The perfect store. One of the best things about shopping as a guy is that you know what you need…read moreand where to get it. You walk into a shop with a mission and within 1 to 2 minutes have already walked out with what you came for in hand. Every time I have come to Incu it has been successful and is my first port of call when I need a new t-shirt. A really funny story actually happened to me here. I came in to buy a pair of booties (shoes) and when I got home for some reason my brother tried them both on and noticed that one was larger than the other. I went back to Incu the next day and explained the situation, at that point the store clerk apologised for the mistake and let me know that they would exchange the larger shoe for the smaller one. I told him that would not be necessary, I would like to purchase the other odd pair of shoes and my brother would take the two large and I the two small. To this day we look great in our matching booties.

I've always walked past this store and wished that I had a reason to visit and browse through the…read moremen's clothing and accessories. It always looked so painfully hipster and cool and everyone knows I'm a closet wannabe hipster. Yesterday I had reason to finally venture inside, on the hunt for a man-friend gift. I loved the clothing and yes it's a bit on the spendy side, but I'll live off lentils and dried crackers for a week if it means my man-friend can walk around looking snazzy and I get to bask in the gloriousness that is his hipster-cool aura. More than the great collection of threads, what impressed me was the amazing service. Helpful and patient as I asked questions and looked at various sizes of the one sweater, the dude that served me was a delight. I really appreciated his kindness and genuine interest in me as he took the time to wrap my gift. For those interested: the man-friend loved the sweater, it fit perfectly and apparently I am "the best ever". Win huh?

Octavia & Grace is one of those great stores where you are guaranteed a great find and a good…read morebargain each time you visit. I have gotten countless great things from there and it will always be a favourite place of mine. The staff here vary. There is a guy who works here who is great at talking you into just about anything but also has fabulous taste. Everything he has ever recommended to me remains firmly in my wardrobe. Other staff tend to leave you alone after the initial welcome although they will occasionally check up on you from outside the change rooms. The store itself is quite small but the layout is good. If you start from the right and work your way around the circle you will find the products start really cheap and gradually get more expensive. My best bargain from there was a cute french inspired dark blue coat with shiny buttons down the front and ruffles on the front lapel. It goes with everything, is super warm and was only $50.

This is a good store. Nice clothes at a decent price and regular markdowns. I recently bought my…read morewinter coat there and spoke with the buyer and perhaps owner of the shop. The coat was on sale but he knocked a few more dollars off anyway because he was buying more tomorrow wholesale and he knew they'd sell at a profit. He knows what he's doing. Keeping the cost low, the demand high, and moving a quality product. BUSINESS!

It's easy to miss Back Up Fashion in a trip along Sydney Rd. Tucked in alongside Lulamae and…read moreVicious Venus, the shopfront is sometimes overlooked by the more spent shoppers who've made their way along the strip from Brunswick Rd upward. Inside, the shop is tiny enough that a thorough browse can be achieved in well under five minutes. There's always some kind of gentle incense or perfume permeating the room, so it feels cosy and warm in winter. The dressing rooms are small but not overly cramped, but the mirrors are located outside in the shop itself. In my experience, the clothes are a bit hit and miss; I've obtained some of my favourite clothes from this store over the years, but over half of what I try on is ill fitting or garish. There's also a variety of jewellery and accessories in a couple of cases and shelves on the fringe of the store, but I've never been able to discern a very cohesive stylistic theme to them. The prices are within the cheaper side of average for this end of the Sydney Rd strip, and some of the clothes I've bought have lasted far better than initially expected. Nonetheless, most of the clothes shouldn't be purchased with longevity in mind.

This is a large store with plenty of merchandise. It has two floors for women's wear. The staff was…read morehelpful and professional.

Love Uniqlo. Great value fashion and clothing basics…read more Always well made and good fabrics. I especially like the air tech range of light weight incredibly warm undershirts and sports wear. Can't go past a great sock either. All colours of the rainbow and then some! One negative.... they have stopped single use plastic shopping bags but some t shirts still plastic packaged

This multi-brand boutique carries some of my favourite labels - PAM, Antipodium, Claude Maus,…read moreBassike - and seem to be the first to introduce new and cutting edge designers to Melbourne. I'm not much of a jeans wearer but this is one of the better Fat stores for jeans, with a significant section of their shop devoted to jeans. They've also got a great selection of jewellery, shoes and bags. Sale stuff tends to be on the rack at the back of the shop amongst cute little homewares and gift type objects. Staff here are a little full of themselves but I tend to ignore them and they seem happy enough to leave me be so we have an understanding that works well.

This is the only fat store I've been to and shopped in, but…read morethat's mainly a convenience thing. Again, it's a fashion store/outlet that i keep coming back to. And I've been shopping here quite close to when it first opened. That has seen Wallets, Jeans, shirts, and other items that i probably can't remember, have been purchased. Most recently, a pair of cheap Monday jeans, though a pair is still a single item. Hem and haw etc. Regardless, they still stock quite a good line up of jeans, so it's always a go to store for such things. In a store just as fat, it's easy to go in, browse and come out with something you like without too much fuss.

Bing in Knox City Shopping Centre looks tacky from the outside but there are some really nice…read morethings to find once you venture in. The shop is filled with great accessories like: - bags - wallets - bracelets - necklaces - rings - earrings - stretchers and belly rings There is a range in both silver and gold (both fake) although you won't find equivalent pieces. The silver range is totally different to the gold range and the gold range is also a lot smaller. I found a great ring for $29.99 that was handmade and decorate with little sequins and diamontes. It was really cute but I had to leave it behind. Service here varies. Sometimes you are welcomed within moments and chaperoned around the store while others you are ignored - it is never the same.

I LOVE Ally Fashion, I actually had to do a double take when I was trying on a few items and turned…read moreback to look at the price tags. Ally has some really unique and stunning women's clothing, they have everything from sexy party dresses to basic t-shirts and skirts. I don't think anything in the store is over about $70 and trust me they are worth alot more. The girls on staff are usually wearing the hottest items from the season so it gives you a chance to have the clothing modelled for you before you buy! At the moment Ally is filled with soft dusky oranges, vibrant pinks and creamy whites all perfect for spring time fashion. There is usually a rack out the front as well as a few more inside that have items anywhere between $10 - $20! These can sometimes be last season but are usually just clothes on special. I struggle to even think about this store without wanting to go fill my wardrobe, the best thing is they also offer an online shop where you can order your items and have them shipped directly to your door.

Jolee Boutique stock clothes for women who like a little flair in their closet…read more In fact, the 2 ladies I know with the quirkiest wardrobes (one being my mum) both shop here regularly. Now, I'm not saying they sell gear that would be at home on Lady Gaga, but the stuff isn't your run of the mill "Mother Wear". You wont find beige. If you think your own mum could do with a wardrobe update, cleverly hint at Jolee and who knows, maybe she'll get it.