It was with heavy hearts GRAZIA heard just days ago that much-loved Australian fashion label LIFEwithBIRD was closing its metaphorical doors for good.

Over the past 16 years, partners in life and business Bridget McCall (aka Bird) and Nicholas Van Messner, have given us beautiful, wearable clothes with street cred that were as sophisticated as they were cool.

Despite the label having long been an international hit and firm favourite with Australian fashion editors and style icons like Yan Yan Chan, Ally Carey, Fredrika Fakander, Georgia Love and Nikki Phillips, the pair has announced they will start shutting up shop.


Nikki Phillips, pictured here, wore this LIFEwithBIRD jacket to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2018
Credit: Instagram

“We started by pattern-making on kitchen benches, packing orders and hand-tying swing tags at home,” McCall and Van Messner said in an announcement that cited rapidly changing industry conditions and expansion of their young family as key reasons for the fold.

“In an industry that has changed so much, we feel we have given all we can and it is time to stand down and be open to new opportunities… Knowing our designs have touched so many people in Australia and abroad is something we will always be very proud of.”

Still, as anyone familiar with natural law of fashion available will attest, nothing is as appealing as a limited edition or newly unavailable cult classic, whether sold out or phased out. By that logic, if you don’t already own a piece of LIFEwithBIRD in your fashion archive, now’s the time to join the legion of stylists and editors snapping up sentimental, collectible pieces.

Here are 10 glorious (still available) LIFEwithBIRD pieces we suggest adding to your collection before they’re gone forever. Better still, most are now on sale at drastically reduced prices. That’s the silver lining to learning the hard way all good things must come to an end.

10 pieces to SHOP NOW (for BARGAIN bucks) THEN TREASURE FOREVER


LIFEwithBIRD, Constellation Jacket in Metallic Lilac, now $450 at The Iconic.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, La Roche Dress in Teal with Black Spots, now $220.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, Delirium Skirt in Ink, now $225 at Periscope.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, Alvaro Dress in Ultra Fuchsia, now $297 at The Iconic.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, Atom Dress in Midnight, now $228 at The Iconic.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, Catalano Tailored Jacket in Ultra Fuschia, now $487 at The Iconic.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, Modernist Dress in Dada Floral Print, now $195.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, Material Sweater in Black, now $144 at The Iconic.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, The Wisdom Dress in Playa Metallic Stripe, now $280.
SHOP NOW


LIFEwithBIRD, Heritage Oversize Cardi in Dawn, now $266 at The Iconic.
SHOP NOW