Where to shop in Melbourne for local style

Melbourne is known for its creative spirit and unique sense of style, which is reflected in the city’s roster of independent retailers. You’ll find contemporary fine jewellers, local art and fashion, as well as a thriving vinyl culture.

Where to shop in Melbourne

All across Melbourne you’ll find tempting reasons to reach into your pocket. Short on time? Stick to the Central Business District (CBD), where laneways are dotted with independent boutiques and some of the city’s best bars. For vintage shopping and eclectic boutiques, spend a day exploring Fitzroy. Alternatively, catch the tram to High Street, Armadale, to browse upscale fashion, homeware and beauty from Australian brands such Bec + Bridge and Aje, as well as leading bridal boutiques.

The best shops in the CBD

Alpha60

Best for: Homegrown womenswear
Address: 201 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Brother and sister design duo Alex and Georgie Cleary launched Alpha60 in 2005, naming it after Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 sci-fi classic Alphaville. Today, the brand continues to draw inspiration from art and film, with several stores across Australia and New Zealand. Designed in Collingwood, collections feature sophisticated pieces with unexpected detailing – you’ll find beautiful prints, raw seams, modest cut-outs and intricate pleating. While there are Alpha60 stores dotted across Melbourne, the Chapter House location has the edge, located next door to St Paul’s Cathedral with vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows and a baby grand piano.

dot COMME

Best for: Rare Japanese and Belgian fashion
Address: Levels 3 and 4, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Dot COMME occupies two floors of Curtin House, an art nouveau building turned thriving hub for bars, restaurants and boutiques. Founder and obsessive collector Octavius ‘Otto’ la Rosa sources archival pieces by Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, Walter Van Bierendonck and Yohji Yamamoto, and his collections are considered among the best in the world. Pieces are reverently displayed in a high-gloss, gallery-like space and priced accordingly. Street and everyday wear is found in the boutique on level three, which also features furniture by Mark Newson. 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: Contemporary fine jewellery
Address: Shop 27, Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke Street, Melbourne

This jewellery trove is curated by Melanie Katsalidis and primarily spotlights Australian designers. You’ll find conceptual art objects alongside engagement rings, diamond-encrusted huggie hoop earrings and statement chains. Highlights include fine jewellery by Seb Brown and Belinda Esperson, while Katsalidis’ own collection draws inspiration from the Australian landscape (the glowing opals cradled in molten gold deserve attention). A bespoke design service is also available.

Christian Kimber

Best for: Menswear, bespoke suiting
Address: 149 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

After studying at the London College of Fashion, English designer Christian Kimber relocated to Melbourne and launched a modest collection of footwear and accessories, followed by ready-to-wear. In doing so, he helped define what many call the ‘Australian aesthetic’: wearable layers from polo shirts to overcoats, relaxed yet smart trousers, and stylish boots and loafers, all made from high-quality materials to withstand the test of time. Knowing that many men avoid shopping completely, Kimber worked with designer Brahman Perera to create a retail space they men “actually want to be in”, launching his city store in 2024. Denim-blue wall tiles, wood panelling, moss-green carpeting and open closets in place of racks create a laidback, luxurious setting. 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 particularly practical and welcoming. These thoughtful touches, combined with the store’s central location, cater to Kimber’s interstate and international client base – including Olympian Mack Horton and Succession’s Brian Cox – who travel for their made-to-measure appointments.

Marais Men

Best for: Global designer labels for men and women
Address: QV Melbourne, Shop sw288/286 Swanston Street, 3000

Australian department stores aren’t in the fashion league of their European counterparts – there is no equivalent to Selfridges, for example. But we certainly have our fair share of fashion fans who like to browse the latest Givenchy looks or pick up a pair of Tabis when the mood takes. The curated multi-brand Marais boutiques are Melbourne’s answer to Colette (RIP), Dover St Market or Parlour X in Sydney. There are separate men’s and women’s stores, with the former standing out for its directional streetwear offering – think playful Japanese brand Doublet and the buzzy South Korean Thug Club.

The best shops in Brunswick

Dejour Jeans

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

This unassuming 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. The word is now out, and locals and travellers alike flock to Brunswick to sift through shelves stacked high to the ceiling with every style of denim imaginable. Flannel overshirts and activewear have been added to the mix, all at excellent price points. There are just two changing rooms and weekends can be hectic. We recommend visiting midweek and dedicating at least an hour to finding your dream denim, with most jeans priced around 75 USD. Onsite alterations are offered free of charge and typically take about 45 minutes when the store’s not heaving. There are plenty of places for coffee, lunch or a beer nearby, while a seamstress works her magic.

Clothing the Gaps

Best for: Making a political statement
Address: Shop 18/459a Sydney Road, Brunswick

Clothing the Gaps is a First Nations profit-for-purpose fashion company, founded by community health worker and Gunditjmara woman Laura Thompson and her business partner Sarah Sheridan. Bestsellers include the ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ slogan T-shirt, which references the enduring custodianship First Nations people have over the land and challenges the notion of terra nullius (the idea that Australia was “nobody’s land”, used by the British to justify colonisation). Most designs in-store are ally friendly, meaning anyone who shares the brand’s values can wear them. The Brunswick flagship store is painted in the yellow, black and red Aboriginal flag and most of the staff are Mob (Indigenous Australians), who are happy to share the stories and meanings behind each design.

Dussy

Best for: Queer creativity
Address: 6a Saxon Street, Brunswick, 3065

The splashy floral window decals set the tone of this exuberant community endeavour by celebrated young Mauritian Australian fashion designer Erik Yvon (Alok Vaid Menon is a fan). Opened in 2025 as “a space for independent designers centring Queer and POC-owned brands”, Dussy focuses on dopamine dressing, size inclusivity and collaborations with like-minded creatives. Right now that means outsized velvet tracksuits and sporty tops upcycled from prints used in a previous collection. The vibes are determinedly feel-good – think a faux fur-covered jewellery bar, mauve velvet curtains, house plants – but there’s a serious message here: as big brands grew ever more generic and disconnected, the world needs authenticity. Imperfect, maybe a little rough around the edges, and all the better for it.

The best shops in Fitzroy and Collingwood

Happy Valley

Best for: Books, vinyl, gifts
Address: 294 Smith Street, Collingwood

After decades in independent retail in Fitzroy and Collingwood, Happy Valley owner Chris Crouch knows what draws people to this hip part of Melbourne. His store is always buzzing with customers, who come for his sharp edit of books, independent magazines, art prints, vinyl records and homeware. You could spend hours flicking through the latest vinyl or choosing a gift for a friend. A suitcase-friendly highlight is the range of perfume oil by Gentle Habits, made in Melbourne and inspired by coastal towns. If you’ve only just arrived in the city, pick up a book by an Australian author like Trent Dalton or Helen Garner for a crash course in the local culture.

ESS Lab

Best for: Modern heirloom clothing
Address: 114 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, 3065

Can a clothes shop reduce your stress? If that sounds unlikely, try visiting ESS Lab and see how you feel after watching maestro Hoshika Oshimi at work. She’s often found at the cutting table which, rather than being hidden in the back, forms part of the experience in this open atelier that really does feel like a balm for the soul. The designer’s somewhat esoteric approach – she talks about “exploring the dialectical complexities of illusion and reality” – belies the good old-fashioned wearability of her clothes for both men and women. Her pieces are tactile, timeless and all made in-house from the loveliest quality natural fibres. You can intellectualise this if that’s your jag, but you can also just revel in feeling good in your new jacket. And should you tear it somehow (or are just looking for an excuse to spend more time in Oshimi’s orbit) ESS Lab offers a repair service.

Australian Print Workshop

Best for: Local art
Address: 210 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

At this not-for-profit art organisation, original fine art prints are framed on the walls, while more prints are ordered in drawers below. Prices start from 100 AUD (65 AUD), making it a great spot to pick up a limited-edition print from an Australian artist. Highlights include Mervyn Street’s bullback riders; Richard Lewer’s monochromatic images of local birds and Patricia Piccinini depictions of a Skywhale hot-air balloon. You may discover the next big thing among the hundreds of artworks on sale.

ESS Lab

Best for: Modern heirloom clothing
Address: 114 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, 3065

Can a clothes shop reduce your stress? If that sounds unlikely, try visiting ESS Lab and see how you feel after watching maestro Hoshika Oshimi at work. She’s often found at the cutting table which, rather than being hidden in the back, forms part of the experience in this open atelier that really does feel like a balm for the soul. The designer’s somewhat esoteric approach – she talks about “exploring the dialectical complexities of illusion and reality” – belies the good old fashioned wearability of her clothes for both men and women. Her pieces are tactile, timeless and all made in-house from the loveliest quality natural fibres. You can intellectualise this if that’s your jag, but you can also just revel in feeling good in your new jacket. And should you tear it somehow (or are just looking for an excuse to spend more time in Oshimi’s orbit) ESS Lab offers a repair service.

Shops south of the CBD

SO:ME Space

Best for: Handcrafted homeware and responsibly made clothing
Address: South Melbourne Market, 322–326 Coventry Street, South Melbourne

SO:ME Space is set in the bustle of South Melbourne Market (open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am). A retail incubator, it showcases work by up-and-coming designers across fashion and homeware. There’s a mix of pop-up and permanent stalls, with a focus on sustainable handcrafted goods. Among the brands you’ll find are La Sierra, which crafts clothing and homeware from luxurious alpaca fibre, and Rhythm Unites, where you can pick up singing bowls, drums and percussion instruments with a focus on mental wellbeing. A perennial favourite is TheSuperCool, a vibrant curation of children’s clothing and toys by Australian designers.