DOESNT EXIST ANYMORE. Sigh. Like maybe don't make people drive all the way there if the shop…read moredoesn't even exist anymore?

Went to one of their weekend Garage Sales. Found out about the fortnightly event on Facebook…read more Picked up some vinyl and an awesome table.

I hereby place Clavel onto my list of "Places I love visiting but will never be able to afford to…read morebuy". Vintage Danish furniture - three words I simply cannot get enough of, yet one thing I simply will never be able to afford. Clavel is full-to-the-brim with this stuff. Located opposite Carwyn Cellars in Thornbury is a big warehouse filled with beautiful furniture and homewares. Need a new sofa? Or a 70s dining table and chairs? Or perhaps a giant dentist chair and lamp? Weirdo. But seriously, Clavel has it. Clavel isn't as expensive as similar counterparts such as 20th Century Scandinavia in Brunswick East or Grandfather's Axe in Northcote, so it does have that going for it. Though I do suspect the quality isn't quite as high as them - it's definitely quantity over quality with Clavel. I did eye off some beautiful ceramics and glassware that was quite affordable - they don't have a lot of it, but what they do have is stunning. Clavel is definitely worth a visit if you're on the hunt for an item of furniture that's not like the rest. It's also a fun place to visit if you like perving on furniture like I do.

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.

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.

The prices are sky high and I'm not even sure where the money goes from sales and what it's used…read morefor The staff are all friendly but it's a small shop with no sorting with the clothes etc BRING CASH THEY DONT TAKE ANY EFTPOS!

I am so happy that I have a good second hand store close by…read more Although I usually head further in to do most of my vintage shopping I always make time to stop by Yours, Now Mine and check out the wide range of accessories, home décor and memento. It doesn't suffer from the over-expensive second hand fever that is sweeping our beloved stores (ahem Brunswick Street), and every time I pick up something and have a look at the price I don't have to immediately put it down and walk away with my head hung. There are always some great retro vases or platters in the window that hark back to a time where lurid orange and brown were chic and big belt buckles were king. Even if I don't end up buying anything, a short trip here is an instant pick me up. The atmosphere is fun, the sales assistants are friendly and the products are very kitsch.

'Top Hat Antiques' is an adorable treasure chest of vintage clothing and kitsch bric a brac…read more Located in Thornbury this store has a vintage dress selection to rival any Gertrude street boutique at lower than Gertrude street prices. The selection is kind of astounding, genuine 50's floral, 60's swing dresses, drapey 70's chiffon and geometric, shoulder padded 80's creations line the walls. These are not supermarket wear, definitely costumey or for the vintage fashionista. The mens collection is not as interesting save for a few hawaiian shirts and quality Italian shoes. There is interesting costume jewellery between $15-$90 as well as original rolls of 60s/70s/fabric. The bric a brac is mostly kitchen/domestic, think salt and pepper shakers, green/orange glass and tea pot sets. The owner is really sweet and has collected the clothes in earlier decades, definitely worth a visit for the die hard vintage collectors.

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!