Another store where I can't afford anything. Sigh…read more Nique caters for men and women and has some of the most beautiful clothes I've seen on Glenferrie Road in a long time. The look is sleek and very modern with minimal colours and interesting textures. Both men's and women's wear are gorgeous and made with love and expertise. This is a brand that we should be proud of and was started here in Melbourne - no wonder it is so great! It has more of a European edge to the clothes and makes a nice contrast with some of the lighter and more casual stores along the strip. The space is really interesting - it is only small but they have worked hard to make it appear spacious, and they have succeeded. The clothes are scattered around and there are designated racks for men and women's sale items (yay!). Expect great service, a warm welcome, bold fashion and beautiful fabrics. Bliss.

The Pirate Chest in Mountain Gate Shopping Centre is a treasure trove of all sorts of beautiful…read moregifts for others or yourself. It stocks a large variety of items including handbags, French provincial furniture, jewellery, moneyboxes and candles. My favourite item was a really happy looking pig moneybox. It had a gorgeous funky patterned design painted on it and was only $29.99. A bargain. Owned and run by a husband and wife team, the atmosphere in the shop is really friendly and the service is fabulous. No matter how trivial your query they will take time to make sure that you leave with absolutely everything you need, without being pushy. Some of the bags and accessories in here were a little tacky for my taste but they were cheap and would do well for Kris Kringle presents. The store was laid out well and was very clean. I enjoyed my shopping experience in there as it had a lot of items I hadn't seen anywhere else. Originality is always a good thing. For a slightly nicer gift, the Pirate Chest offers an abundance of options - check them out if your passing by.

Coco Republic takes me to Los Angeles and shops on Melrose Avenue - delightful pieces with a high…read moreend look (yes, you will pay a decent sum for their goods) made with quality and friendly people to boot! Their focus on you and your designs will ensure you will not leave without some excellent recommendations - even if you are not buying at that moment.

Coco Republic is as Ralph Lauren is to fashion - classic designer furniture with a quiet style and…read moreexquisite finish. Walk through the Melbourne showroom and you're guaranteed to be transported to another world. Perhaps it's the large range of classic designer pieces dressed in luxurious fabrics with a high attention to detail that does it, or the warm, inviting ambience that makes you feel so at home. The excellently styled spaces with a clever mix of decor and functional pieces also helps you envision and be inspired when shopping for your home. Whether you're looking to buy a decadent sofa, an exquisite dining table or the crème de la crème of occasional furniture, Coco Republic will impress on all counts. But remember, quality furniture like this belongs in million dollar homes. So if you're like me, perhaps just go there to be inspired and then come back to reality and dream your dream home. You never know, one day, I too might have a Coco republic furnished home. We can have dreams you know!

Every Sunday morning it is worth a stroll along the Esplanade market in St Kilda…read more You'll find lots of local arts and crafts among the stall holders. It's a great place to pick up some St Kilda / Melbourne landscape photography. There's no food at this market but don't panic, Acland St is just a 2 minute walk up the road. Some of the most popular stalls are home made jewellery, hand crafted wooden chopping boards, window wonders, home made soaps and the various art stalls. If the weather is ordinary this place is very exposed and has very little cover. Best avoided if raining.

A new small gift store on Lygon st close to Lady Carolina. It's a handy spot for last minute gifts…read more There's quite a good selection and some discounted goods too. Hampers also available online.

At first I was afraid if writing a good review would make this little jewel get popular but it…read moredeserves it. Organised chaos is the perfect expression of how this place is. Everything is in its little spot and tagged. You just have to manage to find it within the 5000+ square meters of individual 200+ stalls all managed and then paid for at the little counter at the front. It's great! Strangely none of the stalls have their owners there and you haggle with them over the phone! Where you then pass the phone to the front counter so they can take on the new price. It's different but great! If what your looking for is in a locked cabinet, you just head to the counter and tell them the cabinet number and being organised they find it and open it for you. It's lovely. If your looking for those old trinkets or antique decorations to give a little life to your place, this place is the place to go.

Wow! This place is huge. If antiques, second hand, vintage or used is at all your thing then you…read morewill be enthralled and possibly overwhelmed by this place. You'll find all kinds of things from furniture to kitchen wares, vintage clothing, coin collections, books and so on. It's a huge warehouse with many stalls owned by different dealers. Each item has a price tag with the stall number, a description and price attached. Some of the stalls have the dealers phone numbers displayed so you can call and haggle over prices. No phone number means fixed prices. There's a register at the front where you pay for all you finds. Staff are friendly and helpful. At the entrance you'll also find carry baskets to collect as you walk in and a selection of beverages and snacks such as ham and salad rolls. Note, if you're here in winter remember to dress warm as there is no heating and you may find you can't tear yourself in a hurry. The warehouse is set off the street but it's well signed and easy to find. There is off street parking which is necessary as it's a very busy street. I sure I'll be a regular here.

This clever little fashion accessories shop really suits its name. With a keen attention to detail,…read moreit offers Malvern residents a specialist destination to look for quality leather bags, purses, wallets, scarves, and jewellery. And from what I've heard, Detail has quite a following in the area with women who just can't get enough of shoes, bags and accessories. The girls in store are just great! They're honest, helpful and aren't afraid to give you an unbiased opinion about the products you're looking at. And that in itself is priceless! I love the wide range of coloured accessories and matching elements that you can get to jazz up your wardrobe instantly.

I found this place through a friend on Facebook and didn't realise how close it was to me. I was…read morebrowsing on their website and realised they were in Balaclava and couldn't believe how wonderful it was that I didn't have to go to Chaddy for kids presents. This place, although small, had packed as much stuff into their space as possible. If you don't see it there, you can probably find it online, or just ask. Once you walk in, you are greeted straight away. If you're unsure as to what you want, the sales staff will help you find something good based on the age group of the child. When you've decided on whatever gift you'd like to get, they will wrap the present on site, making everything about buying a gift so much easier. The wrapping paper they have is awesome as well, and best of all, they do layby!! You can't ask for a better store, no traffic/parking congestion, friendly staff, reasonable pricing and amazing gifts! Definitely my newest favourite toy shopping place!