A guide to Melbourne’s best consignment stores
Illustration by Twylamae
Words by Carlos Mangubat
Buy low, sell high.
When you’re a stylist, you inevitably accumulate excessive amounts of clothing. Between buying pieces ‘great for an editorial’ and keeping clothing from advertising jobs, eventually, the archive builds itself.
But soon reality hits. And you realise that you’ve got more clothing than floor space in your one-bedroom city apartment. You realise it’s time to get ruthless before you end up on the next episode of Hoarders.
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In an attempt to curb my habits and regain floor space, I’ve come up with the rule that I can only buy clothing that has re-sell value. Whenever I get over an item, or when a very large phone bill is due, I sell my archive.
Over time, I have developed a network of re-sell stores that I approach when I feel claustrophobic in my one-bedroom closet. Seeing as Melbourne has no shortage of second-hand clothing buyers, I know that I can always find the right home for every item in my collection.
For those who find themselves in a similar situation, have constant buyer’s remorse or can’t be bothered selling their own clothing, I thought I would narrow down the search.
Irvrsbl
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Irvrsbl is home to some of Australia’s most coveted vintage luxury pieces. It is founded by vintage fashion enthusiast Clare Ferra, who has a sophisticated eye for authentic designer pieces. Her collection boasts the likes of Chanel, Gucci, Missoni, Prada, Balenciaga and more.
116 Greville Street, Prahran
Eurotrash
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Nestled among the hustle and bustle of Chapel Street, Eurotrash specialises in high-end, luxury designer goods. All items are hand-picked, with new items added in-store every day. Expect respected names such as Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Hermes and Versace to be on offer.
4/217 Chapel Street, Prahran
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Mio Tesoro
The Como Centre 6/299 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Chanel CC earrings, Louis Vuitton luggage and Hermès bangles easily find a home at Mio Tesoro. Rare high-end handbags and accessories are the store’s speciality (a.k.a. a bloggers dream).
Consigners can negotiate rates on their items after booking an appointment with the owner.
Sold: Céline two-tone zip clutch for $125
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Stop Staring
256 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Stop Staring offers the broadest range of brands among its consignment buddies on Toorak Road. Everything from Sass & Bide to Balenciaga can be sold here with non-negotiable buyout prices on your items. Meaning, if your items go on sale, the store covers the cost of the reduction, not the consigner. Most pieces are contemporary and no less than five years old. Prices range from $59-$1000.
Sold: Thurley dress for $60.
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Secondo
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Secondo is an apparel-heavy consignment store – its South Yarra storefront is a fixture in Melbourne’s secondhand scene. Local and international designers line its shelves, from Scanlan Theodore to Missoni. If you’re trying your hand at consignment, you’ll snag 40 per cent of the selling price.
286 Toorak Rd, South Yarra
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Bruce
157 Gertrude Street, Collingwood
284 Queens Parade, North Fitzroy
If you are willing to part with your Comme des Garçons and Ann Demeulemeester pieces, Bruce in Collingwood is the ideal place to sell coveted avant-garde Japanese and Belgian pieces. Consigners receive 50 per cent of the store’s selling prices and the sale price is determined by the type of garment.
Its North Fitzroy counterpart targets more high-end European and American labels from DvF to Gucci, as well as saving space for menswear (unlike many other consignment stores in the area).
Sold: Comme des Garçons Homme Plus shirt for $60.
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Goodbyes
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Previously known as Recycle Boutique, Goodbyes is a unique reselling retail experience where customers can also dabble in consignment. With stores in Brunswick, Collingwood and Prahran, Goodbyes prides itself on quality, timeless goods, with a focus on local Australian and New Zealand labels.
2 Johnston Street, Collingwood
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Penny Lane Clothing Exchange
145 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Anyone with an environmental mindset will feel at home at Penny Lane Clothing Exchange. Aimed at extending the life of clothing, the Penny Lane community can exchange pre-loved items for store credit or receive cash on the spot for their items. Store credit lasts a lifetime, which allows sellers to accumulate credit over time.
Mainly targeting the middle market, a list of suitable labels can be found on its website. This place is could be the home for that Búl blazer you stopped wearing two years ago.
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Mutual Muse
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Based in both Brunswick and Thornbury, Mutual Muse is a secondhand reselling space that specialises in contemporary fashion. Though it stocks a bit of vintage and the odd unusual piece, Mutual Muse centres around the brands you already know and love. A quick scour through its online offerings finds brands like Weekday, Sister Studios, Assembly Label and Faithfull the Label.
687 High Street, Thornbury
Swop
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Swop is a clothing exchange built on the pillars of inclusivity and community. Opened in 2019, its Collingwood store stocks a funky array of items, ranging from wardrobe staples to rare finds. To maintain the high quality it’s known for, Swop has a pretty strict criteria for selling, meaning a lot of fast fashion brands are barred from the store.
266 Smith Street, Collingwood
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