Melbourne is known as the style capital of Australia for a reason. If you’re craving a little retail therapy, spend your next weekend escape getting to know this city’s local fashion scene.
In a metropolis brimming with fabulous fashion finds, deciding where to start can be tricky. But you don’t have to be a born and bred Melbournian to know where the best designer boutiques are. Next time you’re in town, give the department stores a miss and find your way to these hidden retail gems.
bassike – Rankins Lane, Melbourne CBD
A home-grown icon
Home to a diverse mix of local and foreign fashion labels, Rankins Lane is located just off Bourke Street. This narrow and winding laneway is lined with coffee shops, boutiques and lush window boxes, making it one of the city’s top fashion spots.
Rankins Lane’s major drawcard is the bassike flagship store. Founded in Melbourne, bassike is renowned for high-quality basics and sustainable manufacturing techniques. Apart from racks of high-end clothes, the bassike Rankins Lane boutique features Scandinavian-inspired furnishings and a real fireplace. Even if you don’t end up buying anything, it’s worth visiting just to admire the décor.
Once you’ve shopped up a storm at bassike, treat yourself to coffee and bagels at the Manchester Press café.
Assin – Little Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Understated elegance
Assin specialises in subdued colour palettes and classic silhouettes. From international labels like Vivienne Westwood to local designers, this store stocks a treasure trove of high-end fashion. Catering to Melbourne’s cool crowd, this monochromatic boutique is the ultimate shopping destination for fans of minimalist style.
The store itself is made up of steel beams and polished concrete floors. Hidden in a basement store on Little Collins Street, it’s surrounded by other beautiful clothing boutiques and cocktail bars. If you’re looking for things to do in Melbourne, exploring this part of town is a must for fashionistas.
Le Louvre – Daly Street, South Yarra
Fashion heritage
After starting out as a store for Melbourne’s high society ladies more than 90 years ago, , Le Louvre has evolved into one of the coolest couture boutiques in town. With its gilt mirrors, plush sofas and glass staircase, this fashion store is all opulence.
Founded in the 1920s, Le Louvre isn’t just a clothing outlet – it’s a fashion icon. Offering a host of couture, and ready-to-wear labels, the boutique’s old-world charm brings a touch of prestige to Daly Street in South Yarra.
Lady Petrova – Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Eclectic Sophistication
Once a shabby garment district, Flinders Lane is now the epicentre of Melbourne’s cultural renaissance. Hidden amongst the rooftop bars, independent cafes and fine-dining restaurants, Lady Petrova offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of this popular thoroughfare.
Bursting with tulle, lace, colourful fabrics and crystals, it feels more like a sophisticated dress-up box than a fashion boutique. With everything from bridal gowns to phones cases, Lady Petrova’s product line is eclectic to say the least. If you’re bored of seeing the same outfits everywhere, no one does unique fashion quite like this designer.
Once you’re done trying on outfits at Lady Petrova, grab a bite to eat at Coda, an industrial-chic Vietnamese restaurant on Flinders Lane.
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