Fa fa fashion! CBD / City
This shoptastic itin probes deep into the city’s hidden arcades and laneways, and kicks off a mere cappucino’s slosh from the end of the Flinders Lane itin. Purse out, Pam! Firstly, head over to quaint C.19th the Block Arcade at 282 Collins St. to fortify yourself with a soothing, chintzy tea and scone sesh at Hopetoun Tea Rooms / Shop 1-2 / 9650 2777 / hopetountearooms.com.au. Here too, you’ll find The French Jewel Box at Shop 2A / 9654 3863 / for erudite Victorian and Edwardian estate droolery; herb and spice merchants Gewürzhaus at Shop 26 / 9639 6933 / with Oz bush pepper blends; and locally-made chocolate creations at Haigh’s / Shop 7-8 / 9654 7673. Turn right after Haigh’s into Block Pl. to meet Little Collins St., and leg it right to find spiffy frocks at #285 Scanlan Theodore / 9650 6195 / scanlan theodore.com. Grab a state-of-the-art caffeine hit from Sensory Lab opp. at #297 / 9645 0065, then take the next right into Howey Pl. for Nevenka at #12 / 9663 5873 / with ethereal ladies’ fashion, and Bisonte at #14 / 9639 7898 / bisonte.com.au / with butter-soft leather wallets, totes and jackets. Retrace back the way you came and opp. Block Pl. you’ll espy the Royal Arcade at 314 Little Collins St. Dive in and look to the left after Caffé e Torta for the black sign of Marais on 1/F / 9639 0314 / a sleek haven of global name togs and accessories for fellas, then carry on up to 2/F for Somewhere / 9663 3003 / someplace.com.au / packing cult Scandi jeans and Nordic clobber, then sneak an haute choc treat from G/F Koko Black / Shop 4 / 9639 8911 / complete with caff. Rocket out the arcade onto Bourke St., crossing and ducking into Mellie’s former post office turned Straya’s H&M flagship GPO at 350 Bourke St. / melbournesgpo.com. Scoot through and out the back onto Little Bourke St., turning left and crossing Elizabeth St. To your left is Somerset Pl., home to ace Captains of Industry (see Adv. Shop.) and its bespoke shoes and suits, grooming and eats. Retrace back along Little Bourke ( past GPO) and on your right you’ll spot high-end kicks at #265 Sneakerboy / 9662 4447 / sneakerboy.com, then swing left and into archi-wow mall Emporium Melbourne / emporiummelbourne.com.au / (entrance also at 287 Lonsdale St.), which doffs its cap to the crème of Oz fash on the 2/F – guys, get your mitts on Calibre, Déclic and Arthur Galan; gals, elbow Kylie out the way to get first dibs on Dion Lee, Bianca Spender, Mimco and Sass & Bide. Exit right onto Lonsdale St., cross Swanston St. and shimmy to the QV complex on the diagonally opp. corner, entering via Albert Coates Ln. Inside, find Sydney hipanista m/wear Vanishing Elephant at #14 / 9639 3869 / vanishingelephant.com, style crew Incu’s / 9654 4725 / 9662 3730 / m/w gear, and young local design (w) at Obüs #10 / 9639 9312. Retrace and whiz left down Swanston until you hit #252 Curtin House. The lift’s dodgy, so climb the stairs for four kick-ass stores on 3/F: Búl / 9663 0390 / with boxy femme fash; Someday / 9654 6458 / for stellar street garb incl. culty P.A.M; Pet Shop Girls / 9043 9277 / for an Oz dress-up extravaganza; and archi n’ art tomes at Metropolis Bookshop / 9663 2015. Options. Rest tired trotters at Thai beer hall Cookie on 1/F / 9663 7660, bar-cumbandroom The Toff in Town / 2F / 9639 8770, Mexi Mesa Verde on 6/F / 9654 4417, or head on up to the 7/F Rooftop Bar (see Bars), and if it’s summer you can even catch an arthouse flick at the Rooftop Cinema. Lights, camera...