I've been visiting Retrostar for many years and never do I leave empty handed. Up the stairs…read more(opposite Subway) you'll find a treasure trove of vintage delights. Prices range from a couples of dollars for small pieces of imported plastic jewellery through to over a hundred for the right pair of cowboy boots. Plenty of modern interesting items too, such a satchel bags and pre-loved Chucks. Staff are friendly enough, but leave you to make your own discoveries. You'll need to have an idea what you are looking for, or you will be overwhelmed by the volume of items. The general price for vintage clothes and bags isn't cheap, but Retrostar pay rent for a city store, and have done the work finding individual pieces - this isn't SAVERS! Lay-by is available for a non-refundable 25% deposit. Make sure you inspect your item carefully, as their return policy is for a 3 month store credit only. Keep an eye out for their "garage sales" that pop up in Brunswick sometimes - everything is $10 but it sells FAST!

In vast contrast to the little Harry Wragg downstairs is the behemoth that is Retrostar…read more Housed in a fairly large space, Retrostar seems to make no effort to select their stock carefully, instead they cram as much as humanly possible into the store. Even with floor to ceiling racks and barely any walking space between yet more stuff, often their offerings spill out into the hallway outside the store. I pride myself on my ability to stay focused and hunt through rack after rack of junk to find that one gem, but even then... Retrostar takes it a bit far (oh hey, that rhymed!). My advice: unless you know what you want (a coat, a check shirt, etc) steer clear of Retrostar. If you have a clear idea as to what you're looking for though, chances are you'll find it here.

I always wondered why 'Marcs' had two stores in one shopping complex, wasn't til a few months of…read moreshopping there i realised it's actually one store but split across two levels. The women's store can be accessed from Level 1 and the Men's on Level 2 (You can just walk up / down a flight of stairs if you need both), both stores provide excellent fashions that will keep everyone looking. I've shopped here a few times (hundreds of times at marcs in general), I just love their designs, they stand out but still remain minimalist, there's no tacky writing across shirts, it's all about stripes and shapes, plain and simple. Their pricing is pretty is not cheap, but it's nothing crazy. Well worth a shop if you like well designed, quality items. I've held onto every garment i've bought from Marcs, because their designs are so fresh yet minimilist, you can wear them at different occasions, for (i'd like to think) ever.

It's very nautical at Marc's this season. And I don't mind it, very cutesy Cape Cod style. But I…read moredon't love it that much that I'd pay the prices here. If you're into the sailor look, in a very classy way of course and you can afford the $, its worth a look at the selection of three quarter skirts, wide short shorts, singlets, shirts and dresses. They are all pretty much nautical and preppy looking and make a statement in navy and white stripes, or plain white in very pretty styles. Bags and accessories are a complete NO NO!! Ugly and exorbitantly priced.

Puf 'n' Stuff is easily one of Melbourne's cutest vintage stores! Unlike a lot of second hand…read morestores where you have to trawl through racks and racks of nasty 90's dresses with worn out fabrics, Puf 'n' Stuff is so well curated you get nothing but the good stuff! As Arabella has already mentioned, the clothes here are well organised, so if you've got a particular style you're after then bingo - you just head to the appropriate rack. It's kinda like a time-saving set up, while you're also engaging in a bit of money-saving and of course planet-saving! Awesome. The printed frocks at Puf 'n' Stuff are a real highlight - if you're after a new dress for a picnic or even a day wedding but need to save a few pennies, it's the place to find something fun and unique without ripping out the credit card. I love it!

Gertrude Street boutique Puf 'n' Stuff may sound like a fine purveyor of some pretty illicit…read moresmoking substances, but it's actually a very welcome import from Sydney and hands down one of Fitzroy's best vintage shops. Although Puf 'n' Stuff is good across the board, its range of accessories is particularly noteworthy. After an Art Deco glomesh clutch bag for a ridiculously cheap $65? Go to Puf 'n' Stuff. Fancy a vintage Givenchy LBD for about the quarter of the price of elsewhere? Ditto. One of the most interesting - and individual - things about Puf 'n' Stuff is the way the stock is displayed. Not for Puf 'n' Stuff the hodge podge of stock in a variety of disparate styles and drawn from a maelstrom of eras as per Melbourne's other vintage shops. No, no. Puf 'n' Stuff's stock is displayed almost thematically so you'll find a clutch of polka dot tea frocks next to one another, a small rack devoted entirely to vintage denim shirts, one to crochet and guipure lace and another to fringing. Sure, I may like rifling through the odd mixed rail but Puf 'n' Stuff's clever approach to displaying its stock takes a lot of the guesswork and elbow grease out of vintage shopping, and that, I welcome. Prices are very competitive for what is some pretty premium vintage fashion and staff are a little cursorily friendly but friendly all the same. An incredible vintage shop.

With various outlets around Melbourne, namely two on Acland Street, European label Claude D'Alban…read moreprovides women's up to date fashions and accessories from around the world at very competitive prices. Perfect for that last minute outfit, Claude D'Alban not only stocks gorgeous dresses and skirts for formal occasions, but a huge variety of basics and staples for every wardrobe. In store, you'll find all the latest trends for the current season, as well a range of fascinators, hats and accessories for seasonal events like the races. Expect to pay between $29.95-$49.95 for dresses and even less for sale items. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful when it comes to getting advice and showing you to new items, and the bags that your new purchases come in are environmentally friendly and reusable. Certainly a store I will be returning to for future bargains.

I love browsing through the store and finding amazing deals. I feel like a child in a chocolate…read moreshop when I go in here. Some of the items are quite expensive (for my taste at least) but I love being able to find long sleeve shirts that I can wear under other shirts for $10 or even just plain short sleeved shirts for $10. I've also found some really good deals on really nice dresses and of course have stocked my wardrobe up with them! The clothes do tend to run small so whatever size you normally wear, you'd have to add a size which then makes you feel even bigger than you really are, but at least they aren't as expensive as some of the places on Acland Street!

Sisca is one of the more successful boutiques along Burke Road. It has been open for a while now…read morebecause I remember girls at school raving about the dresses, so it was a bit of a blast from the past to go back here and check it out again. First, I would like to mention the service. In boutique fashion stores it is always a worry that you may end up with a snobbish and rude sales assistant. Thankfully this wasn't the case at Sisca at all. The sales assistant was lovely, helpful and quick to greet me. I was also impressed by how she was managing the store - she was quick to help customers and more than happy to have a chat with me about the opening hours. The clothes are fantastic, think bright oranges and blues for the coming summer, and there is a wide range of cocktail dresses, maxis, shirts and skirts. Sisca stocks some great brands including Minkpink, Cooper St, True Religion and Wish.

Great service, a wide selection of styles to choose from and good value for money. Will be a return…read morecustomer.

Cutest clothes and terrific service!! Love all their fun patterns and unique designs. I spent so…read moremuch money because I loved soooo many pieces. Billie who works there was sooo sweet and helpful in getting me other sizes and making suggestions of other things I might like while I was trying things off. If you 1) like bright, bold colors and patterns 2) like a retro look or 3) like a gothy look they will absolutely have something for you as they fit all three vibes.

Hello Gorgeous is a unique women's clothing store, tehy have a great range of fashionable dresses,…read moreskirts, blouses and coats. Their range is very girly and feminine lots of soft, dusky colours, flowy material and sweetly patterned garments. The store is set up well making it very easy to browse through the entire collections, the garments are usually separated into colours and arranged accordingly. Hello Gorgeous also has a range of quirky shoes and accessories that are all very unique in appearance allowing the shop to have a real boutique and chic kind of feel. The staff here are also very friendly they don't harass you like some clothing stores, but are happy to help you out or offer suggestions.

Sylvia's Fashions is the kind of shop my Mum would love. It is for older women and has a large…read morevariety of styles. There are clothing sizes ranging from size 8- 24 so literally anyone can fit into something from here. As well as the variety of size they also have clothing to suit every occasion with dress, casual and formal options. The staff here are very helpful although they tend to focus their attention on one customer and anyone else will have to wait for quite a while. This can be a little annoying, particularly if you only have a quick question or if you are waiting to pay. If you're the one who is being helped though, it is pretty fantastic. The shop itself is clean and well set out. There is enough lighting and it had a fresh feel. Why only three stars? Well it isn't my kind of shop, but it would be great for people like my Mum who dress differently to me. Also I didn't get served for about ten minutes and there was another lady waiting with me who was getting quite irritated. Otherwise the store is fantastic.