Melbournalia is a souvenir shop that sells stuff people will actually like. This news is the good…read morekind of shocking. I'm a fan of gift giving, but souvenir shopping is such a chore. It takes forever and there's a good chance that the recipient will be polite but never use it, or you'll buy something that's more gag-gift than keepsake. What bugs me even more is when you see the same damn souvenirs relabelled in every country you go to. The wares at Melbournalia are different. They sell well thought out items from local Melbourne designers, with just the right hint of local charm (trams, postcode designs, aussie animals). You wouldn't have to have a foreigner in mind to buy something here either. They sell the kind of stuff you could have in your own house without it being embarrassingly ironic. Cute+

Bourke Hill based Melbournalia carries all manner of Melbourne-themed (and Melbourne-made!) goods…read more From local rooftop honey and tea towels to tram t-shirts and kids books, this small shop pretty much corners the market on local gifts. A wise stop if you want something to remember your trip to Melbourne, or want to send a gift to a homesick Melburnian living abroad.

What a funky, fun and don't forget full of attitude shop. Urban attitude has a collection of…read morepopular culture items, some funny, some cool and some downright silly. But whatever the occasion or whether you just feel like getting some inspiration, Urban Attitude has something that can appeal to everyone. They stock everything from cool and quirky kitchen supplies, to books and designer home-wear. As well as funky kids gear and fashion watches and accessories. There are things like Monster watches, melting clocks, a T-Rex Tea Infuser, Pop Art Camera and many many more crazy creations. Urban Attitude's aim is to make you smile, and the quirky collection of modern day items definitely do just that. It is a great option if your after a fun present for someone special, or you just want to cheer yourself up with a modern take on designer consumerism.

I'll tell you what gives me an urban attitude - looking down at my sweet new O'clock watch and…read morethinking of all the wicked band colours that are in my purchasing future! (Mad urban, yo.) If, unlike me, you don't have a sweet new O'clock watch, you could certainly pop by Urban Attitude to get your fix. While you're there, you could also pick up a hilarious book on awkward family photos, a range of wonderful and equally hilarious cards, gag gifts, clocks, posters, pillow covers, tea towels, coffee table books, novelty items (think a tape dispenser shaped liked an audio tape, an angry birds talking toy or a Facebook-inspired "Like" paperweight). This is certainly the place to go to grab a gift for a very cool friend that you have no idea how to buy for. Or, you know, your new boyfriend's 19-year-old daughter that you're meeting for the first time. Whateves... And before you know it, your attitude will be most definitely urban.

My inner hipster weeps for joy when I come here. There's cute jewelery, lambs wool mittens in…read morebright colours (I got watermelon pink), nanna cardigans and other assorted nic-nacs that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's not especially cheap, but everything is of a high quality and a lot of it is locally made which in my opinion is always worth shelling out a few extra dollars for. A great spot to pick up a gift for your quirky girlfriend, with staff who will help you make a decision on the most appropriate purchase. Love. Big time.

I am so lucky that I live this close to one of the coolest gift shops in Melbourne! If you need a…read moregift for anybody male or female I challenge you not to find it at Lulu. Full of funky designer goods, many from local artists and designers. The products change regularly providing new things to explore every time you pop in. Very helpful staff that will endeavor to help you find the perfect gift. There is every chance that you will leave with the gift you need and a little something for yourself too!

This is such a cute boutique. My sister and I were in the area looking for a brunch place and we…read morestumbled upon this little gem. It's really cute and girly and there are plenty of things to buy here. I was looking for little gifts that I could bring back home to family and friends and found a lot of things I could get. For the most part, they have unique trinkets that you could buy. The prices are a bit on the higher side, but they do have some really cute things. If I'm in the area next time, I'll stop by again.

For the woman in your life that has everything, but still loves just that little something more,…read moreRose St. could be just the place to shop. The vibe here is luxurious and the price tags are just what you'd expect for a store that focuses on high quality items that you don't see in many other gift stores. There's luxurious floaty sweaters, rich candles, silky scarves, soft leather handbags and small decorative home wares that most Mum's and ladies of fine taste would enjoy. Make a beeline here the next time you need to say "I'm sorry" "I love you" or "Happy Birthday" to your favourite female.

If you're about to give a special gift to someone and you want it to knock their socks off before…read morethey've even opened it - head here for their gift wrap. There's so much of it and it's gorgeous. The kind of paper that I desire to hoard for a special occasion...even though I know I'll completely forget about and put another gift in one of those tacky bags that I forgot to throw away from the last time someone gave me a present. Oops. The card range is enormous and completely omits the creepy crap you find at supermarkets and newsagents. Unfortunately for my friends, I'm also really into gifting those for a laugh. But if you're a better person than I, you'll find something pretty and thoughtful here. There's also some nice gifty items, notebooks and other stationary. One of the nicest paper/gift card stores in Melbourne.

I'm not sure why but it seems lots of us do tend to get particularly excited by stationary. Maybe…read moreit's just a girl thing or maybe it's an arty thing, whatever the reason set me loose in Handworks and you probably wont see me again for at least two hours! I love the little paperie, it is stocked full of fascinating paper, notebooks, journals, cards and masks. You can buy large decorative sheets of paper by the sheet, some of which are incredibly detailed and ornate with tactile elements patterned across their shiny surfaces. You can also choose from a selection of birthday, anniversary and gift cards gifts and home decorations. At the very rear of the store is a wall filled with beautiful Venetian style masks, they come in a range of sizes and colours and are perfect either for a Masquerade ball or even as a stunning wall piece for your home.

I know I'm not supposed to want mass produced tchotchkes that will never biodegrade but I love them…read moreso and like to try to hit up a souvenir shop whenever I'm in a foreign place. I actually didn't see many shops like this in either Sydney or Melbourne (I'm sure they exist but we just didn't see many like you would in other touristy places) so I had to look this place up in order to find what I was looking for. Melbourne Souvenirs is easy to find but it's a tiny shop packed to the brim. It will be a little tight in here but it's well worth it because they have some nice quality items. The person working the register was really nice and friendly.

I spent my morning walking along Swanston and stopping at every restaurant that piqued my interest…read more When I reached my limit, I decided to walk back to my hotel and whoa! Hello Kitty koala and kangaroo on the window display!!! Of course, I had to stop in and buy them. Then, I found more Aussie Hello Kitty items. Pens, face towels, phone holders, bags, socks, keychains, plushes and coin purses. I don't even use face towels but I bought them anyway. $9 for a pen? Ok! Of course, they have other Aussie souvenir items that are non-Hello Kitty. Like shirts, stuffed toys (platypus, koala, kangaroo, etc.), magnets, shot glasses and whatever crap you want to gift your friends and family back home. I just want my Hello Kitty.

The Grotto is a store that sells a mix of homewares, fashion, accessories, and beauty products. Its…read moredifficult to define this store, other than it stocks eclectic and unique things that are designed to bring beauty and originality to your life in whatever form that may be. From funky umbrellas and table top placemats, to giant floppy hats and floral maxi dresses, the grotto has a little bit of everything. The store has that kind of hippy spiritual feel to it, but dont be diverted by thinking the store is full of smelly candles and incense burners. Sure, they are there too, but there are plenty of great items to be had here, once you get your head around what they are actually trying to sell, if that makes sense. The sales staff are friendly and were quite happy to leave me browsing by myself, which I love. When I want some help I'll go ask for it!

As far as gift/homewares shops go, I think Urban Attitude is the most fun. Filled with so much…read morestuff that absolutely no one will ever 'need', but is fun to have. Makes it a great place to go gift hunting if you're unsure what to get someone. I love their collection of designer cards. They're a bit out there and random, which is how I like my gift cards. No soppy Hallmark greetings for me, thanks. The stuff you can find here is genuinely fun/random/hipster, not like the cheap knock off/trying-too-hard stuff you find at other larger stores *cough* Typo *cough* The staff are lovely to boot and will help you track down something quirky be it poster art, wallets, toys, kitchen ware or maybe a T-Rex lamp.

I love love love this store! Full of super cute, fun and quirky things, Urban Attitude is great for…read morebuying gifts, finding unique things to fill your home with, and taking everyday things and turning them into something special. Take for example the best knife block holder I' ve ever seen...Its a silhouette of a person ( I like the one in fire engine red) with six or seven slits throughout the body, so when you put your knives in they look like they are going through the body..... okay, I just re-read that, and now I sound like a crazy person who thinks stabbing people is awesome. AWKWARD......But seriously its really cool. When you walk into the St Kilda store, you feel off balance, until you realise that it is the shelves and design of the store that is off balance, not yourself. I think it really suits the concept they are going for. Definitely go check it out.