Where to shop for local style in Melbourne

The citizens of Melbourne are proud of many of the city’s elements, including its coffee, bar culture, creative community and unique sense of style. Those final two are both found in the Victorian capital’s many shops, boutiques and markets, where founders and designers have a laser focus on their unique selling points.

No matter which part of Melbourne you explore, you can discover never-ending reasons to reach into your pocket. Short on time? Stick to the CBD. Apart from the boutiques we’ve suggested, head to level two of Emporium Melbourne for Australian designer stores. A favourite outing with locals is a relaxed amble, with numerous stops for coffee, along Gertrude and Smith streets in Fitzroy. Then there’s the eclectic mix of vintage boutiques, bridal stores and Middle Eastern eateries along Brunswick’s Sydney Road. For a more upmarket experience, catch the tram to High Street, Armadale, where you can browse for luxury fashion, homewares and beauty products.

Where to shop in the CBD

Alpha60

Best for: Classic womenswear with flair
Address: 201 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Brother and sister design duo Alex and Georgie Cleary have been making their mark on Melbourne’s fashion scene since 2004. Each season, sophisticated pieces with unexpected detailing – beautiful prints, raw seams, modest cut-outs, intricate pleating – arrive in store and are worn for many years by the women who purchase them. While there are Alpha60 stores dotted across Melbourne, the Chapter House location is almost a destination in itself. Set next door to St Paul’s Cathedral up two flights of stairs, it has vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows and a baby grand piano, with the collection displayed on an army of mannequins.

Vault

Best for: Lovers of high-end vintage fashion
Address: Shop 15, Block Arcade, 282 Collins Street, Melbourne

It’s hard not to hold your breath in anticipation as you walk into this boutique, run by the Victorian arm of the National Trust of Australia. Garments here date back to the 1920s and you can never be sure if there’ll be a Jean Varon sundress from the 1970s, a Ponce de Léon-style dress coat from the 1940s, or a rare Gianni Versace silk shirt from the 1980s on the racks. The clothes, shoes, jewellery and accessories are carefully selected from donations and turn over with alarming speed. The good news is you’ll often find pieces by Australian designers from the past.

dot COMME

Best for: Fashionable free thinkers
Address: Levels 3 and 4, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

What was once an online store now occupies unique spaces across two floors of Curtin House. Dubbed a ‘vertical laneway’, the art nouveau building, constructed in 1923 and previously home to a fancy members’ club and the Communist Party, was restored in the early 2000s and is now home to bars, stores and restaurants on every floor. On two of them, dot COMME founder Octavius ‘Otto’ la Rosa sources archival pieces by labels such as Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, Walter Van Bierendonck and Yohji Yamamoto – mostly in Japan, but also locally from his customers. Street and everyday wear is found in the boutique on level three, which features furniture by Mark Newson, while the dot COMME Collection is displayed in a high-gloss futurist fit out on level four. About a hundred garments are on display at any one time, with another 1,500 or so behind a concealed door.

Pieces of Eight

Best for: Hunters of small treasures
Address: Shop 27, Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke Street, Melbourne

When she began her business in 2005, jeweller Melanie Katsalidis likely never suspected that within two decades her jewellery gallery would be a go-to for collectors around the world. The work of more than 30 mostly Australian designers is displayed here, and exhibitions and artist talks are also held. The pieces range from conceptual art objects to sophisticated pieces for a wedding. Artist Belinda Esperson takes inspiration and details from the Australian bush, while Katsalidis herself has been working with Australian opals in recent collections. A bespoke design service is also available.

Christian Kimber

Best for: Men of style
Address: 149 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

After studying at the London School of Fashion, Christian Kimber moved to Melbourne and launched a small collection of footwear and accessories in 2014. A following soon developed and Kimber released a ready-to-wear collection in 2016. In doing so, he developed what many call the ‘Australian aesthetic’: wearable layers from polo shirts to overcoats, relaxed yet smart trousers, and stylish boots and loafers, all in high-quality materials that withstand the test of time. Knowing that many men avoid shopping completely, Kimber worked with designer Brahman Perera to create a space they would “actually want to be in”, with the launch of his city store in 2024. Denim-blue wall tiles, wood panelling, moss-green carpeting and open closets in place of racks provide a luxe yet relaxed feel. But it’s the addition of banquette seating and stylish tables and chairs, where men can flick through fabric samples or do some work while they’re waiting for their appointment, that are both practical and welcoming. These added comforts, and its central location, are ideal for Kimber’s interstate and international client base – including Olympian Mack Horton and Succession’s Brian Cox – who travel for their made-to-measure appointments.

Where to shop in Brunswick

Dejour Jeans

Best for: Denim disciples
Address: 542 Sydney Road, Brunswick

This nondescript store, which opened in 1989, was once something of a secret; until about five years ago, only in-the-know Melburnians came here for affordable, quality denim jeans, but the word is out. Here, the shelves are packed to the ceiling with every style of denim imaginable in a range of shades, although flannel overshirts and activewear – again, at excellent prices – have been added to the mix. There are just two changing rooms and the weekends are hectic, but if you’re willing to go on a weekday or spend a few hours, you’ll be rewarded with 75 AUD (50 USD) pairs of jeans. The best part is you can get free onsite alterations. It takes about 45 minutes when the store’s not heaving, but luckily there are plenty of places for coffee, lunch or a beer nearby.

Clothing the Gaps

Best for: Making a political statement
Address: 744 Sydney Road, Brunswick

If you want your hard-earned cash to go to good causes, check out Clothing the Gaps, a First Nations profit-for-purpose fashion company. Founded by community health worker and Gunditjmara woman Laura Thompson and her business partner Sarah Sheridan, the company’s clothing and merchandise designs come with a message. One of the best sellers is the ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ T-shirt, which references the enduring custodianship First Nations people have with the land, challenging the notion of terra nullius (the idea that Australia was nobody’s land, used by the British to justify their colonisation of the country). Most designs in-store are ally friendly, meaning anyone who shares the messages’ values can wear them. The flagship store is painted with the yellow, black and red Aboriginal flag and most of the staff are Mob (Indigenous Australians), who are happy to chat about the meaning of the designs.

Where to shop in Fitzroy and Collingwood

Happy Valley

Best for: Finding a special something
Address: 294 Smith Street, Collingwood

After decades in independent retail in Fitzroy and Collingwood, owner Chris Crouch knows what people who inhabit this hip part of Melbourne are drawn to. That’s why his store, with its edited collection of new-release books, independent magazines, art prints, vinyl records and local homewares and accessories, is always buzzing with customers. You could spend hours flicking through the latest vinyl or choosing a gift for a friend. A great option for taking back overseas is one of Gentle Habits’ perfume oils, made in Melbourne and inspired by coastal towns – Noosa, for instance, combines citrus and woody notes. If you’ve only just arrived here, pick up a book by an Australian author like Trent Dalton or Helen Garner for a crash course in the local culture.

Australian Print Workshop

Best for: Art lovers and collectors
Address: 210 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

You could very well treat a visit to this art organisation as if you were going to a gallery. There are certainly enough fine art pieces hanging on the wall to justify that, but there are also stock drawers holding many more prints. With prices starting at just 100 AUD (65 AUD), it is a great opportunity to take home a limited-edition print from an Australian artist. Richard Lewer creates monochromatic images of local birds, Megan Cope re-creates old maps in two tones, and Patricia Piccinini makes prints depicting her Skywhale hot-air balloon. You may discover the next big thing among the hundreds of artworks on sale.

Shops south of the CBD

July

Best for: Upgrading your travel experience
Address: Ground floor, Chadstone – The Fashion Capital, 1341 Dandenong Road, Malvern East

Luggage brand July launched in 2019, and what came the following year was of course not good news for anyone, including people selling travel goods. Fast forward to today, and July is the name on the lips of stylish travellers looking for personalised carry-on and checked luggage – it was even the official luggage supplier to the Australian Olympic team. The Chadstone store, which opened in October 2024, is the label’s fourth in Melbourne. The walnut burl framing the entry and covering the ceiling is an eye-catching contrast to its high-gloss cherry mirrors and bulkhead. Step across the panel of grey-blue tiling to see the latest collection and colourways, including July’s new bag range, displayed on custom shelving.

SO:ME Space

Best for: Finding the next big thing
Address: South Melbourne Market, 322–326 Coventry Street, South Melbourne

Set in the bustle of South Melbourne Market, SO:ME Space is a retail incubator, showcasing the work of up-and-coming homeware, fashion and accessories designers. There’s a mix of pop-up and permanent stalls, with a focus on sustainable handcrafted goods. Some of the brands you can discover here include La Sierra, which uses alpaca fibre in pieces for the wardrobe and home, and Rhythm Unites, selling ethically sourced musical instruments from around the world. A favourite with regular visitors is one of the permanent stalls called TheSuperCool, which brings together lots of fun and colourful pieces, from fashion to kids’ toys, by Australian designers.

Diida

Best for: Eye-catching party dresses
Address: 1077 High Street, Armadale

Melburnians have a unique style, one that’s usually more understated than glamorous. But when the city’s women need to turn up the wow factor, they turn to Diida. Charcoal-hued timber floors, a sleek black marble counter beneath a chandelier made of dangling bronze chain, and pops of lush green foliage give a luxurious atmosphere to the Armadale store. Founder and creative director Dimitria Diida Papafotiou worked as a buyer and designer across Europe and the USA before launching her label in 2016. Sophisticated and feminine, the collections blend elegant, wearable separates with bodycon dresses that bring the sparkle. Papafotiou leans into her Greek heritage to create clothing that brings out a woman’s confidence, and it’s all made in Melbourne.