Divine Gifts on Olinda's Main Street is a pretty darn cool shop. It stocks lots of spiritual items…read moreand the music playing is quite mystical. It has a large selection of charms and stones including Amethyst, Moonstone, Amber, Carnelian, and Agate. Some of these come with a little metal loop attached so you can put them onto a necklace or chain. At only $15 they are an absolute steal. The store also had some hippie style clothing with loose pants and colourful tops and jackets. There were a few slogan t-shirts promoting peace and tranquility, which were simple looking but the message was clear. Kids will love to stop by this shop as there is an adult-sized couch set up with a little table complete with drawing pencils and paper. I noticed there were a few sections on the walls that had hand drawn pictures and I assume the owner hangs up the drawings that kids leave behind. Also on the walls were some awesome acrylic paintings and portraits. They were quite original and if you want one similar the owner has the artists card at the counter. Also on offer are Reiki healings in a small peaceful room at the back of the store. It costs $60 for half an hour and clients simply need to ring in advance to book. The shop is open on Mondays and Fridays from 10-4, Tuesdays to Thursdays from 11-4 and on the weekends 10-5.

Upon my travels in this area I was fortunate to discover a shop that charmed me with its warmth…read more When I first entered the owner immediately greeted me and had been very attentive. I was shown the most astounding gem stone and crystal collection, and various jewellery and clothing designed for us men. I found a ring and top I could not live without. I also love my organic products such as soaps and oils and found an abundance on offer that had also been scooped up in my purchases that day. All I can say is that if you visit Olinda you cant go past this divine gift.

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.

Its stores like Chitra's Closet that make you really appreciate clothing. Billing its wares as…read more"Beautifully handcrafted, whimsical and romantic" on its website, the store caters to women from sizes 8-14, although the sizes are made to be more generous than in most retail outlets. Local Melbourne designer Chitra Mangma has a declared love of classic styles and flattering waistlines to suit the traditional female shape, with the requisite modern twists thrown in. However, it is a little ambiguous sometimes as to whether all the clothes would flatter all kinds of curvaceous women. There're always a lot of bright colours and prints featured each season, and most of the clothing is interesting and distinctive. It's all in the details: good fabrics, the odd bit of hand stitching. However, since it's locally made and designed the prices are in the couple to several hundred dollar bracket, which has thus far prevented me from acquiring anything for myself. But given the timeless nature of the designs and the love with which the clothes are made, there'd be a lot of women willing to save up for an item or two each season or year. There's a good range of accessories on hand. The shop itself has a quaint 1920s-30s feel that's almost like an older-style perfume shop mixed in with a Beatrix Potter novel. The service is low key and unobtrusive, so you don't feel pressured. Chitra's Closet is a shop for people who truly appreciate their clothes and want to invest in feeling good in what they wear.

Little Lost Land is the kind of store that I wish there were more of in St.Kilda. A world away from…read moretrashy chain-stores and generic hippie gear of Acland Street, Little Lost Land offers something a little different. Featuring vintage inspired designs, this is one of the few places in Melbourne where you can pick up truly unique pieces. No one like looking the same as everyone else, which is why stores with limited stock runs are such a godsend. The array of individual designs on offer is enough to satisfy the most discerning of shoppers. Little Lost Land also stocks a great range of shoes and jewellery by both local and international designers.

I love nothing more than being able to say the piece of jewellery I'm wearing is a one-off - which…read moreis why I get a thrill out of scouring the aisles of The Bead Centre on Smith Street, Collingwood for an array of charms and beads to create my very own unique treasure. The best bit is, more often than not you come across charms that are identical to those used on current accessories in stores such as Sportsgirl. Being able to create an 'of the moment' piece for a quarter of the price you'd pay for it in store is exceptional. And I love that you can customise it to your own taste. The Bead Centre carries an extensive range of chains, leather straps, clasps, charms, beads, baubles, crystals, stones and more - as well as a huge range of ready-made costume jewellery with the lowest prices in Australia.

I have yet to find a quality bead shop that stocks the particular items I am looking for such as…read morequality leather cord, clasps and metal accessories. Keep searching for better quality, unless you are just looking for something to get you by.

#Treatyoself I walk…read morepast this shop on an almost daily basis. For a little shop it sure packs a punch with the amount of stuff inside. They have a wide selection of silver and pearl jewellery, with a large splash of coloured jewellery on the side. It's a lovely place to browse and reasonably priced. Winner

I can't afford anything in this store. I probably won't be able to for quite some time, that being…read moresaid, I adore everything inside. Cactus Jam has been on Glenferrie Road since I was in high school. It is the premier fixture on the fashion and accessory scene that until recently was so sparse on this strip. Inside you'll find labels such as Chloe, Willow and Cacherel. Designs are from here and abroad and there is a wide range of clothing and accessories. At this time of the year expect to see soft cottons, silks and light bags for the summer ahead. Even though I can't afford anything the sales assistants are still lovely enough to let me in and have a browse - so add great service to the list.

Ashk tends to cover all the basic bases of women's fashion each season. There's always a lot of…read morebasic black designs, a couple of animal prints and dollops of colour and other textured clothes dotted throughout the shop. Essentially, in all likelihood you'll find something you like and something that flatters you. Maria, the woman behind Ashk, is among the more down to earth and helpful saleswomen out there, and has a good idea of what looks good on different women. She also has a great eye for jewellery, particularly if you like silver earrings. She sources them from a variety of suppliers and only keeps a limited run of each piece, so you're less likely to run into other locals with the exact same accessories. The clothing size can vary a little from brand to brand, but that's nothing unusual in the world of women's fashion. Always good to pop into if you're in the area and have a bit of time.