I love Rap products…read more It's full of some quirky gift ideas & has some beautiful delicate pieces of jewellery. It's the type of shop that is always worth popping into for a browse as you just might find something that you didn't even know you needed. The staff are helpful & attentive without being pushy, happy for you to browse away & there for advice if needed. It's a small shop with not too much room to move so best not to go in with any large bags.

This is a gorgeous gift shop that seems to be on trend every time. The shop is split into…read morehomewares, jewellery, scarves bags and accessories, baby clothes and soft furnishings. If you are ever stuck for a gift for that special female in your life, make this a stop. For purchases over a certain price, they gift wrap. This pleases me greatly.

Puf 'n' Stuff is easily one of Melbourne's cutest vintage stores! Unlike a lot of second hand…read morestores where you have to trawl through racks and racks of nasty 90's dresses with worn out fabrics, Puf 'n' Stuff is so well curated you get nothing but the good stuff! As Arabella has already mentioned, the clothes here are well organised, so if you've got a particular style you're after then bingo - you just head to the appropriate rack. It's kinda like a time-saving set up, while you're also engaging in a bit of money-saving and of course planet-saving! Awesome. The printed frocks at Puf 'n' Stuff are a real highlight - if you're after a new dress for a picnic or even a day wedding but need to save a few pennies, it's the place to find something fun and unique without ripping out the credit card. I love it!

Gertrude Street boutique Puf 'n' Stuff may sound like a fine purveyor of some pretty illicit…read moresmoking substances, but it's actually a very welcome import from Sydney and hands down one of Fitzroy's best vintage shops. Although Puf 'n' Stuff is good across the board, its range of accessories is particularly noteworthy. After an Art Deco glomesh clutch bag for a ridiculously cheap $65? Go to Puf 'n' Stuff. Fancy a vintage Givenchy LBD for about the quarter of the price of elsewhere? Ditto. One of the most interesting - and individual - things about Puf 'n' Stuff is the way the stock is displayed. Not for Puf 'n' Stuff the hodge podge of stock in a variety of disparate styles and drawn from a maelstrom of eras as per Melbourne's other vintage shops. No, no. Puf 'n' Stuff's stock is displayed almost thematically so you'll find a clutch of polka dot tea frocks next to one another, a small rack devoted entirely to vintage denim shirts, one to crochet and guipure lace and another to fringing. Sure, I may like rifling through the odd mixed rail but Puf 'n' Stuff's clever approach to displaying its stock takes a lot of the guesswork and elbow grease out of vintage shopping, and that, I welcome. Prices are very competitive for what is some pretty premium vintage fashion and staff are a little cursorily friendly but friendly all the same. An incredible vintage shop.

This is such a fun little store! Part clothing store (both men and women's with a bit of new-age…read morevintage flair), part gifts and crazy knick-knacks, as well as local art and collectables - it's a unique store definitely worth having a poke around in. Great for gifts when you're not sure what to get for someone and looking for a bit of inspiration. The clothing is a good mix of name brands and stuff you won't find in every other shop. Friendly staff to boot - recommended for any Yarraville shopping excursion.

SO. Fancy dress parties. I figure you either love 'em or you hate 'em…read more As I get older I am less and less inclined to get excited about DIYing a fabulous fancy dress costume, which is where Berwick Costume HIre comes in super handy for me. They have a massive. massive! selection of costumes, with every TV personality, Disney character and fairy princess you can imagine. They also stock heaps of wigs and accessories to complete your costume or complement your DIY efforts. Definitely worth a visit, but make sure you don't leave it to the day of the event to secure your costume- they tend to book up a week or so in advance.

The Villa Maria Op Shop in Wantirna Mall is really good. It is good because the people who work…read morehere are so friendly and personable. A lot of people come here to socialise and to have a decent conversation. There is a lot of bric-a-brac here and there are plenty of good home decor items up for grabs. Photo frames are only a $1 or so. The clothing here isn't amazing but I did find a couple of vintage items. These were marked up slightly higher than the other clothes but they were great quality so I didn't feel cheated. There are also a lot of kids toys and accessories like handbags and shoes here. Prices are on the wall and are: Dresses: $7 Skirts: $5 Shirts/Blouses: $5 Trousers/Pants: $5 T-Shirts: $4 Singlets: $4 Jumpers: $7 Windcheaters: $5 Shorts and Track Pants: $3 Jackets: $10 Children's Clothes: from $2 Pretty decent don't you think?

This is such a cute boutique. My sister and I were in the area looking for a brunch place and we…read morestumbled upon this little gem. It's really cute and girly and there are plenty of things to buy here. I was looking for little gifts that I could bring back home to family and friends and found a lot of things I could get. For the most part, they have unique trinkets that you could buy. The prices are a bit on the higher side, but they do have some really cute things. If I'm in the area next time, I'll stop by again.

For the woman in your life that has everything, but still loves just that little something more,…read moreRose St. could be just the place to shop. The vibe here is luxurious and the price tags are just what you'd expect for a store that focuses on high quality items that you don't see in many other gift stores. There's luxurious floaty sweaters, rich candles, silky scarves, soft leather handbags and small decorative home wares that most Mum's and ladies of fine taste would enjoy. Make a beeline here the next time you need to say "I'm sorry" "I love you" or "Happy Birthday" to your favourite female.

Great store with lots of crystals and stones to select. You may negotiate if you are buying a good…read moreamount of things and the staff are somewhat helpful at times, depending on who is on duty. The owner is obviously very knowledgeable...!

At first glance Fantastic Variety may look just like your average junk store. Well, it is that,…read moreplus a little bit more. I've managed to decorate my home with some pieces from there that I've also seen in more prestigious home wares shops like Provincial Home Living and Homeart. The beauty is because the shop isn't pretty, and because the stock is just stacked together in bulk, you'll get the same item at Fantastic Variety for half the price. Last week I was pleased to pick up some bamboo sticks of different lengths and sizes to go into a large wooden vase that's been empty in my living room for about six months. The same pieces were at Homeart and would have cost me $10 more for the same amount. They've also currently got some lovely French pieces; old hat boxes and war style letter boxes with French art and war stamps printed on them. To accompany the collection, French Bordeaux clocks of assorted sizes are also in stock. From $10 to $20, similar decorative clocks are available at Provincial Home living for more than double the cost. And unlike most cheap rip offs, these collections at Fantastic Variety are pretty good, to the naked eye at least you can hardly tell the difference and they'll make your space look just as effective, particularly if you're decorating on a budget. Some of my other fave items here are the assorted varieties of Japanese hanging lanterns, as well as bamboo door runners. My husband has a unique collection of islander wooden masks, and the lanterns and door runner have really added to the effectiveness of our 'tribal room'. Since relocating to a bigger premises within the centre, I've noticed the range in store getting more stylish and of higher quality. The store owners have also gotten a lot better at merchandising their best stuff and so you can see the value of some of their pieces in the window displays which have been quite fetching of late. So, if you're in the mood for some interior decorating on a budget, check out Fantastic Variety first. The window displays might even give you some good ideas and at least you'll be able to cost compare if you do go elsewhere.