My Range located near the corner of Bourke and Queen Street in Melbourne City is a narrow little…read moregift store with a big heart. Whenever I am last minute gift hunting (hope my friends don't see this) in the city, this is my go-to place. But be warned, there are heaps of gimmicks and clever little things so try and stick to your cause and buy you gift. I have to admit, I've been side tracked before and ended up buying some cheeky baby rompers for my nephew and a scarf for myself. That's the good thing about this store, it's stocked well enough to offer a wide range of products for all sorts of characters - from funky alternative sorts to mainstream lovers to those that appreciate a little humour. I'm a sucker for bird-motif items so this gets me everytime.

Pretty cool gift shop with a really adorable range of babywear. I bought my expecting best friend…read morean "as seen on Facebook" little baby jumpsuit thing. It seemed appropriate, as she's documented the entire process online. They've also got a range of rubber duckies in all sizes, colours and patterns, so you can have your very own Ernie impersonation party in your very own bath. Service is friendly and helpful, and the prices are definitely in the "gift" range rather than the "practical purchase" range. As I said, pretty cool, and worth a look around if you're after a gift for someone who already has all the practical things.

Such a great concept store with amazing selection of goodies. Highly recommend visiting…read moreTheSuperCool.

Previously a pop-up shop appearing at all good hipster design markets, The Super Cool has taken up…read morepermanent residence in the SO:ME space at South Melbourne Market. It's a good place to find gifts, with an interesting selection of books, home wares, baby gifts, candles, crockery etc. If you've been looking at Pinterest boards of hipster weddings, they can sort you out here too with dedicated wares like wedding sign posts and mason jar glasses. Some will find it overpriced and tragic, but it's all in good fun and the staff are lovely. Worth a sticky beak if you're at the market.

Melody Nelson is a great little nook of surprises, full of things you didn't realise you wanted…read moreuntil you saw that it existed. Full of little knick-knacks, thing-a-ma-bobs and trinkets, it's an especially good place to visit if you're gift shopping (particularly as it bills itself as a gift shop). The goods are sourced locally and from Europe, and range from leather gloves, dresses, fancy hats, scarves and cushions through to brightly coloured and chunky potato peelers, rainbow water glasses and cute little tea sets. It's the sort of shop where you go around making little noises of approval as you browse. It's not cheap, but also not all that expensive and the things are nice. It's always worthwhile to drop in if you're in the area.

Presence on Puckle is a delightful giftshop/variety store, with plenty to tempt you, and not just…read morefor purchasing presents!! At the moment they've a major emphasis on the spring racing carnival, with the largest range of fascinators I've seen in the North, as well as jewellery and other accessories. And if you're looking at sprucing up your kitchenware range, Presence on Puckle has you covered, with brands including Maxwell and Williams and Bacarrat. Not your usual junky giftshop, they have a spattering of almost everything gifty, but only if its of high quality. The perfect place to purchase presents for people you like, or to spoil yourself!

Stocking jewellery, scarves, watches, bags, books, stationary and more, the Met Store is a great…read moreexcuse for some retail therapy and a chance to look at some beautiful things that are hard to come by here in Australia. The Met Store has products that are influenced by and stocked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The jewellery is inspired by different time periods (Egyptian, Mesopotamian etc.), as well as classic art deco artists and designers. Also, it is worth noting that The Met Store is the only place allowed to reproduce the original designs from the Tiffany store. Other highlights include the scarves and children's' books. There are some beautifully illustrated classics like Alice in Wonderland and The Secret Garden, as well as some really cool art and popup books. The service is always spectacular; the sales assistants are very knowledgeable and really friendly. The only problem I have is the space. The store is quite small so watch out if it's busy and make sure you don't get sent flying into one of the beautiful statues or scarf rack.

The name pretty much sums up what you will find in this colourful shop located behind Rosanna Train…read morestation. This compact yet bursting with stock family run discount store has the typical goods you would expect to find in any discount store or $2 shop, however it is its party goods selection that makes Blokker stand out from it's competition. When birthdays, Christmas, Halloween or Australia Day get near this is where I head for cheap decorations. Anything you need to take your event to the next level; from costumes, masks and wigs, to disposable cutlery and glasses, decorations and balloons can be found here. If your looking for expensive looking party decor then maybe give this place a miss, but for cheap goods designed to make your next party a hit, just drop by and see what you can find.

More smelly stuff that you can poke a stick at. Candles, handcreams, soaps, body lotions... nothing…read morenaff and all worthy options when buying a gift for your favourite person. The homewares are also worth a look at - cool throw rugs, pretty things for your couch and bed, and the last time I went Batik printing stamps that of course you're never use but they look really cool on a mantelpiece.

Frances Pilley is the ultimate gift shop for someone who likes things that smells nice…read more The shop just smells so good, it's hard to tell exactly what is evoking that divine sense. But that is the fun part, walking around the shop examining all the products is exciting and almost therapeutic. products range from candles and bath products to some beautiful homewares like the hamman bath towels. I am overwhelmed by the range, my nose loves going on overdrive here, and there is something for everyone. Scents range from vanilla to black pepper, sweet pea to lemongrass. There's even the scent-less crystal deodorant ( very intriguing). Gift wrapping is complementary, and even if you are not buying a gift, get it gift wrapped anyway ;)

I first came across this lovely store years ago when I was just visiting Melbourne. I didn't have a…read moreclue where it was at the time because my sister who was already living in Melbourne drove me here. I fell in love with this store all those years ago but never thought take a business card or find out where it was. Years later, after moving to Melbourne myself, I finally found Crate Expectations in Malvern. And today I made my inaugural trip for 2011. This fantastic little store always has the best homewares and gifts. Today I fell in love with the printed fabric poufs and cushions. It's amazing how much is available in this store, which is just off busy Glenferrie Road. They've also got a gorgeous range of home scents and body products, flowy kaftans and dresses and a great mix of home products, kids's products and fashion accessories.