Marais
Named after the historic district in Paris, Marais is a sleek boutique specialising in luxurious French fashion houses, including Kenzo, Balmain, Givenchy, Balenciaga, and Lavin, among others. The original store in the Royal Arcade, which once housed both men’s and women’s fashion, now caters exclusively to men, with the women’s boutique located on Bourke Street. If you’re looking to add a rare item that defies trends, then look no further than Marais.
Marais, First Floor, Royal Arcade 314 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC, Australia, +61 3 9639 0314
Somewhere
Situated above Marais on the second floor of the Royal Arcade is the Scandinavian store Somewhere. The little brother of Sydney‘s store Somedays, Somewhere has been selling ‘nice things, in a nice way to nice people’ since 2005. Among those ‘nice things’ are the brands Dr Denim, Handsom, Rolla’s, Royal Republiq and Our Legacy, and the best part is that a trip to Somewhere won’t break the bank. While in the store, be sure to check out their in-store, contemporary gallery.
Somewhere, Level 2, Royal Arcade 314 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC, Australia, +61 3 9663 3003
Harrolds
Since 1985, two generations of the Poulakis family have been dressing Melbourne’s most debonair men in made-to-measure and ready-to-wear labels. The impeccably curated range encompasses local Australian designers and sought-after international brands, including Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Raf Simons and YSL – we also recommend checking out the sneaker wall. The herringbone parquetry and black cabinetry exude quality, but don’t be intimidated by the security guard at the door. The only thing you have to fear is the damage to your bank account, but trust us, it’s worth it.
Harrolds, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC, Australia, +61 3 8660 7888
Harrolds | Courtesy of Harrolds
Incu
Whether you’re after a limited edition, one-of-a-kind fashion find or staple item to fill in the gap, head to Incu in Flinders Lane. After launching their Sydney store in 2002, twin brothers Brian and Vincent Wu brought Incu to Melbourne. Short for incubator, Incu houses an eclectic range including Vanishing Elephant, Paul Smith, Acne Studios, A.P.C., Comme des Garçons, Kloke and more, plus a huge range of accessories and lifestyle products. The interior is fuss free, and the staff provide down-to-earth customer service.
Incu, Shop 6A 274 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC Australia, +61 3 9663 9933
Incu Store | Courtesy of Incu
Up There Store
From Converse to Vans, Norse Projects to Hancock, Up There Store serves up a healthy selection of casualwear from across the globe, including work wear from French brand Vetra and Japanese crafted socks from Anonymousism. Born in 2010, Up There Store is easy to navigate with its modernist design, and it now has three convenient Melbourne locations.