Sisca is one of the more successful boutiques along Burke Road. It has been open for a while now…read morebecause I remember girls at school raving about the dresses, so it was a bit of a blast from the past to go back here and check it out again. First, I would like to mention the service. In boutique fashion stores it is always a worry that you may end up with a snobbish and rude sales assistant. Thankfully this wasn't the case at Sisca at all. The sales assistant was lovely, helpful and quick to greet me. I was also impressed by how she was managing the store - she was quick to help customers and more than happy to have a chat with me about the opening hours. The clothes are fantastic, think bright oranges and blues for the coming summer, and there is a wide range of cocktail dresses, maxis, shirts and skirts. Sisca stocks some great brands including Minkpink, Cooper St, True Religion and Wish.

Look, I'm not a huge fan of shopping centres, namely because they lack the authenticity of your…read moretypical main street, and the shops inside tend to be part of larger chains, so there also seems to be somewhat of a lack of personality to many of the shops as well. They do have their uses in part, and some of them are trying to create a bit of a main street feel, but unfortunately it tends to fail more often than not. As for this one, well, I have to admit that it is pretty fancy, though like a lot of them it is easy to get pretty lost inside as well. I liked it, and they do have a number of good coffee shops as well, so I'll certainly give it marks for that.

The Ugly Duckling that once was Westfield Doncaster has recently received the ultimate makeover and…read moreflourished as a stylish swan. Luxurious lounge area's to rest after intensive shopping are glittered throughout the centre and the brightly lit malls lead to over 400 shopping outlets. This shopping mall is a mix of chain stores from high street to designer fashion stores, home wares and electronics. Home to department stores Myer and David Jones, Village Cinema, Big W , Target, Safeway and Coles and countless food outlets. If your after high end designers then Chadstone is your best bet but for designers such as Alannah Hill and Max Mara then Doncaster is a more manageable option.This centre looks bigger then it feels so if your up for a shopping marathon you may feel let down by the size. But for my shopping and entertainment needs Doncaster is fantastic! The new personal shopper suite is perfect for individuals and groups who need a little fashion help, which may be useful in the upcoming party season! While not my speed I can totally appreciate its merits. The main obstacle to shopping bliss is car parking during peak periods, especially December and weekends its every car for itself. To ad insult to injury parking will cost you if you spend more then three hours in the centre. To remedy this you can pay $10 for valet parking and have your car sheltered for you. Doncaster Westfield is my pick for shopping in the Northeastern suburbs.

I can whole heartedly recommend Thomas & Co. to anyone looking for something a little more unique…read morethan is ordinarily found in homewares stores in Australia. Beyond the vast (and eclectic) range of goods, the service from all staff is exceptional. They are truly willing to go well beyond expectations to make absolutely certain you are happy with your purchase. Having purchased a custom made Salon couch from these folks (that ended up not fitting in the house - long story, but the store is looking after the issue perfectly), I can honestly not sing their praises highly enough. I've read a few reviews from unhappy customers and simply can't understand how their situations arose - you'd really have to try to have a negative experience here.

Thomas Gannan is one of those great shops that just seems to attract people. From its clever window…read moredisplays and quirky products, it certainly seems to have a lot going on. And this is very true. The busy store carries a wide range of homeware - from dazzling lighting, jazzy cushions, trendy table matter, witty décor pieces and functional kitchen ware. It also has a lovely range of children's toys, room accessories and gifts. But more importantly, Thomas Gannan carries a good mix of exclusive Jardan sofas and stunning Arthur G lounges. It also features a selection of environmentally sustainable Australian timber furniture, which can be custom made to suit your needs. I've bought quite a few presents from this store and have always been impressed by the service. It's not often that a sales person asks whether you would like a new piece but they do here!

Ronald King Mens and Boys Wear is a little bit misleading when it comes to the shop name. For…read morestarters it stocks a heap of women's clothing as well. There are two shops in the main street and they are on opposite sides facing each other. The first one has only suits and formal male attire while the other is much bigger and has both mens and women's clothing, surfwear and accessories. The prices in here can get pretty steep so you will want a big wallet. I have noticed a few more cheaper women's items sneaking in recently though so there is occasionally a few good bargains on offer. The store is always well air-conditioned and pleasant. The staff are friendly and you are guaranteed a good conversation. I tend to go in there to gawk at pretty scarves and have a little dream about one day being able to afford $80 for such a gorgeous silk accessory before I head down to one of the op shops nearby for some clothes I can definitely afford. In saying that, people who are more well off or like spending money on these things will be right at home here and the clothes are damn nice. The quality of the fabric is obvious and the items here are the kind that you will want to keep in your wardrobe forever.

Whilst there's not the room for heaps of furniture like some other Vinnie's stores, there is a…read morelarge range of clothes available here. The room is also filled with lots of household trinkets and old-fashioned homewares, largely donated by the aging residents of the suburb. With a few Op-Shops in the area to choose form, Vinnie's Centres are always good, as the stock rotates between stores, giving a different range each time you come back.

An expensive mausoleum for mid century furniture and vintage clothing…read more Ok ok that may be a bit harsh, but I did feel as if I needed a loan just to walk in the door. The prices are staggering but the clothing is actual vintage designer pieces, as well as the generic check and flannelette shirts. Their leather boots are slightly overpriced as I have found similar at other vintage traders and one of the many vintage markets around Melbourne cheaper. Their selection of industrial and mid century designer pieces is amazing....as reflected in the price tag. There is a lot of stock, but without the usual junk, there is an obvious attention to detail and selectiveness in their sourcing. Chrome lamps, danish furniture, leather chairs, wall hangings, clocks, medical paraphernalia etc adorn the shelves and walls quietly whispering for your attention. It feels as though they have done the hunting for you as the calibre of stock for a vintage store is almost unparalleled. This may be a big call however they do stock the kind of unique pieces that other vintage traders would sell their taxidermied mothers for.

A step up from a tip shop and a whole floor below the pretension of high-end vintage stores this…read moreplace is worth a look for affordable kitsch. This shop houses weird and random curios, collectibles, knick-knacks and bric a brac that makes it difficult to classify any other way than a "Secondhand Store". Think frames, wardrobe doors, mirrors, lamps, 80's crockery, records, tapes, pot plant holders etc. It isn't a large space but they have managed to utilise every inch including the backyard of the building. Situated in that no man land stretch of High st between Northcote and Thornbury it is definitely worth a look for collectors of "stuff".

Like a big op shop that only sells furniture, Green's New and Used Furniture is a junkyard of old…read moretables, couches, entertainment units and desks. The taste and style of the furniture is pretty varied, but there's nothing too upmarket in stock most of the time. The prices are similar to that of op shops so it's more affordable option for students and anyone else with financial concerns, and everything seems to be in fairly good condition. It also sells an odd assortment of second hand books at the front of the store and the odd DVD. Green's offers same day delivery, lay-by and trade-ins, and the guy running the store is really friendly and approachable. A good one to keep in mind for anyone whose furniture is likely to keel over anytime soon and isn't at the settled down and decorating the house forever more stage of life.