AHHH Pol, dressing the women of Berwick for how many decades now??…read more Pol is a clothing store definitely targeted at mum-aged women... older mums for that matter. But every so often my mum will drag me in here and I will be stoked to find a really cute piece of jewellery, or a vest, or a handbag, or some other must-have item. The Pol ladies have all worked here forever so they know everyone's business and love nothing more than to have a good goss with their customers. So in summary, I wouldn't be going here with the hopes of finding a new outfit (unless you are over 40) but Pol might just surprise you.

Currently Closed!!!. I went past Monday July 17 2022 There was no roof it was covered in graffiti…read moreand boarded up. Was an Awesome place to shop when opened. The footscray Savers is still operating but prices are pretty high in Footscray the last time I shopped there.

Set aside at least three hours, and come unburdened by handbags, umbrellas, children, anything…read morethat's going to need your hands and/or attention. Don't even bring your wallet, just stick a $20 note in your pocket because that's probably all you'll need to buy the load of clothes and bric-a-brac you're inevitably going to find. This store is enormous and it's full of crap. I'm not being mean, I'm sure they'll tell you the same. The fact is, if you have the eyes and the patience to spot the diamond in the rough, and you don't mind trawling through racks and racks of rough stuff, you'll get your bling, and you'll proudly tell people that it only cost you a fiver...even less possibly, 20% less if you're a student and you buy it on a Sunday, or a senior and buy it on a Monday. Savers provides little red baskets on wheels for you to drag your loot around in until your arms and shoulders are shaking with exhaustion and excitement, and you know there's nothing left to do but to queue for ages (sometimes) for a change room to make sure that flowery, mid-80s, Sussans shirt goes with the long, Indian skirt you found in the Long Indian Skirts aisle. This goes with that, you know the jingle.

There's a rack of t-shirts outside this place. They've got your typical, generic, meaning-free…read moreimages. There's a sign which says "T-shirts this rack on special: $50 each". Clearly, this is not a store for me. That said, I had a wander inside before I started to worry they'd kick me out for being a bum, and their informal shirts were quite nice. Way too pricey, but nice all the same.

Great store - the guy who served me wanted to help and gave genuine recommendations. It was a half…read moreoff everything sale so the prices were very competitive. The range varied from casual to semi formal. Worth a look in...

I love Kill City, except I prefer to use the old name: That Secondhand Bookstore Down the Flinders…read moreEnd of Swanston St. No, Not That One, the One Next To the Opal Place. But yeah, TSBDFESSNNTOONTOP is my kind of secondhand bookstore. It's cramped, it's convoluted and tangled, and it smells of old books in tight confines. I've been coming here for the past ten years, every so often. I've probably lost more books from this store than any other I've been to. Their range is properly random, but it's a big store so you can probably find something worth reading no matter your tastes.

If you're looking for a mystery, thriller or true crime book, there's no reason to go anywhere…read moreelse. I went in looking for several mildly obscure titles, and found them all. (They also have an extensive section of Australian writers and a great literary fiction room.) To get there, you go through an easily missed door at street level and walk down a long flight of stairs. The location's a bit funky, the store's a bit musty, everything's a bit quirky, but the character and selection here simply cannot be beat. It's an experience just going.

Super-mega Spotlight. I. Kid. You. Not…read more This new Spotlight has two levels, with the second level mostly devoted to everything 'party'. Probably the largest one I've ever been in, they have absolutely everything. I've actually been in here a couple of times... the first of which I was too awe-struck to check-in! Seriously, for an arts, crafts, and typically haberdashery store, they have bloody everything.

After visiting the Mentone store this morning, approximately 9.35am I was quiet disturbed to find…read morenearly no staff available .. no one in the quilting/ material cutting area. Only a lady ( might add very nice and very polite) in the furnishing section around the corner who could not help me with my enquiry. Was told I should come back after 11 when more staff would be available to help me with my enquiry. She was servicing both areas with cutting of material. So off I went to investigate again to see if I had missed where this item would be. Not being able to find anyone to help me I must be honest I left. The cashier was also lovely but said she was the only one on and could not help. These girls seemed to be the only ones on the ground floor. I want it known that they were very polite. But have to ask where were the staff??? My item I required you might ask was a silicon thimble, yes not a huge amount of money, but what you don't realise is that I am an avid quilter had material that I wanted but could not get any service. I just thought you might like to know. I will still use your store as I do think it's a great asset to our area and use it frequently, but not happy today with the great lack of service Regards Jill M.

I love nothing more than being able to say the piece of jewellery I'm wearing is a one-off - which…read moreis why I get a thrill out of scouring the aisles of The Bead Centre on Smith Street, Collingwood for an array of charms and beads to create my very own unique treasure. The best bit is, more often than not you come across charms that are identical to those used on current accessories in stores such as Sportsgirl. Being able to create an 'of the moment' piece for a quarter of the price you'd pay for it in store is exceptional. And I love that you can customise it to your own taste. The Bead Centre carries an extensive range of chains, leather straps, clasps, charms, beads, baubles, crystals, stones and more - as well as a huge range of ready-made costume jewellery with the lowest prices in Australia.

I have yet to find a quality bead shop that stocks the particular items I am looking for such as…read morequality leather cord, clasps and metal accessories. Keep searching for better quality, unless you are just looking for something to get you by.

Quality Fabrics, probably the best in Melbourne, but if you're a student this might not be the…read moreplace for you. Tessuti has a reputation for importing the best of the best. Importing materials from fashion capitals like Italy, Japan and France just to name a few. As a design student myself, I'm always looking for a bargain, i must stress to you that this is not the place to look. The fabrics here are incredible to say the least. You will encounter materials used by the like of Armani and Chanel, but be prepared to pay in the hundreds per square meter. I come here quite often just to have a look at the fabrics and dream of maybe one day using them in creations of my own. In saying this though you can find some materials on sale that wont break the piggy bank. If you do have enough change lying around for fabrics of this calibre, I highly recommend Tessuti. Oh and just a heads up, if you need help you will have to ask. Ive never been offered assistance from staff.

Have been hanging out here quite a bit of late, I have become a big fan of the magazine stack they…read morehave on the central table. Take a seat and be inspired.

Ironically No Vacancy was vacant the last time I passed by at the QV Centre they must be preparing…read morefor their next exhibition; there is a different exhibition every fortnight. And it is in a very convenient location in the city and so it is easy to drop in and see what is on. I've been to many exhibitions at No Vacancy and I often drop in to chat with Tim Dawson and Andrew Chew because they are friendly fellows. They also manage studio spaces and the gallery has a life drawing class run by Louise Klerks. And they have a smaller gallery space at Federation Square that is called No Vacancy Project Space. Their exhibitions vary from group exhibitions by RMIT students to an exhibition by Ghostpatrol, a notable Melbourne street artist. They also have a stock collection of original work and prints from local artists and illustrators. It is not the ideal gallery space because of its low ceiling, odd shape and glass front along one side. But the art that they show is more important than the space and the large gallery floor space easily accommodates the hundreds of mostly young people who come to the exhibition openings.

No Vacancy grew. No longer simply a space within the shops of QV in Melbourne, the cats here got…read morethemselves a piece of the action in Federation Square. Squeezed in between a glass gallery and a restaurant, you can almost miss it, save for the light spewing out of it and the countless bodies moving and talking at an opening of sorts. The smaller space is suited to smaller shows, which makes perfect sense for the local artists they support. The art here could be considered a more 'street art' variety - stencils and spray work, or these artist branching into painting and trying something new. Hit and miss, but they look nice altogether and if you can't afford a painting there's usually a print version of it available up the back. Openings are usually Thursday or Friday nights.