DISCOVER MELBOURNE'S BARGAIN SECRETS

Where and how to find Melbourne’s hidden gems

Melbourne is a city of style and sophistication — the fashion capital of Australia. Home to top Australian designers (Bettina Liano, Alannah Hill and Scanlan & Theodore, to name a few), Melbourne has a reputation as the epicentre of fashion and culture. And everyone can get a taste of Melbourne’s innovative fashion with the city’s incredibly affordable shopping scene. With arcades and laneways, streets and centres, Melbourne offers a stimulating and satisfying shopping experience. Whether you want designer seconds and samples, vintage clothing, second-hand furniture or the latest accessories, there are bargains to be found!

First, there are a few golden rules to bargain shopping.

Be brave and try new styles. Bargain shopping means that you can have a bit of fun and grab some things you might not normally wear. It’s a good idea to do this with accessories — belts, hats, jewellery and bags. As accessories instantly update any outfit, it doesn’t matter if they go out of style quickly (especially if you paid peanuts!).

Invest in classics. Although it’s tempting to pick up 20 trendy tops going for a song, chances are they will be out of style before you’ve had a chance to figure out what to team them with! Instead, buy one trendy top and look for classic pieces, such as a little black dress, a cute cardigan or a great pair of tailored pants.

Don’t just buy something because it has a designer label sewn into the collar. Outlets and discount stores can often be dumping grounds for slow sellers, so use your judgment. Just because it’s 50 per cent cheaper than in retail stores doesn’t mean you have to have it.

Here are the best places and ways to get more bang for your buck in Melbourne.

FACTORY OUTLETS
Factory outlets are like a shopper’s paradise. Usually manufacturers’ own retail shops offering name brands at rock-bottom clearance prices, they’re full of seconds, samples, and overstock or end-of-season stock. Prices are typically 25 per cent to 50 per cent off. Direct Factory Outlets and Brand Smart are the main centres in Melbourne but precincts such as Bridge Road, Richmond, and Smith Street, Collingwood are also home to a number of outlets. Factory outlets are always rotating stock so you may not find something you like every time you visit.

SECOND-HAND AND VINTAGE
Don’t want to be a slave to trends? Want to create a unique style on a shoestring? Second-hand and vintage shops are for you. Always in vogue, vintage stores are favourite haunts of fashion lovers around the world. Not only will you save a bundle, you’ll end up with something unique by shopping second-hand. Melbourne is home to many fantastic second-hand and vintage stores, including the cavernous Savers and Episode stores, both on Sydney Road, Brunswick. If it’s furniture you’re after, look out for the many antique and second-hand stores scattered throughout Melbourne. And all that digging through mounds of unique clothing or squeezing around dusty furniture is half the fun!

MARKETS
If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt as much as the purchase itself, then head to one of Melbourne’s markets. There are the well-known markets — such as the Queen Victoria Market, the South Melbourne Market and the Prahran Market — as well as smaller and more eclectic markets, such as the Rose Street Artist’s Market in Fitzroy. Here you can pick up a unique piece of jewellery or art from an emerging artist.

SHOPPING TOURS
If you’d like a guided tour around Melbourne’s bargain outlets and shopping secrets, then you might like to take a shopping tour. There are many to choose from such as Melbourne Shopping Tours, Shopping Spree Tours or Shopping Secrets.

VIP CLUBS
Many stores and shopping centres offer membership to mailing lists. Signing up for these is well worth it, as you’ll often receive notice of upcoming sales, specials and events at the store. You could also score yourself a special membership card. These cards will usually give you a percentage discount when it is presented. For example, at Jeans West, spend more than $150 in one transaction and you’ll qualify for their “A List” card. As a member, you receive 10 per cent off all purchases and five per cent off all sale items — what a bargain!