There really aren't that many options if you're a bigger girl looking for something to wear out for…read morean evening or a special occasion. Enter City Chic, which cater for sizes 14+ and have some really nice clothing. The garments are a tad on the expensive side, but you'd expect that when there is not much competition around for them. The staff at City Chic are real sized women, so you can actually go in, shop, try on clothes, and actually feel comfortable doing so (there is nothing worse than being served by a size 6 fifteen year old).

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.

always very helpful and friendly faces service, easy to find. Highly recommend to all ages and…read moresizes.

Heidelberg Fancy Dress is one the BIGGEST costume stores I have seen. The location is one street…read moreaway from the ass end of the earth but if you need fake blood/boobs/bats in a hurry this is one place that stocks almost every thing! There are some bizarre head to toe costumes ranging between $55-$70 for a weekend hire or cheaper DIY costume options. There are plastic masks that start at $4 or childrens packet costumes around $40. Its a good costume store in the way it encompasses different sides of the budget and levels of creative commitment, DIY or choose a costume package. The costumes are up to date as well, I saw a hilarious Pirates of the Caribbean costume (that pirate octopus head guy) as well as the classic costumes. Think The Beatles, hippy, vampire, muppet, Gumbi, Spongebob Squarepants. The list goes on.........and on..........and on.

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.

American Rag imports second hand clothing from all over the U.S. If you are looking for some crazy…read morevintage pieces, then this is the place to go to. I'm talking genuine cowboy boots, leather jackets, all kinds of items straight out of a hollywood movie. They tend to stick to great quality pieces, with prices to match. You are not going to find your basic clothing items here, more statement pieces - the type of clothes that will be the topic of conversation and catch a few glances of passers-by. The staff here are not terrible, but they are also not the friendliest service staff I've ever encountered. Oh well. I dont really care - its the stock that draws you, not the service.

If you're a fan of vintage fashion, or just need an outfit for a special themed occasion then…read moreAmerican Rag offers plenty of options. Generally the prices match the very high quality, and with two stores in this area you can be sure to find something from any era that takes your fancy. Need a flapper dress? Sorted. Bell bottom pants? They have that too. The staff here are friendly and will help you dig out items and curate an outfit if needed.

Supre is one of my golden oldies I have been going there for years and find it to always have a…read morereliably great selection of different women's clothing, from party dresses to casual t-shirts, to bathers and underwear and even some themed outfits. The shop is always appealing to me because of it's wall to wall bright colours they always have fresh new season stock that follows the trends and can suit many different tastes. Supre is a relatively low cost option for women's clothing, you can usually pick up a simple tee for about $5 - $10 or a nice cardi for about $30. If you are browsing their new arrivals especially the shiny party dresses; they can be priced anywhere between $50 - $100 which still isn't too bad in my opinion. Supre in Frankston has some lovely staff and being a smaller store they are always on hand to help. The change rooms can get pretty busy especially on weekends, but the turn over is usually ok.

Dare I say it but Supre can be a little, well, trashy. I mean no disrespect to the shoppers that…read morefrequent this fashion megastore, but the quality and style often leaves a lot to be desired. Not to mention that browsing can be a bit of a nightmare due to the incessantly pumping club beats. However, Supre is not without its charms. If you're looking for simple basics and don't want to pay $50 plus then this place is perfect. There's a huge range of sizes and colours on offer, and it's perfect for quick fix fashion.

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.