The super thrifty bit
This is the bit where we venture past the department stores and main shopping drags and seek out vintage wares in the city’s funkiest pre-loved stores. Wander bustling streets in eclectic neighbourhoods and look for everything from mid-century furniture to Farrah Fawcett-style flared jeans.
Check out our top spots for vintage shopping in Melbourne.
SWOP
Refresh your wardrobe responsibly with second-hand modern or vintage clothing that’s been carefully curated with seasonality in mind. SWOP is a stalwart of the circular fashion economy and home to stylish one-off pieces you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
Retropolis
The mothership of retro fashion, furniture, collectibles, records, instruments, bric-a-brac, and basically anything old and quirky (sometimes new), Retropolis is a key stop on any vintage shopping crawl.
Vintage Garage
Colourful Fitzroy is home to all sorts of quirky finds, and Vintage Garage definitely hits the mark. Dive into a funky mix of vintage treasures and rummage through all sorts of bric-a-brac – thrifted threads, fun accessories, retro memorabilia and collectibles – the store’s range is full of surprising rarities.
Lost & Found Market
Get lost in a veritable feast of vintage furniture, clothing, art, books and cute little bits-and-pieces at the Lost & Found Market. The huge trading floor has more than 60 stores dealing in all sorts of unique curiosities.
Vintage Sole
Skip the fast fashion in favour of an ethical alternative with a pre-loved gem from Vintage Sole. With a range informed by contemporary trends and vintage staples, the store stocks great finds that are handpicked and sourced from all over the world. Find them in Fitzroy, Melbourne’s city-centre and South Yarra.
Reina
After a bit of ‘90s and early ‘00s grunge and minimalist chic fashion? Reina Melbourne is focused predominantly on sourcing archival designer clothing from this period, with staples from European and Japanese designers.
Chapel Street Bazaar
Enter a vintage wonderland at Chapel Street Bazaar and uncover a treasure trove of retro goods, pop-culture memorabilia, ironic homewares and all things unusual. The bazaar houses dozens of stalls, all overflowing with unique finds.
Shag
Also on Chapel Street is the fun and fabulous Shag; the self-proclaimed hunters and dealers of fine new and vintage treasures from Melbourne and around the world. Step into the colourful cornucopia of fashion and find your new one-of-a-kind wardrobe staple.
Retrostar
Step through time and let the nostalgia fuel your shopping spree at Retrostar, with men's and women's fashion dating as far back as the '40s, moving through the swinging '60s, funky '70s and decadent '80s.
