The best vintage stores in Melbourne

Subterranean – 252 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

Subterranean are one of the pioneer vintage stores of Melbourne. Originally located in Northcote, they have picked up roots and relocated to a brand new store at 252 Johnston St Fitzroy. Come and unearth all of the hidden gems that this store is known for and deck out your winter wardrobe. Subterranean have vintage garb for women and men, and stock only the finest in vintage and retro clothing. Sourced both locally and from around the world, they have a massive collection of vintage frocks, warm winter coats, furs, hats and accessories. Community plays a huge part in all that Subterranean do and following a good decade or so in Northcote, they are very excited to now call Fitzroy home. If you can’t make it in-store, you can buy online at www.subterranean.com.au also find them on Instagram: @subterraneanvintage. Get a 20% discount on Thursdays when you flash your student card. It’s all yours for the taking when you come visit their new home.

Retrostar – First Floor Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston St, (cnr Flinders Lane), CBD

We hope by now you’re well acquainted with RetroStar. Located in the iconic Nicholas building, this Melbourne institution is Australia’s largest vintage clothing store, boasting over 10,000 vintage pieces and accessories. With an eclectic collection ranging from the 1940s through to the now-retro ‘90s, it’s the ultimate playground for vintage lovers. Whether you are searching for vintage dresses, psychedelic prints, western boots, vintage tee shirts, jeans or jackets, there’s no doubt that RetroStar will have something that will catch your eye.

Lost & Found Market– 511 Lygon St, Brunswick East

Lost and Found Market started out as a group of collectors selling things in an abandoned nightclub on Smith Street, Collingwood in 2005 and has grown substantially in the past ten years, finally settling in East Brunswick. Lost & Found Market is a vintage market covering 1000 square metres. This gem has over 60 stall holders that sell vintage furniture, industrial lighting, art, fashion, books, musical instruments, records, kitchenalia and bric-a-brac. They’ve got a huge variety of collectable, vintage and retro items spanning the 1940s through to the 1990s. These legends are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 6pm and are closed to the public on Fridays. However, film, fashion, stylists and TV industry folk are more than welcome to pop in between 10am and 6pm to have a look.

Take 2 Markets – Victoria Markets C Shed (near the Peel Street entrance) 

Melbourne’s most popular pre-loved women’s pop-up fashion market is back at Queen Victoria Markets C Shed. There’s an impressive 30+ stalls of vintage and designer fashion, with discounts up to 80% off the original price. Take 2 Markets offer savvy fashion lovers a delicious selection of Australian and international designer labels, chic high street brands, vintage garments, and all the hats, jewellery, bags and shoes to go with them. You will also find rack-after-rack of pristine garments, including vintage winter coats and wool jumpers from the ‘80s, as well as dresses, shirts, pants, shoes, handbags and jewellery. With low prices and high quality, you can update your wardrobe as regularly as you like for a fraction of the retail price. Strictly women’s wear only and on this Sunday.

Phillips Shirts – 274 Little Lonsdale St, CBD 

Phillips have unworn vintage shirts and Italian knitted sweaters in all the colours of the early ‘80s, plus jackets, tees, plaid shirts and other garments that you won’t find anywhere else in Melbourne. From bright prints to paisley Liberty slim fits for the boys, and tailored dresses, ’80s knitwear and pastel shirts for the girls, Phillips has a huge assortment of garments in every fabric, cut, print and weave you can think of. Fabric fiends will also want to make a date with the Phillips Shirts factory, as 800 rolls of fabric from their 4000-bolt strong archive is on sale, including rare vintage Liberty prints. It is seriously not to be missed.

Chapel St Bazaar – 217 Chapel St, Prahran

Chapel St Bazaar is an iconic vintage, antique and collectibles bazaar and houses over 70 stallholders featuring vintage clothing, jewellery, industrial, taxidermy, dolls and toys, books, vinyl records, movie posters, china, kitchenalia, vintage lighting, military, comics, glass, furniture, paintings, prints, radios, typewriters, cameras and more. Chapel St Bazaar is an absolute south side institution and if you haven’t been before, you are missing out. The place is split up into individual stalls and each one is run by a different vintage aficionado. Make sure you allow yourself heaps of time to explore, as it’s easy to lose yourself in there. If you are searching for something special, you will find it here.

Larry Clothing – 341 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Larry Clothing is an eclectic boutique stocking contemporary, vintage and loved designer wears. They source their entire collection of quality one-off pieces locally and from overseas and cater for both men and women. At Larry they have done the sorting for you – if it’s a gorgeous leather bag you’re after, a pretty vintage dress, a funky paisley shirt or a pair of leather lace-up ankle boots, you will find it in abundance at Larry. They also have a large collection of leather jackets made from recycled leather and enough denim-on-denim to impress all. For those who are designer savvy Melburnites, there’s an impressive range of recycled designers, such as Gorman, Zimmerman, Alpha 60 and Acne just to name a few. With new stock arriving weekly, Larry is sure to satisfy even the most discerning vintage lover.

Christine’s – 362 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy 

Christine’s fabulous new store has just opened in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Christine’s stocks a massive range of ’40s and ’50s reproduction clothing by Vivien of Holloway Brand, and it’s the only store in Australia to do so. The brand is made by Christine’s sister Vivien in London and is a favourite of celebrities such as Paloma Faith, chef Nigella Lawson and rock’n’roll queen Imelda May, and it’s easy to see why. Cunningly boned, halter neck bodices give a nipped waist and a gentle bullet bust that nods to the past without being too extreme, but the dress that’ll captivate the imagination of every girl is the signature halter neck circle dress, perfect for a night on the town. Wear with a contrasting, double-layer petticoat, and you’re guaranteed to turn heads and drop jaws. And just for Beat readers, cut out this story to receive 20% off in store.

Mutual Muse – 687 High St, Thornbury 

Mutual Muse is about sharing with your community. By providing your under-used clothes, you are giving them extra life and adding value for yourself and others where there previously was none. When you bring in your clothes to be sold in the store, you are keeping resources in your neighbourhood. By giving new life to our clothes, we can scale back our consumption, reduce our waste, and keep value in our communities. It’s a simple, guilt-free solution, just bring in everything you don’t wear, and they’ll sort through your items and pick out the things their customers would most love. Mutual Muse specialise in contemporary clothing, but love vintage too. And in exchange, you’ll get a cash offer or 50% of the retail value in store credit. Mutual Muse also stocks Australian designers and high street brands in addition to vintage wares, and is family owned and operated, so you know you are in good hands.