All the bright shiny beautiful things are here. In one convenient location…read more Despite my desires I'm not a big spender here. Recently a Christmas gift necklace broke and needed some loving. The staff were lovely to deal with, despite my spend being less than $50. At no point did I feel like a little fish in a big fish pond. My necklace was sent off for repair and my charm came back looking better than when it was brand new.

So it's Tiffany's and we are all aware of the reputation it has. I've been here a few times, and…read moreI've always been either intimidated at the thought of shopping here or outraged at the prices of the jewellery where you are paying for marketing and puff. Also I always feel underdressed each time I walk in here, so you know I'm on the back foot each time feeling like an imposter even though I'm sure I make more money than the girl working behind the counter. Anyway, the staff are lovely and none are stuck up, the store is well presented and very different to any other jewellery store around.. but they don't sell gold chains. Isn't that a riot? They sell pendants and other stuff, but if you want a simple gold chain this is not the store you are looking for.

A smaller outpost of the excellent Shag Vintage boutique, the Shag Vintage shop within the…read moreCenterway Arcade just near Flinders is arguably the best clothing-wise. Sure, Shag's Brunswick Street shop may stock the most dizzying range of the shop's signature modern costume jewellery and nothing really beats the Fitzroy store's legendary window displays, but the Centerway Arcade store has some of the choicest bits of vintage clothing I've seen yet in a Shag boutique. From vintage Valentino suit jackets to seventies Chanel shirts, old sixties opera coats to just the prettiest vintage silk kimonos, Shag is a vintage store for people who love real vintage. Not for Shag the generic poly garbage that runs amok in so many of Melbourne's other vintage boutiques, this place stocks only the best fashions of yesteryear. Granted, Shag may be tiny but stock turnover is seemingly high, making a regular visit obligatory and impulsive vintage shopping a must. As if you needed another excuse.

Staff are weird and cold. However the pieces are excellent and interesting. The place is definitely…read moreworth a browse. Their window displays are lovely too.

It is very easy to get the vibe of a music shop wrong, especially in today's market, when shopping…read moreonline is often much cheaper. Some music shops make you feel resented, as if 'just browsing' is somehow unacceptable. The "Swoppy", as Melbourne musicians affectionately call it, is a Melbourne Music institution. The staff aren't snooty, pretentious or condescending. They can be a bit 'cool', but not hipster (rare in the inner city). Almost all of what they sell is second hand on consignment (they sell strings etc too at quite competitive prices). Their terms are 20% of the sale price of an instrument, and it can stay there 'til it sells. Their inventory updates to the website live, (or close enough, they don't always get the photos up straight away on busy days) so that every item that is in the store is on the web. It's also possible to get an RSS feed from them, so every new item is emailed to you almost immediately. The bargains can get snapped up quickly, so this is great. I've visited music shops and their websites in the US, Canada, Germany and Japan, and this is unique. Their descriptions of the items are usually precise and helpful, and are often quirky ("BASS GRUNGE! w/box. Replaced switching mechanism. OMG YOLO!"). They have fun, but usually not at the customer's expense, no matter how pointy the guitar is. I've bought and sold through them, and they are fair and honest. The fact that they sell on consignment means they don't tell you what to sell something for, and have no interest in ripping you off, as they aren't reselling it. None of that "sorry, there's not a lot of interest in Strats from the 50s" guff here. When you ask them what they suggest you sell something for, they check with their previous sales and internet listings to see what's reasonable. You can specify a listing price and a lowest price, and they call with offers they're getting from people in the store. Music shops are a bit of a tricky prospect in the inner city, closing or moving or put into receivership, but the only current one I would miss if it moved is the Swop Shop (I still miss Lamberti Brothers in North Melbourne). It's not perfect, but there's very few things I would change.

I have a thing for musical instruments. I just love to collect them, any of them, despite the fact…read moreI can't play. But now, after a long and embarrassing intervention, I've learnt to control my addiction and just look but not buy. Music Swap Shop played an integral part in my past hording. Every time you visit you don't know what you might find, so if you're on the hunt for something in particular check back regularly or log on to their website. It's also a good place to sell off instrument you might have. The guys there are really good to talk to if you need any info. I brought in a saxophone I had picked up from an op-shop to see what condition it was in. They gave it a look over and lucky for me it was in good working order, just not the prettiest they've seen is all.

Operating for as long as I can remember, Drum Power stocks and sells a huge range of Drums for all…read morecalibres of percussionists. From entry level gear to pro kits, Drum Power also have a large range of microphones and pro audio gear on offer, and will match any advertised price. When shopping for my last microphone, the guys let me try out a range of mics in their rehearsal rooms, and helped me make an informed choice. They then went and beat an eBay seller's price on the same mic. Drum Power have recently added a guitar shop and service centre in an adjoining building, and again stock all calibres of guitars. The service is always part of why I go here. Most of the guys working at Drum Power have been doing so since I was 16 and having my mum drop me off at weekend rehearsals. Each member of the staff is a working musician who knows their stuff and can help you get what you need for a good price.

I have been a customer at Drumpower for many years now. As a drummer who has been playing for a…read morelong time I have shopped at most of the drum stores in Victoria, and Drumpower has become my shop of choice now. Their great stock of high end products such as Sonor and the fact that you are dealing with drum "enthusiasts" rather than salesmen keeps me a loyal patron. They are one of the most competitive stores in Melbourne and have also done great deals for my fellow band members on Guitars, amps, mics and PAs etc. The staff have great product knowledge and are very helpful and are willing to source stuff that they don't have in stock. I often recommend Drumpower, but most people I find are loyal customers already. There is a good reason for that!

I adore this shop…read more In the heart of South Melbourne, this cute little shop features an awesome range of clothes, accessories and homewares. They also feature a wide range of Elk Accessories - I pop in there regularly to have a look at the latest range and ooh and ahh over the latest hipster pieces and pick up a couple of new ones. I have 45 now. Must stop. Recommend you pay this place a visit if you're in the hood and need to pick up a present - for you or someone else.

One of my favourite stores for buying gifts. There's quirky nick nacks, Australian body products,…read morefunky leather bags and pretty homewares to brighten up your house. The staff are always really pleasant and happy to gift wrap your purchases - a big win in my book.

No matter your style, Harry Wragg is hard not to like. Combining very carefully selected vintage…read morepieces sourced from all over the world with locally made one-off pieces courtesy of fashion students, Harry Wragg is a treasure trove of pieces just waiting to find their way into your wardrobe. Having had the pleasure of vintage shopping all over the world, I can honestly say Harry is up there with some of the best stores of a similar ilk in the likes of Paris, London and New York. Sure, the store may be tiny but why do you need lots of space when everything in it is so lovely? Now excuse me whilst I prepare my best Jerry Springer crowd voice... Go HARRY! Go HARRY! Go HARRY! Go HARRY!

Hawthorn Indoor Sports is the perfect place to perfect your cricket game especially during the off…read moreseason. I've been coming here for pre-season training sessions for over 10 years. The staff are really friendly and also really know their stuff. If you're looking to get expert cricket coaching for yourself or your children then I'd highly recommend this as a good place to come. The nets are always in good condition and they have really good bowling machines. They also have a small shop attached with a decent range of the latest bats, pads, shoes and other gear. If you get on their email list they put out a clearance sale once a year (just before start of season) and get rid of all the old stock and I've found that's usually the best time to pick up a pretty good bargain.

Oke were recommended by a friend for repairs and they did a great job. Very clean fix. And they…read moreeven fix SUPs!