Discover shopping secrets
When it comes to shopping, Melburnians haven’t been completely honest with you. Reluctant to share some of their most beautiful boutiques, they’ve concealed them in unassuming laneways and tucked them into century-old arcades places like Cathedral Arcade. It’s time you knew the truth about places like Cathedral Arcade. Hidden inside is Alice Euphemia, whose stock comes solely from Australian designers, many providing exclusive or limited pieces and one-offs. It’s Genki’s hideout too. Here shopping is just as much fun as the cool Japanese cult labels and collectables that line the shelves.
It’s time you knew the truth about places like the GPO. This giant, stunning example of heritage-listed architecture is hardly classified information, but did you know it’s now home to an impressive list of iconic names in Australian fashion? Look for Fat, Belinda, Akira Isogawa and Lisa Ho. It’s just one of three new shopping precincts in the city, together with Melbourne Central and QV.
The GPO is just one of three new shopping precincts in the city, together with Melbourne Central and QV. While Centre Place (Body, Kinki Gerlinki), Little Collins Street (Chiodo, Roy, Prime), The Block Arcade (Douglas and Hope), Curtin House (Someday) and Flinders Lane (Flinders Way) are a few more of the shopping hubs Melburnians keep close to their chests. As is Chapel Street, Prahran. This two kilometre eclectic stretch of boutiques (Gorman, Alannah Hill, Scanlan and Theodore) is literally a retail paradise.
Melburnians have even gone so far as to bury some of their most treasured boutiques. In basements along Flinders Lane you’ll find e.g.etal, with its stunning contemporary jewellery, and Christine, with more scarves, hats, belts and bags than you can poke a Jamin Puech pin at. They’ve hidden even more in Little Collins Street (Assin), Crossley Street (Blonde Venus) and the Block (Douglas and Hope) and Royal Arcades (Marais). And they’re all worth investigating.
They’ve also kept Bridge Road close to their chests, which is no surprise really. Its big brand factory outlets and discount houses make this strip a bargain hunters’ paradise.
