A cheeky little basics and accessories label from Melbourne is bringing back the scrunchie. The simple fabric covered elastic hair tie is a throwback to every girl’s favourite 80s accessory. While Carrie Bradshaw once famously insisted that New York women don’t wear scrunchies, Aussie girls are tying it up and letting loose.

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A few days ago I stumbled across a great new vintage store — Vintage Garage — that has popped up on Smith St, just near the heart of Melbourne’s ‘north side’ grunge fashion area. This cavernous boutique is maze of small dressing rooms brimming with carefully selected and collected vintage clothing and relics. There’s so much to choose from and prices are so reasonable it’s easy to walk out with a basketful of classic tailored jackets, retro high waisted slacks and an antique golden tea set to match. Just eight weeks old, it’s a must see for vintage hunters and gatherers.

When it comes to making an entrance, nothing says rock star quite like a pair of leather pants. If you’ve tried this look at home, you’d know that finding a flattering leather statement piece is much harder than it looks. So it’s lucky for us that leather is Melbourne label Shadows & Dust’s specialty. Designer Stephen Jones sources skins from all over the world to create butter-soft ruffled jackets, skinny trousers, vests and shorts. And what makes this label stand out from the rest is that it takes three workers an entire day to create each unisex leather garment. In a society of mass manufacture, that’s what we like to call a rarity.

The last time we heard from Melbourne label TV, they were busy preparing for their debut at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. Since then, the girls behind one of this year’s most talked about labels have delivered a stunning collection. All of a sudden it doesn’t matter that winter has only just finished here, we know what we’ll be wearing when the weather heats up. Cute summer one-pieces and statement dresses teamed with suede booties, and if we can get our hands on them, a pair of those hot little dream-catcher specs.

Monika Tywanek and Ingrid Verner are the Melbourne-based designers behind T-V’s boutique label. Their clothes are laidback and casual, but still excite you enough to encourage you get out of bed on Sunday night and head to the disco with your rollerskates hanging over your left shoulder. They are just so hip. T-V’s cutting edge and playful designs are based around the use of natural materials.

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