There is nothing better than a shop that is designed for impulse purchases. Hut 13 is a very cute…read morelittle gift shop that has a range of tempting items both sourced from local artists and from overseas. I recently popped in whilst waiting for my brunch to arrive from the yummy Sardine café next door. I was in need of a silly little gift for an international friend of mine that was visiting. What better to get her than a unique little notepad that fans out into the shape of an apple. They also had a really cute little rabbit that was covered in fake grass that caught my eye. Maybe I'll go back and get that for my desk.

My Range located near the corner of Bourke and Queen Street in Melbourne City is a narrow little…read moregift store with a big heart. Whenever I am last minute gift hunting (hope my friends don't see this) in the city, this is my go-to place. But be warned, there are heaps of gimmicks and clever little things so try and stick to your cause and buy you gift. I have to admit, I've been side tracked before and ended up buying some cheeky baby rompers for my nephew and a scarf for myself. That's the good thing about this store, it's stocked well enough to offer a wide range of products for all sorts of characters - from funky alternative sorts to mainstream lovers to those that appreciate a little humour. I'm a sucker for bird-motif items so this gets me everytime.

Pretty cool gift shop with a really adorable range of babywear. I bought my expecting best friend…read morean "as seen on Facebook" little baby jumpsuit thing. It seemed appropriate, as she's documented the entire process online. They've also got a range of rubber duckies in all sizes, colours and patterns, so you can have your very own Ernie impersonation party in your very own bath. Service is friendly and helpful, and the prices are definitely in the "gift" range rather than the "practical purchase" range. As I said, pretty cool, and worth a look around if you're after a gift for someone who already has all the practical things.

The first time I passed this store, the window was filled with gorgeous and colourful little model…read morehot air balloons. Which kind of added a bit of confusion to the huge 'Global Ballooning' web site sprawled across the side of the store. It's actually a lovely little gift store inside. No idea if they're associated with actual hot air balloons, but the model ones are really pretty and would look equally nice in an office or kids' room. Really nice collection of ceramics, jewellery, homewares, cards, other 'gifty' things and home furnishings. The kind of place you beeline to for Mother's Day, housewarming, baby shower, or friends birthday. Also totally worthy of a treat yo' self shop. I have been guilty of finding more things for me than others when gift shopping here! There's usually some nice Skipping Girl and tram themed Melbourne memorabilia if you're visiting. Definitely one of the nicer stores on Swan Street and worth ducking in to if you're in the area.

I found this place the other weekend after a breakfast down the road with my mum and partner. I saw…read morethe stuffed toy meerkats from the other side of the road and decided that we had to go in. The space is very open and relaxed, this seemed surprising to me considering the sheer amount of stock that is in this store. There are a lot of products that you can find in Lily and the Weasel, from Skipping Girl pillows to hanging glass vases, skull earrings to soft toy lambs. I adore the eclectic mix and thought it was great that the store promoted a whimsical and nostalgic view through the cute animals and stationary, as well as funky and interesting glassware and home décor I think that the jewellery is exquisite and there is a great variety of metals and styles. From delicate silver studs to funky resin rings, there are quirky little bird pendants, and flashy skull studs. I am actually waiting for a call from them at the moment about a giant white ceramic owl lamp that has a golden glow when turned on. They had Scottie dog, bunny and doe versions - but once I knew that there was an owl I was sold. The prices ranged from $120 - $150. I have to say that the service is brilliant. The sales assistant who was working when I went in was charming and helpful. She managed to juggle a couple of customers and a Whole Sale rep that was visiting. Keep an eye out for Lily and the Weasel, the sales assistant even mentioned that they had just had a photo shoot done for Frankie magazine.

As far as gift/homewares shops go, I think Urban Attitude is the most fun. Filled with so much…read morestuff that absolutely no one will ever 'need', but is fun to have. Makes it a great place to go gift hunting if you're unsure what to get someone. I love their collection of designer cards. They're a bit out there and random, which is how I like my gift cards. No soppy Hallmark greetings for me, thanks. The stuff you can find here is genuinely fun/random/hipster, not like the cheap knock off/trying-too-hard stuff you find at other larger stores *cough* Typo *cough* The staff are lovely to boot and will help you track down something quirky be it poster art, wallets, toys, kitchen ware or maybe a T-Rex lamp.

I love love love this store! Full of super cute, fun and quirky things, Urban Attitude is great for…read morebuying gifts, finding unique things to fill your home with, and taking everyday things and turning them into something special. Take for example the best knife block holder I' ve ever seen...Its a silhouette of a person ( I like the one in fire engine red) with six or seven slits throughout the body, so when you put your knives in they look like they are going through the body..... okay, I just re-read that, and now I sound like a crazy person who thinks stabbing people is awesome. AWKWARD......But seriously its really cool. When you walk into the St Kilda store, you feel off balance, until you realise that it is the shelves and design of the store that is off balance, not yourself. I think it really suits the concept they are going for. Definitely go check it out.

If your Dad loves inflatable animals like my Dad, then this is THE place to go for your Fathers Day…read moreshopping trip. I'm really not exaggerating. From here I have bought: - 2 inflatable penguins - 1 inflatable kangaroo - 1 inflatable tyrannosaurus rex - 1 inflatable brontosaurus - 1 inflatable platypus The range here is fabulous to say the least. They also had a giant inflatable whale at one point but I had to reconcile the temptation for the practicality of not having enough space. Aside from these great inflatable items the store also has some really groovy stuff. I once bought a plant that with daily tlc grew into a giant beanstalk with a message on the leaf. These are really good pressies for friends or loved ones as the gift lasts a lot longer than just a day. The staff here are helpful, the stock is exciting, and most importantly, they tend to get new inflatable animals once every three months or so! Can't wait to see what they bring out next.... fingers crossed for a giant Octopus!

This is one of those shops that I always check out. Being apparently no fun as a shopping partner…read morefor my wife, I'm usually told to make myself scarce and occupy myself for an hour or sixteen while my wonderful better half does whatever it is she does during all that time. Invariably, I'll come in here. There's always something really cool to have a look at. I like to have a look at the telescopes and that sort of thing. This place is awesome if you're shopping for a present for kids. The toys that are sold here are educational and generally decent quality.

The Amber Palace is a shop full of all things beautiful for the home. There are great vases and I…read morefound a lovely paperweight that would have suited my desk perfectly. I also found some really cute baby toys but they were quite expensive at $36 for a stuffed, albeit hand made, rabbit. It was pretty cute but as I don't have a baby and I would have no use for it, I kept looking. There were some cardigans made out of high quality fabric, which were quite nice. Again though they were a bit too expensive considering how plain they were. The store had a nice design and the staff member behind the counter was very helpful when answering my questions. This would be a good place to go to get some new accessories to impress some guests to your home. Or to buy your baby a designer rabbit toy. There are plenty more reasons to visit of course, but those seem like the most mainstream.

I don't have children, but I still visit this shop regularly. Think Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium,…read morethis toyshop is amazing. It's stuffed full of unique, cute and individual toys that are on a whole-other level to your standard plushies. This place is like a designer toy store, that sells wooden cars, miniature kitchen sets, flat teddies, tin toys, finger puppets and hand puppets all made with the most intricate details. If you've got kids you HAVE to visit this store, even if you don't (like me), visit it anyway. It's a fun place to be in, and every corner holds a childhood surprise. Perfect for finding a unique gift, this place has a timeless environment and the staff are very friendly and helpful. There is also a large selection of children's costumes available for purchase here, as well as adult sized fairy/princess outfits (which the staff wear). Prices here vary, but can be expensive at times; but due to the quality and design of certain products, you wouldn't expect any less.

A small little store that has a big heart, Red Projects is a concept store that has a kaleidoscope…read moreof home décor from funky wall signs to table lamps to cute bird cages. It's not a large store but Red Projects has managed to pack in quite a lot to see and browse through within the store. Located on busy Acland Street means it gets a wide range of customers from local residents to tourists to students, all looking for quirky homeware or gifts for house proud people. I actually found this shop because I was attracted to the bird houses that were displayed outside. They're great for people who don't have big gardens but still want to include little birdie décor pieces. I also love the Brit inspired décor and union jack memorabilia.

Gorgeous little store with fantastic service & complimentary gift wrapping! If you're looking for a…read moregift with a difference then this is the place to see.