There's nothing like stocking up on things at Target. It's vital as a student that i purchase most…read moreof my items here. They are reasonably priced and ready to go straight away. Target on Bourke really does have everything. Clothing mainly downstairs and all your household items upstairs. I came to Target when they were having 20% off electrical appliances, having just moved into a new residence, this was perfect. I bought a Breville toaster and kettle for around $40 each (Stainless Steel), Rice Cooker for $29, and an iron for $35. All very affordable for me and my house mate. The issue that i have with Target is that this store rarely has any jumbo bags (so i was forced to buy those re-usable, eco-friendly bags - which sure is good for the environment) and because the store is local centrally it's hard for those of us without cars to navigate our large items out of the city and on the tram (I ended up just getting a taxi when i bought all my items).

If you're sick of paying upwards of $50 for your basics then head on down to Target. As far as I'm…read moreconcerned this is the place to go for sportswear, plain tees and singlets, tights and socks. If you're looking for something a little more fashion forward, think again. You've come to the wrong place. Target's eponymous women's fashion section leaves little to be desired. While it may try hard to remain on trend, the quality is lacking and the clothes just tend to look tacky. There is far too much embellishment going on here, along with a proliferation of terrible slogans. However, every now and then you'll find a total steal. It seems to me that roughly around once a season the Target designers strike gold and come up with a single amazing item. A few years ago it was the perfect (faux) leather jacket. It was quick to sell out, with people coming from far and wide to the suddenly covetable store. Similarly, last summer I picked up a classic polka dot strapless dress for an unbelievable $20, I get comments on it all the time. But don't get your hopes up. On the whole, it's best to stick to the basics when it comes to shopping at Target.

Big W has a large selection of items but it can't be said that quality is a factor involved in…read moreselecting this stock. But, can find some bargains here. If you look hard enough.

I'm American, and when I heard that Big W was pretty much the Australian equivalent of Wal*Mart, I…read moredo have to admit I got excited. Now, if you have never been to Wal*Mart, what you need to understand is this - it WILL have EVERYTHING YOU NEED. Food, clothing, furniture... you name it, they got it. With Big W being the supposed Wal*Mart equivalent, I was a bit disappointed by its very limited selection. --- ~ Isn't Big W's entire market strategy based on the fact that they're supposed to be a cheap alternative to other shops? I looked at nail polish that cost the same as Mecca Cosmetica, a much higher quality beauty store. ~ The music and electronics section could use a bit of work as well. They have a lot of obscure things, but nothing big. I wanted to buy Beyonce's new album '4' and it was nowhere to be found... not even out of stock - they just didn't have it plain and simple. Big W isn't a bad store, but I probably would not be coming here to do my shopping. It's small and not as cheap as it would like you to think - what's the point?

*slight adjustment to rating. Had to take it down a star. Paid for a lunch, was served raw scallop…read morepotato and when taken back there was no offer of replacement or reimbursement Just Merry Christmas. Shame. Not the place to eat. Was very pleasantly surprised coming into this store. Thinking it to be just a duplicate of Myers. My main reason to come here was for an iPad. The local apple store was very restricted in what they had available & bad service. Not only was I served promptly but offered a discount on the product I had been looking for elsewhere. Well done. Won my loyalty!! Had a browse through the store and found many things I'd come back for.

its really hard to define my favourite level at DJ's and i really must pay credit to the food hall…read more Not as amazing as DJ's Sydney, but certainly offers the same freshness a quality and wondering through can take up a good chunk of your day. Despite how badly I have succumb to my impulse shopping habits and burnt a whole in my pocket there is alway room for a stroll through the food hall whether it be a to grab an Evia yoghurt with fresh passionfruit & raspberry topping or to pass my new favourite place, a coffee from sensory lab.

Myer reminds me of Macy's and other department stores in all the best ways…read more At first, I wasn't so sure I wanted to look around because we were leaving the next day and already worried that our bags were a little too heavy. However, we decided to check the place out for fun. I did end up buying some stuff for an outfit I'm trying to make and it did fit in my bag without issue so there's that. This is a massive department store, filled with almost anything you can imagine. I liked the architecture and how organized the store was. There was clear signage to let you know what it on what floor. It's also connected by little walkways to the mall next door as well. The associates I came into contact with were all very friendly and helpful. The plus size section in this place is very large if you are in need of that.

This is the largest shopping mall in Melbourne. The windows were decorated beautifully for the…read moreholidays. We were here Saturday afternoon and it was very crowded. There was a busy tram stop right in front.

Love the culture and the food. Not a huge fan of the car park, but this place works better on…read morepublic transport.

I love Melbourne Central. I love how it's a one-stop-shop for everything you could need…read more ~ Smack dab in the middle of the CBD. Need something you (for some strange reason) cannot find at Melbourne Central? It's probably 10 steps away from Melbourne Central/ ~ Stunning interior design and architecture. You have your tower underneath a glass cage. At first, I thought that this was a bit strange, but then accepted the fact that the tower probably did a lot of bad things in its life and needs a cage to control it. You can't let that thing free, man. ~ Nice selection of food. Nothing too fantastic, but my favourites: Menya Ramen, Lord of the Fries, Grill'd, O-Bento, and Harajuku Crepes. There's bound to be more food heavens that I haven't explored in that massive building yet, and I'm keen to be on the lookout! ~ Convenient public transportation. If you're on the go, trust Melbourne Central to have a train running to anywhere you want in Melbourne. Trust Melbourne Central to also have great food takeaways for you to enjoy yourself at before your train arrives. ~ Loads of entertainment! Try out Cho Gao - a great Asian Beer Cafe with a stunning view of the city. Now try out Cho Gao after catching a movie at Melbourne Central's very own cinema. Seriously - what CAN'T you do here?

Lots of great outlet stores at the DFO! Adidas, Nike, Cotton On, a few shoe stores.. I can't name…read morethem all but I've always enjoyed coming here. The layout downstairs confuses me a bit and I get a little turned around when trying to find a store I've been to countless times. They have a food court downstairs has a really good selection of cuisines and are all reasonably priced.

Great place for a bargain and they have all the great stores for everything for the the family from…read morehats to shoes and everything in between

A great shopping mall! This place has really picked up over the years! Lots of amazing shops! A…read moreplace to get some great buys! I go here often for my lunch break and head back to work with bags of shopping. I just can't help it. There is always new shops and new items to buy! Omg I love sales racks! :-)

This is a bit of a tricky one to review as there is pretty high store turnover so if anything I…read moremention here appeals, check online that it's still there before you visit. If jewellery is your thing and you're on a tight budget, check out Lovisa. They have a great range of classic and cool styles. Much of it is a lot cheaper than their normal stores. Thanks to their outlet, I now own more pairs of earrings than I will probably ever wear. The Cotton On outlet is enormous. In addition to the standard Cotton On men's and women's ranges, they also stock sister brand Rubi Shoes. They often have cute shoes crazy cheap eg. 3 pairs for $10 deals are not uncommon. Look out for the cute $2 tote bags too. As the normal Strandbag stores are pretty reasonably priced the savings at the outlet don't tend to be massive but it is still worth a look. The outlet has a great selection and I've always been really happy with the quality of what I brought there. If you're into stationery don't miss checking out Typo. They often have great journals and notebooks on sale. I really need to stop buying those! Trade Secret is an interesting store to have a browse in. They stock a very large range of assorted fashion and home-ware items from a range of designers. There isn't many of each particular item so it takes a bit of rummaging through the racks. Personally I haven't had much success in there but you're a size that a lot of designers like to make for you might get lucky.

Kmart's okay - i'm not much of a massive fan. A lot of their stock is really generic and basic…read more Nothing really stands out. However, for us cheap or poor folk out there, Kmart is a great alternative to a lot of the more high-end stores. This particular branch of Kmart isn't that bad either. Pros: ~ Helpful service. ~ Spacious. ~ Cheap prices. ~ Convenient location. If you can't find what you need here, you'll probably find it elsewhere in Victoria Gardens. You can't really go wrong with Kmart. Looking for something basic? It's worth coming here for a browse - maybe you can get a better deal.

This review is more for Snapfish, the photo department at Kmart. They're very easy to use and order…read moreonline, have a huge range of photo gifts, albums and options for prints. It's $2.98 to have your order mailed to you and they usually come within 2 days! If you're a new customer, they offer you 30 free 4x6 prints, how nice! The quality is good and they're very quick. A+

The thing I like most about Out of the Closet? Their t-shirts mean what they mean. Most t-shirts…read moredon't. You buy a t-shirt with an astronaut holding a boom box, you're probably not that keen on either astornauts OR boom boxes. But if you buy a t-shirt with a New Order album cover on, it's probably because you like New Order (okay, or because you want to be seen as the type of person who likes New Order). That kind of principle applies to most of what OTC sells. Whether it's good or not, whether it's cheap or not, none of it seems to be trading on aspirational branding. These are clothes to wear or to look good in, not to show how hooked into the cultural superstructure you are. They offer a mix of vintage and new clothes, and some of it can be a little pricey, but I'd still rather this than the manufactured white noise most places seem to sell these days.

It's been a while since I've popped into a vintage clothing store, so when I passed Out Of The…read moreCloset I thought I'd drop in. Their range is quite large, especially for guys. Their range of leather and denim jackets is pretty decent, plus some men's tweed suits which I tried to see if I could pull off, but the fit wasn't right. I did end up with a very cute navy and white pleated skirt that is reminiscent of the skirt Ann Reinking wears in the 'let's go to the movies' song scene of the 1982 film Annie. Let's just say the way that pleated skirt moved while she danced has stuck with me, so I'm beyond stoked to have my own similar number to wear now.

Ever wonder what 'TSL' in Bonds TSL stands for? Despite the fact that I buy all my bonds…read morenecessities here, I've never known what it meant. Today however, I felt the need to. And as it is, 'TSL' stands for Tiepermann Stores Limited - a privately owned Australian company that sells Australian iconic brands. Arhh... mystery solved thanks to the well-informed staff at the Prahran store. I absolutely love Bonds TSL mainly because I can get the full range of Bonds here - from hoodies to jumper to yoga pants and the more intimate pieces, this store is a must-visit for all Bonds-addicts. It also carries a good range of the men's Bonds but more importantly, you can get discounts and specials on various items at different times of the year. Bonds TSL also carries a selection of great bedding - from sheets to doonas and pillows plus a selection of bathroom gear to kit your home with. I also love the bargain pyjama sets and selection of Bonds minis for kiddies.

TSL is a great place to go for those clothes that you "need" such as good socks, undies and…read morepajamas. With lots of cheap Bonds clothes as well as good quality bedroom and bathroom products, I always go there when I'm running low on these essential items. TSL is also good (mothers) for when you need to buy socks and underwear for your teenage son, as all the products are simple and cool where it's the "never-fail" option. Take my word for it!