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.

Friends of Couture is definitely a friend of mine. In fact, this is one of my favourite places to…read moreshop. From great quality cardigans that won't lose their shape, to quirky dresses to fashion-forward tops and bottoms with the cutest prints. This is one store that doesn't shy away from prints. In fact, Friends of Couture seems to thrive on prints. If you're serious about dots, stripes, hearts, bows, checks, horses, owls, bears, moose, deer and cats, you'll love the stuff here. If you hate these prints - go elsewhere! Serious, monochromatic-addicts will hate it here. I love the quirky patterns, vintage inspired buys and spin-offs on classic prints that this shop does so well. Plus, it carries a good selection of handbags and accessories to complete your outfit with. Always make sure to check the back racks for sale products. Very often you'll find that perfect dress, scarf or cardi just waiting to be brought home by you.

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.

Nice enough op shop, bought some kids pants for $3.50 and $4, a jump rope etc. Bring your own bag…read moreand they don't accept cards for purchases under $10.

The Y.E.S Op Shop has great vibes as well as great stock. There is so much variety in the objects…read moreon the shelves that visiting the shop is like going treasure hunting; there's a lot of junk, but also plenty of good finds. The shop is run by volunteers to fund education qualifications for young people and the disadvantaged. They rely on donations of all their stock. They sell items inclusive of clothing, dvds, cds, books, toys and bric-a-brac. They only take quality items that are in good condition so there aren't any shockingly horrible things in there. The atmosphere is pretty friendly. People pop in and out as much to have a chat as to pick up something from the shop. The prices are fairly reasonable - the nicer and the newer an item the higher the price. It is logical. There are some prices that are a little higher than I would expect for an op shop but it is all going to a good cause so complaining is definitely not an option. There is also quite a large range of furniture and decor items in this op shop - definitely check it out.

Given the demographics of Doncaster and surrounding burbs it doesn't come as a huge surprise that…read morethis store is constantly filled with high-end secondhand stock. Located a couple of K's behind the big mall this store offers a surprisingly awesome level of selection. With seven donation bins waiting patiently out the front and a whole basement full of stock this gives you some idea of their level of turnover. There are several racks devoted wholly to designer clothing and retro/costume racks with actual vintage pieces. Don't get too excited though, the staff know their stuff and price the stock accordingly. It's still cheaper than looking for vintage pieces around Collingwood/Fitzroy but don't expect back of the church shop prices. There is a huge selection of kids clothing, bric a brac, sports equipment and electrical goods. There is also A LOT of vinyl, I found Carly Simon and ELO without even trying. So if you're up for the drive (public transport is almost impossible) Doncaster Salvos is worth a visit.

The Villa Maria Op Shop in Wantirna Mall is really good. It is good because the people who work…read morehere are so friendly and personable. A lot of people come here to socialise and to have a decent conversation. There is a lot of bric-a-brac here and there are plenty of good home decor items up for grabs. Photo frames are only a $1 or so. The clothing here isn't amazing but I did find a couple of vintage items. These were marked up slightly higher than the other clothes but they were great quality so I didn't feel cheated. There are also a lot of kids toys and accessories like handbags and shoes here. Prices are on the wall and are: Dresses: $7 Skirts: $5 Shirts/Blouses: $5 Trousers/Pants: $5 T-Shirts: $4 Singlets: $4 Jumpers: $7 Windcheaters: $5 Shorts and Track Pants: $3 Jackets: $10 Children's Clothes: from $2 Pretty decent don't you think?

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 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.