Cute, quirky jewelry & off-beat treasure shop in the Desgraves arcade. Full of one-of-a-kind finds…read more- handmade jewelry, locally designed pieces, with a range of reasonable price points. Staff is approachable and knowledgeable about their goods.

You know those cool shops that stock all sorts of unique stuff that you would never find anywhere…read moreelse? Like dinosaur necklaces, a porcelain squirrel or authentic luchador masks? Well, this is the King, Queen and Lord of all those places you've ever been to. It's like being sucked into a bizarre world where you're first reaction isn't to question how you got there, but rather, pray to never be taking away. Birds, wooden deer heads and little knick-knack decorate the shop. Glass cabinets protect bizarre lamps, figurines and all types of silver necklaces and charms. It's almost like being in the living room of a hoarder who only collects one-of-a-kind treasures from around the world. Speaking of treasures, jewellery makes up a big part of Corky Saint Clair. Wood, porcelain and silver are the materials of choice and often feature cute, cool characters and clever, creative charms. I swear, every item here as a personality of it's own, which makes it all the more harder to walk away. A big warning, you are going fall in love with something here, no matter how hard you resist. So be prepared.

Tempted is what I like to call a 'stuff' shop, but I believe the commonly accepted term is…read more'lifestyle store'. The prices are exceptionally reasonable and it's filled with nice bits and pieces that make for perfect gifts when you're stuck for an idea (and their gift wrapping is rather pretty too). To give you a ballpark for what to expect, over the years here I've bought: - Several photo frames - A set of cheese / pate knives - Cushions - A makeup bag - Lots of cards - A brooch - A lamp - A candle And only one of those were for me. Definitely worth a trip... just don't be surprised if you come out with something you didn't know you needed.

Lots of lovely smaller homewares and personal products that make great gifts for friends (or…read moreself!). Prices are very reasonable. So much so that I sometimes have to check the tag twice to make sure I shouldn't get my glasses out - some things are just soooo cost effective. Service is fine and the gift-wrapping is really stylish, and still free. Definitely worth a visit if you need to organise a decent pressie in a hurry.

I am deeply in lust with almost everything in this shop. Unlike Industria on Gertrude Street, the…read morefurniture in Nook feels really warm and homely. It's possibly because it's a smaller space and there is a lot of wood and primary colours. Whatever the reason, it's a totally gorgeous shop. The owners have clearly got a bit of a fetish for medical chic with everything from ointment bottles to a vintage first aid cabinet - very cute. There's also vintage clothes and accessories, and heaps of Brittannia owing to the English owners. The prices are pretty reasonable, and when I expressed an interest in an adorable industrial stool the lovely lady (who's name I can't remember despite chatting to for a good half an hour) offered to knock off $50 so clearly there's room to bargain. It's still not as cheap as some eBay vintage stores or flea markets, but given it's pre-curated and in such a central location it's good value. Besides, on my past few trips to Camberwell Market I've found the prices obscene and stall holders unwilling to barter.

Things to do once I win the Tattslotto:…read more 1. Pay off my credit card 2. Maybe throw some money at my parents 3. Head to Nook Vintage and redecorate my house I say this because I doubt I will ever have the money to buy anything from here. But hey, isn't that the same as every other vintage furniture store in Melbourne? This is a very small shop that stocks some very exciting stuff - wooden chairs, vintage cabinets, oversized pigeonhole shelves and old school luggage trunks galore. A great place to head if you are looking for a bit of inspiration or if you just love a good window shop! But if you are lucky enough to be able to afford anything from Nook Vintage I don't think we can be friends. Sorry.

What a beautiful little space!…read more Post Industrial design is part store, part cafe, and a welcome addition to the WEFO neighbourhood. I had a beautiful latte delivered with fantastic, friendly service. This place has incredible design, fantastic bright coffee cups and plenty of room. Have a coffee and then wander around the gallery/store space that offers an incredible array of gifts for men/women and kids. Some lovely jewellery, accessories and homewares amongst other things. Particularly noteworthy are prints and wall stickers available of Baby Guerilla's street art. It was a perfect place to unwind AND cross a few things off my Christmas shopping list- plus the complimentary gift wrapping is absolutely beautiful. If you're in the area and need a bit more inspiring before Xmas, get yourself there ASAP!

Used to be a fantastic company but since they got some traction on Instagram the business has…read morebecome more ego driven. Prices are diabolical and since they stopped doing silver I have no interest

I bought C. a birthday present of a sterling silver winged heart on necklace from Metal Couture. I…read morelike the goth/rockabilly style of their jewelery. I also like the buying something that has been locally made and not mass-produced in some factory. Some of Metal Couture's jewelery is over the top, rings like cathedrals, necklaces in the shape of bird skulls, or earrings like chandeliers, but all of it is very finely crafted and incredibly detailed. This is not cheap costume jewelery, like much of the stuff in this style. It is handmade in the studio behind the shop. I was shown studio, it is like an alchemists laboratory with animal skulls and other items. Unfortunately the jeweler, William Llewellyn Griffiths was out on that day, so I wasn't able to see the master at work. The style of their jewelery is reflected in the shop fittings, lots of red velvet drapes and the large gilt frame where the jewelery is displayed. Metal Couture has the aesthetics of the decadence. The silver heart is hallmarked and silver chain is a good weight and thickness. And most importantly C. loves it. It really fits with her style and looks so good on her.

Bing in Knox City Shopping Centre looks tacky from the outside but there are some really nice…read morethings to find once you venture in. The shop is filled with great accessories like: - bags - wallets - bracelets - necklaces - rings - earrings - stretchers and belly rings There is a range in both silver and gold (both fake) although you won't find equivalent pieces. The silver range is totally different to the gold range and the gold range is also a lot smaller. I found a great ring for $29.99 that was handmade and decorate with little sequins and diamontes. It was really cute but I had to leave it behind. Service here varies. Sometimes you are welcomed within moments and chaperoned around the store while others you are ignored - it is never the same.

Bizarre Bazaar! This cramped flea market is in the heart of…read morethe shopping district of Chapel Street in Melbourne. It's tucked into a strip shopping center, but this store goes on and on and on! The store is made up of various vendors' booths, each independently run, each with different themes or types of vintage and collectible items. The shops run from antique records, to vintage clothing to old posters. There's some strange stuff in here, but a lot of what you'd expect to find at a flea market. If you're getting dressed up for a costume party, or are just a hipster, this is a good place to go. When you enter, you are required to leave any bags at the door, and then allowed to wander the store. Many of the items weren't priced properly, leaving you to guess at the prices. Most of the booths were unmanned, so if you need to get a closer look at something behind glass, or inquire on the price, you're outta luck. One booth had a very overzealous merchant who kept trying to haggle with me over items that I had zero interest in. The bazaar is rather cramped, as you'd expect a bazaar to be. I felt nervous that I was going to break some priceless artifact the entire time!

Where can you have a retail experience and history lesson at the same time? You guessed it. Right…read morehere at Chapel Street Bazaar. This large second hand shop on Chapel Street is the site of many lost hours. Hours spent rummaging through countless area's filled with all manner of things. The space is segregated into over 70 market type stalls for you to get your forage on! You can expect retro furnishings, toys from your childhood, huge cult classic movie posters, funky retro fashions and vintage home ware and jewelery but you will mostly find what you don't expect. For a second hand goods Chapel Street Bazaar is over priced, but it needs to be or the stock would rush out the door and the huge space would be empty, and we can't have that. Don't worry though, its still good value! This place defines the term treasure trove. Get there and see what you can find!

When I was younger it seemed a bit dorky to go antiquing, like something my mum and dad would do…read more But it's places like the Old Wares Emporium that make antiquing cool and I always love to drop in whenever I am nearby. You can find some absolutely stunning stuff here and end up making a wish-list of things to buy once you've won the Tattslotto. Globes of the world, old gaming machines, retro telephones and even kitchen appliances (however it is not recommended that you actually use them!) Old Wares is expensive as are all antique stores of such quality. But this is a great place to head if you are willing to splash a bit of cash on that birthday girl/boy, or even if you are looking for a wedding present with a difference. My birthday is coming up... You know where to head.

Typewriters, telephones and hairdryers! The Old Wares Emporium on Rathdowne Street has all my…read morefavourite vintage appliances in abundance. The couple that work here seem to know a lot about all kinds of redundant technology and are happy to have a chat to collectors or those who are simply curious. The Emporium is a great spot to dig around little bits and bobs from days past, but it you won't find a lot of china or purely decorative pieces from the past here - it has a definite bend toward the industrial and commercial. For anyone decorating their homes with a vintage theme, a trip here is worthwhile as they've quite a collection of 'from the past but hot right now' items like world globes. The opening hours are limited, but if you're in dire need of a new walking cane from the 1930s then you can make an appointment and head in at a more suitable time.