the fashion, beauty, health and entrepreneurial sectors. Geri especially loves working with young up and coming models, giving them opportunities to model on the catwalk at Style By Wesson events and by being a judge and mentoring the contestants of the Miss Multiverse Australia contest.
Raising over $1m for charity
Charities have always been an important part of the Wesson fabric, with the brand raising over $1m in it’s 50 year history for numerous charity organisations, including the Royal Children’s Hospital, Canteen, Beyond Blue, Red Cross, Premature Babies Foundation, Karinya House, 100 Women, The Global Good Foundation, Dress For Success, Rotary and Share The Dignity to name but a few. Wesson has also donated to many local kindergarten, primary and secondary schools.
Wesson began its dedicated styling events 20 years ago, and what started in one state has now expanded to five – Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. Style By Wesson events are a staple on the fashion calendars of stylish clientele Australia-wide, and not only do they give clients the opportunity to enjoy a fashion show and VIP shopping and styling experience, but it is another means that Wesson can help those in need – with all events raising funds for charity.
