A curated guide to Melbourne’s best vintage stores
The best spots in Melbourne for vintage clothing, furniture, accessories and more.
Melbourne is a city with many redeeming qualities. While we might be a little biased (Fashion Journal has been based in Naarm since 1991, after all), there’s no disputing the facts: excellent coffee, a thriving arts scene and some of the best vintage shopping in the country.
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From vintage warehouses to archival designer boutiques, the city offers every opportunity to find the pre-loved piece of your dreams. Whether you’re into ’70s psychedelia, ’80s gaud or ’90s minimalism, Melbourne holds your vintage shop soulmate.
Lost and Found Market
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Located up a flight of stairs in the heart of Fitzroy, Lost and Found is a sprawling fleamarket comprised of stalls from vintage sellers across Melbourne. You can find all kinds of clothing, accessories and bric-a-brac from decades past, like frilly ’50s swimsuits, patchwork ’60s denim and silk slipdresses from the mid-’90s. Expect to lose a few hours exploring the markert’s expansive offering.
288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Opera
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Nestled next to a laundrette on Carlton North’s Rathdowne Street, Opera is a vintage store stocking a mix of archival Junya Watanabe, Prada, Miu Miu, MFG and Vivienne Westwood (to name a few). Pieces move quickly and hero items are often posted on the Opera Instagram, so you can get an idea of what’s on offer before you head in-store.
308-310 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
Reina Melbourne
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Tucked away in the Nicholson building, Reina specialises in archival designer clothing, with a focus on European and Japanese designers. Browse the minimalistic, curated boutique for pieces from brands like Prada, Bottega Veneta, Celine, YSL and Miu Miu.
Level 1, 37 Swanston Street, The Nicholas Building
Vintage Sole
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When you walk into one of Vintage Sole’s two locations (in the CBD and Fitzroy), you’ll be met with an onslaught of colour. Tie-dye tees, retro pop culture sweatshirts and patterned button-ups greet you upon entry. From its 2005 beginnings, Vintage Sole has consolidated its status as a vintage haven for Melburnians.
6/37 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Martin Fella
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Martin Fella is a vintage specialist in preloved designer bags, clothing and accessories. The shop’s collection is carefully curated by Mr Fella himself, who has a keen eye for classic men’s fashion. His store is regularly stocked with classic suits, dainty shoes and a stash of luxury designer handbags.
556 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
American Rag
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In its 30 years of operation, American Rag has grown to become the go-to destination for quality American vintage garments. An ode to its name, founder Eileen Carney is an American-born Australian known for her exquisite knowledge of vintage fashion. All pieces are hand-picked at its QV and Southgate stores.
15-17 QV Terrace, Melbourne
Out of the Closet (OTC Vintage)
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You might’ve seen OTC Vintage across the road from Flinders Street Station, with its dark staircases, walls lined with music posters from the ’70s, and music blaring from its speakers. For over 20 years, OTC has been slinging Melburnians vintage goods from every era, with a second location on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy.
238B, Flinders Street, Melbourne
Shag
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A magical treasure trove of unique costume pieces and vintage gems, you never know what to expect when you walk into Shag. Spread out over its Windsor and Collingwood stores, Shag is a purveyor of wacky items, attracting buyers from film and television industries as well as individuals with eclectic styles.
130 Chapel Street, Windsor
Retropolis
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With over 40 vendors selling vintage treasures, Retropolis feels more like stepping into an eccentric aunt’s home than a secondhand store. The sprawling space is best wandered through over a couple of hours, giving you time to trawl the clothing, furniture, accessories and collectibles. Come prepared.
1 Newman Street, Preston
Retrostar
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Retrostar is synonymous with Melbourne’s vintage scene. For almost two decades now, Retrostar has been supplying the town with its massive selection of preloved goods, with an unmatched array of womenswear, menswear, accessories, sportswear and more. Keep an eye out for its famous warehouse sales too.
Nicholas Building, First Floor, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne
This article was originally published on August 28, 2023.
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