This shop doesn't actually have a name, but I had a chat with owner, Lisa, who tells me that locals…read morefondly refer to it as the Pink Shop or the Shop With No Name. The shop front is bright pink, which makes it hard to miss, but just in case, it's sandwiched between another clothing store called The Very Curious Kitten and the fantastic bar, The Alderman. Whilst we were chatting, Lisa kindly showed me her latest bag tricks, i.e. fresh new stock! In the bag were some beautiful vintage dresses, great shirts for men, and - keep your eyes on the prize - a pair of what looked like brand new, high waisted, flared Karen Walker jeans...and do you know what these jeans were priced at? Less than $50. That's right, you heard me. In case you haven't figured it out already, prices here are incredibly reasonable. Most skirts and shirts are around the $30-something mark, dresses $45-ish, and I've bought a couple of pairs of shoes here that cost around $40. I'm not so clued up on the men's clothes, but there's lots of that too, and if the guys' stuff is priced in any way like the girls' clothes, there'll be bargains aplenty. Opening times can be changeable, but generally it's open from 11am till 5pm Thursday to Sunday.

I live in a "little old lady" style house with bright green tiles, wispy white curtains and a…read moredoorbell loud enough to make your hair curly. I love the retro look and feel and so naturally a great proportion of my furniture could be filed under the "little old lady" category. Hence my frequent visits to the Lost and Found Market. Here you will find everything from 1950s mirrors to big, boofy prom dresses to Ken Done place mats and coasters. The Lost and Found Market has everything. I go at least once a month to see what is new (they have rotating stalls) even when I am not looking for anything specific. While I admire their furniture the most (think stunning 70s Danish furniture) it is not something I believe I will ever be able to afford *sobs* but damn is it nice to look at. While they do have an extensive clothing section, I personally believe the Lost and Found Market excels more in the bric-a-brac and glassware areas. If you're looking to pimp your home bar, this is the place to be. They are only open on Saturdays and Sundays but the huge warehouse style means there's always something to find. You could honestly spend a good hour in here.

I like to think that this gigantic vintage store was named after the Elliott Smith song of - almost…read more- the same name. But without the subtext of misery and unrequited love. There is nothing miserable about this bona fide Brunswick vintage Mecca. For Lost & Found Market is one of the most lovable vintage stores in Melbourne, stocking an incredible range of vintage clothes, shoes, accessories, furniture, lighting and art from a characterful shop on Brunswick East's Lygon Street. I've only just discovered Lost & Found Market but it is already my favourite Melbourne vintage shop. And with good reason. Firstly, prices. I don't want to say this for fear of tempting fate - or price increases - but Lost & Found is literally bargainous. Secondly, selection. I've noticed a worrying trend for Melbourne's vintage shops to only really stock clothes from the disco and power suit eras to the detriment of the wardrobes of us Art Deco, fifties and sixties loving gals. Not Lost & Found. I walked away from Lost & Found Market with a ditty little sixties lace cocktail dress for a mere $55 and will no doubt return soon to look for more treasure. In the words of Elliott Smith 'I'm in love'.

Lady knows her stuff, enough to declare it law, one I'm up for defending…read more It's a tiny shop rammed full of beautiful vintage pieces with an emphasis on 70s leather items like tooled handbags and shoes in varying shades of brown. There's a makeshift change room made glamorously bohemian with wonderful fabrics draped about. It's a little bit on the pricey side for pre-loved garments but that's only because This Law-abiding owner knows her worth, and sometimes, when that perfect dress that you know no one else should own is calling out to you, just step in line and buy your way out of This Law.

There's certainly no shortage of vintage and retro clothing stores in inner Melbourne. However,…read morethere are those that are run for financial reasons and those that are run out of sheer love for clothing and accessories. This Law is one such venture. With a blatant affection for the styles of yesteryear, particularly 1970s leather-goods, This Law stocks both an eclectic array of second hand clothing as well as co-owner/operator Cecelia Hagerty's own leather based designs. There's also a small collection of independent Australian music. Cecelia has a particularly good eye for clothing that stands the test of time across all your basic vintage/retro eras. Only the best of the 1940s/1950s/1960s/1970s/1980s makes it to the racks. She's also friendly, helpful and honest to a fault. The shop itself is small and a tad cluttered, but is easy enough to browse. The lone dressing room consists of a heavy curtain pulled across the back corner of the shop but it works, and there's more privacy than you'd expect. It's also livened up with a collage of high fashion photographs from decades gone by, proving that great fashions look good in any era. Though credit card facilities are sometimes available, it's best to bring cash as there're are plenty of 'cash only' sales. Cecilia has also been known to do customisation on her own designs. However, the business was recently sold so Cecelia can concentrate on her own label and online sales, so the future of This Law is ambiguous. Get in quick!

The thing I like most about Out of the Closet? Their t-shirts mean what they mean. Most t-shirts…read moredon't. You buy a t-shirt with an astronaut holding a boom box, you're probably not that keen on either astornauts OR boom boxes. But if you buy a t-shirt with a New Order album cover on, it's probably because you like New Order (okay, or because you want to be seen as the type of person who likes New Order). That kind of principle applies to most of what OTC sells. Whether it's good or not, whether it's cheap or not, none of it seems to be trading on aspirational branding. These are clothes to wear or to look good in, not to show how hooked into the cultural superstructure you are. They offer a mix of vintage and new clothes, and some of it can be a little pricey, but I'd still rather this than the manufactured white noise most places seem to sell these days.

It's been a while since I've popped into a vintage clothing store, so when I passed Out Of The…read moreCloset I thought I'd drop in. Their range is quite large, especially for guys. Their range of leather and denim jackets is pretty decent, plus some men's tweed suits which I tried to see if I could pull off, but the fit wasn't right. I did end up with a very cute navy and white pleated skirt that is reminiscent of the skirt Ann Reinking wears in the 'let's go to the movies' song scene of the 1982 film Annie. Let's just say the way that pleated skirt moved while she danced has stuck with me, so I'm beyond stoked to have my own similar number to wear now.

This frustratingly nameless vintage and retro clothing shop somehow manages to source a fantastic…read morecollection of second hand clothing. Barely more than a large cupboard of windows, this shop is what the op shop of your dreams would look like. Neatly ordered dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, shoes, ties and the odd retro toy or ornament frame the space except for the makeshift dressing room, made from long and heavy curtains strewn over a rail. The staff are often young and talkative, which is nice if you're in the mood, and there's a refreshing absence of hard sell. Eftpos isn't always available so it's best to come prepared with cash, just in case, and the prices are what you'd generally expect for a retro store. Overall, it's small and easy to browse, and whoever sources the clothes has a really great eye for it.

Another admirable collection of the finest the op shops and warehouses had to offer in second hand…read moreclothing and accessories, all sourced into one compact store. Unlike a lot of the other retro stores in the area, a hefty portion of their goods are from decades farther back in time than the 1980s. A lot of the accessories are real statement pieces, and will not appeal to anyone wanting to fade into the background, although that statement also applies to pretty much everything else this store has to offer, too. Most of the sizes are on the smaller side, which is to be expected considering the eras from which they are sourced, but occasionally you find something cut so the modern day average Australian woman can shine, too. Like most vintage stores, it can be a bit pricey, but you're unlikely to find anyone else with the same thing. There's about the right ratio of stock to store space, so there's enough to keep you occupied for a few minutes without feeling as though you're drowning in an avalanche of potential finds you simply haven't the energy to sift through. The staff are friendly and helpful if you need them, but don't get in your way if you don't. There's always a few sparkly and metallic numbers amongst its wares, so the magpies among us will usually be entertained. As with most shops of this genre, you have to happen by at the right time for the store to be open, but I've somehow managed to sync up with its' timetable frequently enough.

Rewind, turn back time and retrograde yourself into this glamorous little vintage clothing store…read moreand channel your inner Audrey/Joan/Grace/Sophia (god knows those ladies are still infinitely more interesting than today's Britney/Rhianna/Cheryl/whatever). There's loads of animal print, bling, leather and fur in this one-stop glamour shop, and interesting little brooches, rings and sunglasses for flamboyant accessorising. The vintage dresses are in excellent condition, freshly dry-cleaned or laundry washed, and they are all gorgeous. The price reflects this so it is quite expensive, but if you're after a one-of-a-kind dress for a special occasion, and you don't want to buy new, this is the shop to find it. I came in here to find black, lacey gloves to wear with a vintage dress to a 'Mad Men' party. There was nothing in store, but the lovely owner reckoned he had some at home and asked me to come back tomorrow. I returned the next day and, true to his word, two pairs of black lace wrist gloves for my eyes only. Such service, such style.

With so many second hand markets around these days, it's really a hit and miss as to whether you…read morewill luck upon scoring a good find for a decent price. Fitzroy market is a small market at the Fitzroy Primary School that has a well edited selection of clothes, books, shoes, bits and bobs. There is definitely an element of 'Fitzroy cool' at the market, with a younger range of sellers. Note, when I say younger, I'm talking 20-30s (which is the age bracket I fall in). This is one of my favorite markets around at the moment.

Great little local market held in the grounds of Fitzroy Primary School on the third Saturday of…read moreevery month in 2012 (it's previously been the first Saturday of the month). Mostly secondhand clothes, records, toys and bric-a-brac - almost always at very reasonable prices. Not many food and drink options: a sausage sizzle and a very good coffee stall, but there's plenty of other cafes and bakeries nearby on Smith or Brunswick Streets if that doesn't take your fancy. Entry by gold coin donation.

Don't judge a book by it's cover. That old adage is true when it comes to Hunter & Co. From the…read moreoutside there's not much that alludes to the beauty that lies within. There's an old Vodaphone sign, complete with Michael Richards (that guy who played Kramer) on it that's been tweaked a bit to beckon you inside. It's the first indication that Hunter & Co might be a bit quirky. Walk on in and you will be greeted with mid century beauties, stacked floor to ceiling. There's armchairs, sideboards, sets of draws and reupholstered sofas and dining chairs. Walk on through to the back section and you'll find some wardrobes (which are very hard to find for this era) and a selection of nic nacs including carved teak bowls. The fun doesn't stop there though, head upstairs for another floor of high quality original and rejuvenated pieces. The guy who owns this store, Gareth, is a quiet chap eager to help you find the perfect piece for your home. His design knowledge is good and he's able to explain the history of pieces if you're interested. Be prepared though. Hunter & Co is not cheap. This isn't dime-a-dozen furniture and compared with other second hand stores it's on the pricier side, reflecting a collection that is a little less commonly found and of a high quality. We were the proud buyers of two Hans Hayson furniture pieces - a wardrobe and sideboard set with draws - and Gareth let us pay them off over a month and then delivered them free of charge when we were settled in to our new home. They're beautiful and although more than we had originally budgeted for bedroom storage, we love looking at them every day. Functional and pleasing on the eye - surely what all furniture should be.

Want authentically designer vintage sunglasses by brands such as Ted Lapidus Paris and hip hop…read morefavourite Cazal? Or cute party dresses by Marc Jacobs or Givenchy? Head to Curve Vintage. Domiciled on Gertrude Street, my favourite little strip for vintage clothing in Melbourne bar none, Curve Vintage sells an incredible range of vintage clothing and accessories with a good smattering of vintage designer and contemporary second hand pieces thrown in for good measure. My one Curve Vintage qualm? It feels as if the place is never open. But InStyle - which ranks it amongst Victoria's best vintage boutiques - assures me that this is because Curve is open for the abbreviated hours of midday until 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday much like many of the exclusive little boutiques dotted along Gertrude. If you're serious about your vintage you will seriously love Curve. Prices are attendantly pretty steep but as most vintage afficionados know, a great vintage find is priceless.

Curve is in my top five places to buy vintage in Melbourne - it has everything: women's clothing,…read moremen's clothing, sunglasses, shoes, belts, bags, a kickass store, great staff and a great range of stock. I come here with my partner because he likes to check out the men's racks and try on vintage jackets and shirts. I have to say that Curve's collection of men's wear is phenomenal and they cater for a lot of different styles: there are wacky and lurid shirts, and reserved and classic dinner jackets. I spend most of my time on the other side of the store buried amongst the women's wear. During the winter months I would stock up on boots and the warmer dresses that I could easily wear with tights. When I visited last time there were some gorgeous summer dresses and shorts perfect for the hot weather. The prices are quite high but I honestly don't mind paying. The clothes and accessories are fantastic and the service is always great.