Bold. Fun. Finnish. Finally, all in one place, on Chapel Street…read more If you're like me, you've trolled your favorite homeware stores for disparate nuggets of Marimekko glory in the past. Now, the textiles, fashions and mugs of your fancy are neatly bundled in one convenient shop - live and very much in color. A tower of Marimekko's signature printed fabrics greet you at the entrance, extending to the right wall. On the left, wildly patterned shift dresses and aprons will catch your eye, followed by (my favorite) mugs, plates and kitchen accessories, and pint-sized threads for the fashionable tot in your life. If you're looking for a gift or statement piece for your own wardrobe/home, and color is your thing, you're sure to find something here. I love giving gifts that are beautiful/quirky but also practical long lasting, and it's an added advantage that Marimekko's products are all of those things without being hugely destructive to the environment.

Quintessentially quirky, fun and the real Finnish thing. Having worked and lived in Finland, I…read morealways adored Marimekko, and it's fantastic to see the design carried on through generations to ever more offerings of this iconic Finnish brand. Marimekko's original products were textiles, and this store pays ample homage to clothing, home linens, and fabrics. The prints are striking and strong, with large, vibrantly coloured patterns. The fabrics themselves are top quality, with fabulous soft sateen cottons alongside linens and fine wools. Fashion here is a mix of the new while occasionally reinventing a design from the old, and they do it very well. There's also a good range of porcelain and glass homewares, including a wide array of gifts. All I can say is "loistava" -- fabulous!

Located in the middle of nowhere you'll need some wheels to get your namaste get up on. Huge…read morewarehouse location with all your Lululemon basics on sale organised in your size which definitely is a plus when it comes to factory outlet shopping - no sorting & sifting through mess. Compared to RRP it is pretty cheap so shop till you drop into your downward dog. Namaste... "Ommmmm"

Five out of five brightly coloured tops!…read more I love, love, love Lulu Lemon. The reasons why I Iove this Canadian brand are many but here's a few: - The make their clothes out of fabrics they expect you to sweat in and chuck straight in the wash - The fabrics all feel really nice on the skin and don't chafe - They have some great colours, as well as the neutral blacks, whites etc - They have everything from tights to cool pants. My favourite item from Lulu Lemon is a pair of black pants that go to just below the knee. I can wear them to run in, or they are nice enough that I have worn them out so they are really versatile. They were perfect to wear to a work cricket match - I could run around in them but I could also go out to a cafe afterwards. Perfect! The outlet store is great as well! They stock full priced gear but they also do indeed have some bargains. I bought a jacket I had my eye on at the full priced store for nearly half the price. Sweet! My only concern is that my sister bought something from here and they forgot to take the security tag off, so she had to return it. So maybe check that before you leave. There is a bit of parking in the surrounding streets.

One of the BEST dang H&M locations we've ever been to. This whole spot was a vibe and the staff…read morewere so helpful.

Got to love H&M anywhere but this store especially good…read more Always great value and great bargains to be had on well made fashionable items. This store in the grand old post office building with elegant spaces and staircase. It means the men's upstairs gets split into more intimate shopping spaces which make it feel more special

A gamut of handbags and wallets from the like of AnnaPelle, Diana Ferrari, Levis, Jag and Fiorelli…read moreamong many others, this store is an efficient way to find the most beloved of women's accessories. Although there's also a range of largely high heeled shoes available, there's not nearly as many on offer as there are handbags. The stock changes over fairly regularly, and there's the odd sample hiding amongst the clones. The styles are as numerous as there are handbags, so you can find a plain work satchel-style bag as easily as a brightly coloured statement handbag. There's also a range of luggage down the back. The quality varies from brand to brand, and the odd leather bag may turn out not to be leather after all. Nonetheless, every purchase I've ever made from this store has been a magnet for compliments and my main handbag is still going strong after a year of heavy use. It's always the first place I go for a new handbag or wallet.

Wilkins and Kent stock some beautiful things. Kitchenware, ceramics, organic soaps and candles, and…read moreof course well-made and divine woodwork are scattered around the space. On my last visit I spent a lot of my time eyeing a long handmade redgum bench. Sleek and simple it stood in the middle of the store and radiated comfort. Unfortunately the price tag (well over $1000) and lack of space in my house meant that I didn't have a hope in hell. But I can dream. Wilkins and Kent have some great kitchenware ranges including the Nigella Lawson range, and some exquisite ceramic bowls. On my last visit I bought some ceramic birds that hang from the wall - glazed with beautiful colours they are beautiful little pieces of art and around the ($50) mark, weren't too expensive. The service at Wilkins and Kent is always great, although the store can get very busy so it may take a while to get some service. But friendly and well meaning, the sales assistants are helpful and knowledgeable about the products.

Wilkins and Kent is one of those must-visit stores for me on Brunswick street. Filled with a…read morekaleidoscope of products from pretty table ware to chic bakeware and printed lamps. This is also one of those stores that you need to slowly work your way through in order to appreciate it for what it really is. Incidentally, it would be easy to mistake this shop as a homeware store, but in actuality, Wilkins and Kent specialise in custom designed furniture. And from what we hear, the bosses Jeremy Wilkins and Stephen Kent are the actual furniture makers. If you're looking to create a custom designed piece or are just looking for something to complement your home with, check out this lovely store. Wilkins and Kent also carry a wide range of household décor items, stationery, gardening tools and other bits and bobs - perfect as gifts.

Everything old is new again at Double Monk, one of the few places in Melbourne which carries high…read moreend men's footwear. Step through its doors off Smith Street and you're immediately transported to old world luxe of exquisite parquetry flooring and leather chesterfield sofas. There's even an extensive Whisky collection at the back of the store to complete the elegant and sophisticated mood! Floor to ceiling shelving houses the best of men's English made shoes. From a Shell Cordovan Loafer in burgandy, to the classic Oxford in black - these shoes are traditionally made and built to last a lifetime. Staff are highly professional, welcoming and courteous. Special thanks to Ben, who was extremely patient and knowledgable, spending almost an hour to explain the nuances and detail of many special items. Double Monk carries an extensive range from labels such as Crockett & Jones, Edward Green and John Lobb. If you're looking for a pair of extremely well made shoes to last, then there is no equal here in Melbourne.

Gents, do yourself a favour and visit Double Monk. I stumbled upon this shop unexpectedly one day…read morewhilst wandering up Smith Street with food on my mind. Its old-world elegance complete with wall-to-wall timber, leather club chairs and exotic taxidermies would be right at home on London's Jermyn Street. It's owned and run by a fellow who is obviously very passionate about shoes and only sells those handmade in England (with a small selection from a Spanish maker). He even stocks John Lobb, purveyor of shoes to HRH The Prince of Wales. This means the shoes aren't cheap but they're going to last and are well worth the cost. There's also a serious selection of stylish umbrellas and accessories. Being a guy who generally hates clothes/shoe shopping (being somewhat oddly proportioned), it was a real relief to have the benefit of someone knowledgeable to measure the old plates of meat and recommend the right size and style. Notwithstanding the fact that I turned up tonight right on closing time, I was made very welcome and given the sort of personalised high-quality service which you don't get a lot of these days. Highly recommended.

Gorman is one of my favourite brands, I adore their mix of vintage and fashion forward designs, and…read moreI love the fun atmosphere that their visual merchandisers have so cleverly crafted. I particularly love the clogs and 50s style hourglass dresses. Unfortunately it isn't every day I can afford the full priced items at the stores so I if there's an item that I think may be around for a while, I'll usually wait until it hits the outlet in Bridge Road. This store always has sales going on, when I went a couple of days ago it was 'take a further 20% off shoes and accessories', no wonder the store was packed. Inside you'll find a jumble of clothes and accessories while the shoes can mostly be seen in the front window. The sales assistants are lovely and really talkative, however when the store gets busy they are usually trying to manage the crowd. It can get a little claustrophobic at times if there's too many shoppers so either hold your own and keep browsing or duck outside for some air.

As far as a Gorman store goes, this one has a good selection,…read moreNew arrivals, seconds, samples and various discounts. About four change rooms in the store.

Like every good bride, I know the importance of shopping around and naturally, many people suggest…read moregoing to the bridal strip at High Street to do this. The sales people in the bridal stores recognise that many people are just browsing and for this reason, sometimes their approach can be over enthusiastic and scare people away. During my own wedding browse with my sister, we made an appointment at Amaline Vitale and were not disappointed at all. Firstly because I fell in love with a few dresses (just for the fabric) instantly but more so, because the service offered to us was really good. I told the sales guy which dresses I wanted and without making any comments about my body shape whatsoever he got me to try them on. I popped into all three and while being conscious of my obvious bulge from overeating all this year, he was tactful, poised and offered constructive opinions about dress styles that really would suit me. I left the store feeling confident, more aware and when the time comes to make the big dress decision, Armaline Vitale is top of my list. Whether or not, this can justify the $4900 price tag on the dress I love is another thing completely but we'll see.

I had a great experience at Amaline Vitale prior to purchasing my dress. The dresses were beautiful…read moreand the staff were extremely attentive and very helpful. After I ordered the dress, things went downhill quickly. I was so disapointed with the service I received there. My made to measure dress (costing around $5000) ended up being too big, I believe this was because most of the dress was made based on measurements taken with my clothes/bra on from approximately 7-8 months before my wedding. I also had to go back after picking it up because the hook on the back of the dress wasn't in the right position (as politely pointed out by another wedding dress maker when coordinating jewelery with the dress on in her store). In addition, throughout the process I found AV to be really rude and defensive (e.g., if I mentioned somthing didn't feel right, being told I "should've told her at the last fitting", being told I'd have to pay for any changes after information discussed prior to ordering the dress wasn't passed on between staff (again told I "should've" passed it onto AV directly) and unprofessional (e.g., angrily swearing on the phone while I was in the store). AV even spoke rudely to my MOH and mum- they could not believe the level of service provided. I have been a bridesmaid multiple times and have seen how my friends have been treated by the designers of their dresses, and the experience really did not compare. I really wish that they knew, or cared, that this was a really special experience for me which was completely ruined for me sadly. I would recommend looking elsewhere if you're on the search for a great wedding dress in addition to having a good experience during the process.