Fashion shopping in Melbourne
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Marais
Calling something after a Parisian neighbourhood may smack of parochial insecurity, but happily this venture delivers as much subtle sophistication as its inspiration. Stealthily signposted on the secluded upper floor of the otherwise workaday Royal Arcade, the airy space is a delight, with raven-stained parquetry, glossy white panelled walls and witty fittings. The stock is challenging but elegant. International labels include Preen, Blaak and Balenciaga; fashion editor darlings Josh Goot and Toni Maticevski represent the locals.
reviewed
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TL Wood
Teresa Liano has styled Melbourne’s best dressed behind the scenes for years. Her luscious label gives women what they really want: the loveliest silks and wools, and cuts that both flatter the female form and subtly demand attention. One of her soft knit scarves will keep you warm for years.The shop, which feels more like a very stylish front room, also has a wonderful range of jewellery by local artisans. There’s also a branch in the city centre.
reviewed
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Le Louvre
Society lady Lillian Wightman founded this treasure in 1935; it’s now run by her daughter, the formidably fashionable Georgina Weir. This is not somewhere you come to rifle through the racks on a whim. Service is personal: sit on the sofa and frocks will be brought to you (much of the stock is imported with specific clients in mind). It may appear from another time, but the clothes themselves are often cutting edge.
reviewed
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Chiodo
Chiodo subverts classic male fashion, so that army-style khaki shirts are deliciously embroidered with pink tulips. A business shirt will be perfect except for that inside-out piece, designed to reference the construction of garments. Chiodo is clever, cheeky and chic, and accessorises with fab local designers. The postmodern shop fitout (shirts displayed on a table made from stacks of shirts) is worth a squiz too.
reviewed
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Alannah Hill
Somehow greater than the sum of their (cheap-fabric and often slapdash, repetitive-cut) parts, the clothes of theatrical, ever-lippied Miss Hill have an enduring, widespread appeal. Her outré shops and even more outré runway shows draw on her gift for meta-narrative and her kookily conservative but oddly comforting vision of womanhood, which may explain the attraction.
reviewed
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Cactus Jam
Tucked away in one of QVB’s pseudo-lanes, this reliably up-to-the-minute shop is split along us/them lines. Global giants Cloë, Cacherel and some interesting names like Duro Olowu live to the left; locals like Yeojin Bae and Ginger & Smart, as well as a wide assortment of denim, are on the right. There’s also a branch at Port Melbourne.
reviewed
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Gwendolynne
A favourite for special-occasion dressing with a particular kind of Melburnian (soap stars and footballers' wives need not apply), Gwendolynne Burkin's historically referenced, precision-cut clothes are darkly feminine and seriously elegant. This back-street Fitzroy salon does nothing to distract from the general air of affected mystery.
reviewed
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Collette Dinnigan
Need a special-occasion frock? New Zealand-born, Australian-claimed and internationally renowned Collette Dinnigan dresses celebrities every other day for premieres and parties. Signature delicate lace gowns and underwear, as well as shimmering satin pieces and the softest cashmere knits are something to celebrate all on their own.
reviewed
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Nudie
Cult Swedish jeans are cut from top-quality denim and keep on keeping on (especially if you follow its rock-and-roll dictate to spare them the washing machine for at least a month). It also does a range of T-shirts and underwear and staff are helpful. Although it’s firmly in a menswear zone, Nudies can be worn by both sexes.
reviewed
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Claude Maus
Subtly gothic, darkly urban local label by lapsed artist Rob Maniscalco. You’ll find great jeans and lovely leather for men and women in a heritage-listed shop with soaring pressed-metal ceilings and the textured remains of ’70s leopard-print wallpaper. The pieces have a cross-seasonal appeal too.
reviewed
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RPM
Carlton girls don’t mind being the smartest in the room, and RPM stocks the labels that aren’t going to call anyone’s IQ into question. There’s elegant, edgy Zambesi, Kirrily Johnston and Marnie Skillings, as well as great jeans and cult T-shirts from Jac&Jack.
reviewed
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Metalicus
Metalicus makes a wide range of endlessly versatile pieces to layer, from leggings to tunics to cardigans. Scrunch-proof, they are perfect for filling the gaps in a travel wardrobe. Basic black is always available, plus a host of seasonal brights. Also in South Yarra.
reviewed
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American Apparel
Dov Charney’s multihued basics have their first Australian home. If you’re the kind of person that likes the same old same old (be it hoody, T-shirt or leggings) but want it in teal, asphalt, cranberry and possibly silver lurex, this is the place to go crazy.
reviewed
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Left
LEFT champions the looks that only a few can pull off: there’s the arte povera chic of Carpe Diem, arts-admin darling Yohji Yamamoto and talented gender-bender Anne Valérie Hash. But browsing is a treat; it even has a small stock of genuine Byzantine jewellery.
reviewed
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Assin
Big basement of challenging artwear from international, mostly Belgian, designers. Menswear is particularly strong, though they do clothoing for women too. Prices might give you a fright but you can scurry up the stairs and think no more of that distressed-seam jacket.
reviewed
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Fool
Long-time Greville St resident Rowena Doolan designs practical (though never boring) wearables in compelling rainbow colours. Her winter collections of cable knits and warming wide scarves are particularly strong and well suited to Melbourne’s chilly days.
reviewed
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Order & Progress
Brazilian cool of the dressed-up rather than kit-off kind. Latin labels such as Alexandre Herchcovitch and Maria Bonita Extra are joined by Eley Kishimoto, Katherine Hamnet and cult Scots, Folk. Girls with a nostalgia for jelly-sandals will find them here too.
reviewed
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Don’t Come
Yes, do. The shop’s parent label Schwipe is known for its highly provocative, sharply graphic, street-savvy T-shirts. Kanye West and the LCD Soundsystem popped in and seemed to like them that way. (If you’re lost, look for the pink Marais sign.)
reviewed
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Bloch
Dancewear for professional dancers and for those who don’t know a plié from a pas de chat but just like the ballet flat and wraparound cardie look. Bloch’s collection of dance-themed bits and bobs will please little ballerinas too.
reviewed
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Alphaville
Alphaville keeps the cool kids of both genders happy with Alpha 60’s sharp clothes. Look out for tilts to Jean-Luc Godard and other filmic favourites (we loved the body-bagged Laura Palmer pillow slips). It also stocks Cheap Monday jeans.
reviewed
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Frisk
A local’s one-stop shop when they need something smart but interesting. Well-chosen Australian designers like Alice McCall, Josh Goot and Obus. It’s run by a mother and daughter and the stock also crosses the generational divide.
reviewed
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Toolz
A unique collection of clothes made in the softest cottons, sourced from Japan and South Korea. Equal parts Marni global sophisticate, Vermont bake-sale ingénue and ascetic Japanese, the artsy, textured aesthetic that emerges is very Smith St.
reviewed
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Monk House Design
There’s a whole lot of indie design talent to be found at this design hothouse, including Skin and Threads, Ammo, Queen and Sunday Morning. In summer the Brazilian jelly shoes walk out the door, in winter it’s the house-brand coats.
reviewed
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Sarti
Bespoke suits and shirts can be made by local tailors or whipped up by hand in Italy (‘su misura’). There’s also a range of snappy ready-to-wear pieces for both men and women that can be individually altered.
reviewed
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Anna Thomas
Max Mara–alum Anna Thomas is known for her tailoring, perfect patterns and luxurious knits. Grown-up with just a hint of girly charm, her designs can go from a boardroom brunch to a picnic in the park.
reviewed