MANTEAU NOIR
ABOUT MANTEAU NOIR
Manteau Noir is an independent destination store in Daylesford, founded by Victoria Varrasso in 2014.
The store brings together natural-fibre womenswear, handmade shoes, fragrance, skincare, objects and home goods chosen for their craftsmanship, character and enduring beauty. The collection includes pieces from makers across Australia, Europe and Japan, alongside our own labels, Violetta par Manteau Noir and Victoria Varrasso Shoes.
Housed within a moody, deep-indigo interior, furnished with antique French shop fittings and layered with thoughtfully selected collections and beautiful displays, Manteau Noir has the feeling of a world apart.
THE STORE
Victoria guides the creative direction of Manteau Noir—designing the in-house collections, sourcing and selecting each season’s pieces, and shaping the interior and atmosphere of the store. Yet Manteau Noir has never been the work of one person.
Behind the scenes, Victoria’s husband, Loz, is an invaluable source of practical support and quiet encouragement. His contribution is woven into the daily life of the business, often unseen but deeply felt.
In the store, manager Charmaine Smith brings warmth, care and a natural generosity to every customer interaction. She leads the retail team, creates the store’s beautiful foliage and floral displays, and maintains the high standard of visual merchandising that gives Manteau Noir its distinctive character.
Authenticity and storytelling are central to the Manteau Noir philosophy. The result is a store that feels intimate rather than impersonal—a place shaped by shared knowledge, thoughtful service and a genuine affection for beautiful things made well.
THE FOUNDER
Manteau Noir was founded by Victoria Varrasso, whose work in fashion and retail spans more than three decades.
Before opening Manteau Noir, Victoria designed an Australian womenswear label stocked nationally and internationally, including at Liberty London, and later ran her own Melbourne flagship.
Today, her work continues through the Manteau Noir world: Violetta par Manteau Noir, a small-run womenswear collection in beautiful natural fibres; Victoria Varrasso Shoes, handmade in Italy; and ongoing collaborations with local and international makers and artisans.
Victoria’s eye is shaped by history, memory, literature, art, travel, regional living and the quiet beauty of pieces that soften, gather character and become personal over time. She works closely with her husband Loz, retail manager Charmaine Smith and the Manteau Noir team to create a store that feels personal, exacting and deeply considered.
THE TEAM
Manteau Noir is a small team of six, each contributing to the care, knowledge and personal service for which the store is known.
The Manteau Noir team believes retail should feel personal. Experienced and knowledgeable, they take the time to offer thoughtful advice on how a garment is cut, how a shoe fits, how a fragrance develops, and why a particular object may become meaningful over time.
They also assist with styling advice, gift selection, and Aesop skincare and fragrance consultations, helping customers discover pieces that feel considered, useful and lasting. Whether introducing a heritage maker, explaining the character of a natural fibre, or guiding someone towards the right fragrance or object, the approach is always warm, attentive and deeply individual.
OUR CANINE FRIENDS
We love dogs, and all well-behaved canine friends are very welcome to visit Manteau Noir with their humans. There is always a warm hello waiting for both of you.
FIND US
Shop 1/27 Vincent StreetDaylesford VIC 3460
Victoria, Australia
Open daily, 10am–5pm
Closed Christmas Day
03 5348 1902
team@manteaunoir.com.au
