Yay, stationary! One of life's unnecessary and enjoyable pleasures. CandC stocks a super cute range…read moreof cards, wrapping paper and bits and pieces that are worthy of collection for their own sake, not just for wrapping someone else's gift. They always stock heaps of sweet little items that you never knew you needed in your life until right now. Since I got my own place I have bought quite a few of the cards and wrapping paper designs and framed them to hang on my wall- their stuff is, on the whole, worthy of display and makes a very sweet decoration idea.

I'm always up for a second-hand bookshop, and this is certainly a decent one. Okay, it isn't huge,…read morebut like a lot of this places it does happen to have a pretty decent collection. However, the collection also tends to be pretty random so, like a lot of these places, the joy comes down to actually see what is on the shelf. I found some decent books, and as is typical, ended up walking out with more than I actually knew what to do with. It is tucked away off the main road, but still worth checking out if you happen to be down this way.

This guy is magic. I swear, every time I've gone into this place looking for anything in…read moreparticular, not only does he have it, but he knows the work, the author and is willing to chat about it. 'So what?' you say. Well, I don't know about anyone else but, usually when I enter a second hand book shop, the first thing I'm asked to do is remove my bag because I obviously look like a book theif, and then I'm often treated with a distant rudeness like I'm somehow interupting the ebb and flow of the vendor's day. Not so with Already Read. This bloke is cheery and engaging. He usually seems up for a bit of a chat and stocks great quality, sought after titles; not just best sellers and fuckin' Dan Brown. He keeps multiple copies of the greats and has a large cache out back if you can't find something in the well ordered shelves. Seriously, as far as second hand book shops go, this is the one.

As far as gift/homewares shops go, I think Urban Attitude is the most fun. Filled with so much…read morestuff that absolutely no one will ever 'need', but is fun to have. Makes it a great place to go gift hunting if you're unsure what to get someone. I love their collection of designer cards. They're a bit out there and random, which is how I like my gift cards. No soppy Hallmark greetings for me, thanks. The stuff you can find here is genuinely fun/random/hipster, not like the cheap knock off/trying-too-hard stuff you find at other larger stores *cough* Typo *cough* The staff are lovely to boot and will help you track down something quirky be it poster art, wallets, toys, kitchen ware or maybe a T-Rex lamp.

I love love love this store! Full of super cute, fun and quirky things, Urban Attitude is great for…read morebuying gifts, finding unique things to fill your home with, and taking everyday things and turning them into something special. Take for example the best knife block holder I' ve ever seen...Its a silhouette of a person ( I like the one in fire engine red) with six or seven slits throughout the body, so when you put your knives in they look like they are going through the body..... okay, I just re-read that, and now I sound like a crazy person who thinks stabbing people is awesome. AWKWARD......But seriously its really cool. When you walk into the St Kilda store, you feel off balance, until you realise that it is the shelves and design of the store that is off balance, not yourself. I think it really suits the concept they are going for. Definitely go check it out.

After wearing the masquerade masks to our party, 2 of them broke through out the night which is…read moredisappointing as we $15 and $23 for them. We thought buying them here over a dollar store would be beneficial but after taping them up on the night, we wish we'd just bought them at the $2 shop. Customer service at this place was still great and I'm sure costume hire is good too.

Neil's is packed with art goodies. The staff is very friendly and willing to help. They've got a…read more10% discount for students too! Definitely recommend them.

Best hidden gem in Melbourne. A go to every time theres an 18th, 21st or any party for that matter…read more(especially Halloween). Great service from people who seem to knowledgeable in all costume matters. Great value for money with a wide range of selections it's almost too hard to pick.

I think my obsession for costume shops is really getting out of control. Somebody stop me before I…read morerun out of normal clothes to wear... When I found Masquerade, I knew I was in trouble. I work nearby and knew that my lunch breaks would not be filled with lunch and gossip, but with ridiculous dress-up montages. Masquerade is a good'un and the staff are very helpful. I have recently been in and asked for "Dopey, from the seven dwarfs. You know... the dumb one?" I had them at Dopey. Although they didn't have an exact costume for Dopey, they managed to scramble together various items from different costumes to create the perfect outfit. I was impressed by their willingness to help me out with such an odd request, and also their knowledge of Disney films. Masquerade have all the classics available for rent for a reasonable amount, they also have costumes available to buy if that's more up your alley.

It's not particularly bid, but it certainly does work well, namely because it happens to be one of…read morethose places where you can basically go and do your shopping and pretty much pick up everything you need. Yeah, it pretty much has everything you would expect from a shopping centre, including some major retailers, and of course the ubiquitous coffee shops, not that they are any good mind you. Yeah, this place isn't too bad, and it certainly does serve its purpose.

I walked in here for the first time on my 15 minuet break, tried on three T-Shirt, brought them,…read moreand had time to get a favourite muffin in Centre Place. I am a big fan of little boutique Melbourne clothes shop, especially those that have cute designs. I am always getting little comments about the clothes that I buy from here. Conveniently you can buy their products online which means that I don't even need to be on my break the next time I want a shirt as I now know what size fits me.

A funky boutique filled with a mix of fashion, accessories, knick knacks and specialty items that…read moreyou find yourself buying because of its "oh my gosh thats so cute/cool/funky" appeal. The fashion aspect of the store mainly focuses on print tees that catch the eye with bright volours and statement images. If you're a t-shirt kinda gal or guy, you'll find some unique designs that arent available elsewhere. Otherwise, they also supply some great jewellery and fashion accessories, including bags and head wear. Im personally more interested in the bits and pieces you'l find around the store - I've seen everything from fake non disposable coffee cups and homemade cards, to funky kitchen utensils and table decor items. Its worth a look in at the store, and even though its small you dont feel like the sales attendant is eyeing you off the whole time.Its quite comfortable to just browe.And you never know what you could find.