Bonjour mon amie! Unique France on Brunswick Street in the Valley boasts a few good things:…read more Beautiful French antiques- Check. Excellent location- Check. Cute French men manning the store- Check check. Walking around Unique France made me wish I was of French old money and ancestry. When I was in Bordeux in France last year there was an antique market with similar items to what's stocked in Unique France, and all it makes me want to do is buy an apartment in Paris, have 5 pet cats and lounge around all day amongst my beautiful furniture. Alas, not a realistic dream. If you are looking for a gorgeous piece of Europe (and the owners do not count) for your own home than Unique France is definitely a worthy stop off.

This may be a beautiful store in which to shop for antique jewellery, but a recent unpleasant…read moreexperience there has turned me off. To start with, I was ignored as the shopkeeper was busy with another customer in the adjacent room. When the shopkeeper finally came out to see if I needed help, I was treated condescendingly and as if I were a bother. I simply went in to ask if they could look at some jewellery and tell me whether the stones were precious or not. She told me she doesn't have the expertise to tell whether a stone is precious or not, which is fine, but that I would have to see a valuer who would charge around $80 a piece. When I said that I wasn't after a valuation, simply someone who could tell me whether the stones are real or not, she said, "Well, no service is free, sweetheart." I left, seething, and went into another jeweller in the arcade who was very helpful, looked at my jewellery and was able to tell me what was what. I will be very reluctant to return to Kellie's Antiques.

I can see why this place is called MOST WANTED. Every time I…read morestep into this little store I inevitably end up lusting over some vintage do-dad or furnishing. The space isn't big but the owners have cleverly made the most of it making you feel like you have stepped into a store straight from the 50's. These hand-picked vintage pieces range from furniture, groovy lamps and sparkly costume jewelry to home wares and art deco statues. (My favourite part of the store has to be the small collection of records and comics.) The only shame is their lack of online presence, It would be good to see some of their awesome collection on the interweb but as such it's hard to see their name pop up under anything. (even the yellow pages.) Conveniently located on Boundary st, I recommend you give these guys a visit.

What a strange combination of items this place sells. Their sign states they are purveyors of fine…read morejewellery, antiques and retro furniture. It would make sense that the jewellery is second hand considering the other items they sell, but I'm not sure that it is. I think what's happened here is that a retiree has decided to open a shop selling exactly what they feel like, which has resulted in the odd combination. Moving on from their stock, it's a nicely set out shop and most of their stuff is really quite lovely, especially their range of furniture. It's definitely worth a look if you're after a one off piece to complete your home.

Holy dooley. I was lucky enough to discover this treasure trove open on a Sunday. Welcome to…read moreWilston's Lifeline Supa Store. It's a two storey jungle of rare as hen's teeth second hand wares. On the lawn outside of the store, there was a $89 mint condition black leather wheelchair as well as a whole range of bikes, some for little ones, and some for adults. The rooms are decked out like small themed rooms, in a similar fashion to how some antique stores set out their goods for sale. The only difference is that you'll pay less than half the price you'd pay at an antique store. They've got a violin for sale there for $50, imitation Chasseur slow cookers for $59 (which is cheap, let me tell you), old school pentax and polaroid land cameras (enquire about prices) and vintage coffee percolators for $20. They've got loads of your standard op shop finds: a killer book and record collection, toys galore, and troves of crockery and cutlery. It's not a bad place to come looking for some new furniture either. They've got a lot of stuff that looks like it was taken from your grandma's house, but in saying that, there are some great retro finds in there. It's not great for clothes- it's more of a odds and ends, nic nacs kind of place. While you're upstairs take a look at the original, aged and worn wooden trusses that hold up the curved corrugated iron roof. I can assure you, if you dare go in here, you will walk out with something great and unexpected.

If you love op shopping, this is the David Jones of them. They have antiques n kitsch, furniture,…read moretoys, collectibles, books, clothes, shoes, cutlery, crockery, cookware, decor, paintings

The West End Vintage and Designer Markets are on the first Saturday of each month. You'll need to…read moremark into your calendar that you're busy then because trust me, you're not going to want to be anywhere else. This is a place where fashion dreams come true- I should know. I'll never forget the day the caramel brown, knee length, suede, belted jacket of my dreams manifested itself onto a hanger at these markets. Price tag $40. Believe me now? If you like all things vintage, this is THE place to shop- here's why. Some of us get disheartened and feel downtrodden when we walk into an op shop and find that the closest we can get to vintage or retro is a 1990's Target A-line skirt that just might look cute it enough if you pair it with your stripey boat neck tee and cons and put yourself on a bike and ride around the streets (you ride fast enough so people don't notice that you're committing vintage fraud). The good folk who run the stalls at these markets hear your cries for genuine vintage, and travel far and wide to retrieve antique threads for you to peruse and buy. They bring them to one location and create a huge treasure trove that, for those real vintage lovers out there, may bring a tear to the eye. They've got all needs covered. Girls, you'll have a good chance of finding whatever your heart desires. Whether it's a 1960's green, polka dotted wiggle dress, or a 1970's halter sunsuit with heliconia print, or a 1980's metallic black tafetta and satin prom dress- you'd best look here. These markets are quite good for catering for the guys too, which is something other fashion markets sometimes have trouble with. You may be wondering why 'Designer' is included in the market name. Well, it's because outside of selling vintage wares, some people have stalls where they sell their second hand designer threads. They're usually in perfect nick and sold at a reasonable price. By reasonable, I mean cheap. Cheap as chips. The best thing is that the previous owners are selling their goodies direct to you before they're off handed to someone else who'll put the price up to something unbearable. In love yet? Arguably, the best part about these markets is that they're held at the Rumpus Room. It's an irresistible setting. While you're rifling through goods, justifying random purchases (yes, my mum would love that tablecloth with embroidered budgerigars on it) and envisioning yourself in yesteryear's impossibly exquisite clothes, you'll find yourself busting out some of your own vintage dance moves, because the DJs are there all day spinning vinyl- and you can't help but get swept up in it. When you find yourself thinking you could do with a cool beverage, you won't have to go far- you only have to shuffle/ hustle/ do see do/moonwalk a few steps towards a fully stocked bar. Then, when you get tired, you can go toy with your new threads and crockery in the beer garden and watch other market goers and flaneurs enter the chaotic and decadent maze of vintage goods that is the West End Vintage and Designer markets. Go on. Pencil it in. First saturday of every month. Invite your friends, make a day of it.

The Vintage and Designer Markets at Rumpus Room are on the first Saturday of every month. This is a…read moregreat market which I enjoy shopping at. It is not AS vintage as the name makes it out to be. There is only one true authentic vintage stall with another one which sells modern remakes with the occasional authentic piece. But don't get me wrong, these two stalls definitely bring back the vintage! They have great wares at reasonable prices. The designer stalls are fantastic, so many different goodies at great prices. Almost everyone will also have a $2 case where you can pick up a whole new wardrobe if you look hard enough. The drinks from Rumpus Room are a bit pricey and the cocktails can be deadly if they're not prepared by an experienced bartender. But they never object to outside food and drink being brought in. I really love this market, rain or shine it makes for a great day out wether you're alone or with friends.

Awesome books, unfortunately they closed several years ago but I believe they are still online.read more

I don't know what it is about the owners of certain small businesses. I'm talking about your cult…read morevideo owners, your music shop owners, and rare book sellers. They're always charismatic in the most unusual and undeniable way. They get under your skin. Bill, of Voyager Rare Books, Maps & Prints is no exception. Currently he's overseas on a book buying trip. Extravagant, much? Voyager Rare Books, Maps and Prints is a den for those with an interest in history, (definitely a history in books), maps, and other curiosities and oddities. It's like a real life version of the Cluedo library. Most items are locked behind glass cases, and you get the feeling that everything in there is precious. In the second room, just across the corridor, there's a room that exhibits the prints and maps that Bill has collected over the years. There's old world maps, botanical illustrations and sketches, and a boxed up, taxidermied pheasant on offer (Yes! I was just thinking I needed a pheasant for my dining room centrepiece). Voyager Rare Books, Maps and Prints really is my favourite refuge in the city. It's where I come to relax, get high on stale book smell, hang out with Bill, and learn oddball facts about the past. If you want a rare book, you can bring a $50 and try your luck, but I'd suggest clearing a few thousand on the credit card first.