Shopper’s guide to Bridge Road

Wootten is run by second-generation cordwainer Jess Cameron-Wootten, a trained shoemaker with roots in industrial design. Jess and his shoemaking team take their time to craft and create distinctive pieces for each customer, all the way from the initial consultation and design to the measuring, making, cobbling, stitching and final fitting. If you've been riding the slow fashion train but have been struggling with finding footwear, get a high-quality pair made and just replace the sole whenever it gets worn down. 

'Pookipoiga' is a Finnish word that translates to 'little washer boy,' and the phrase is commonly used to refer to clothes pegs. Yes, you'll find clothes pegs of all kinds at this little shop on Bridge Road. But you'll also find a wide assortment of goodies ranging from homewares and jewellery to chocolates and cookbooks. There's a little bit of everything here, making it the perfect place to shop for gifts for everyone in your life. If you get a little overwhelmed looking at all of the options, Pookipoiga also offers ready-made gift packs to make your life easier. 

This quaint little handmade gift shop opened in 2016 and quickly became a local favourite. Most of the makers and artists it stocks are based in Melbourne, and nearly everything in the store is Australian. You'll find jewellery, candles, prints, funky Melbourne and Australiana souvenirs, baby gifts, children's toys and so much more. Special shoutout to the kind of people who likes surprising their friends with one-of-a-kind pieces: many of the products in the store are one-off, so you can be sure no one else can get their hands on it. 

If you're after fancy footwear, here you'll find a great selection of suit shoes in a whole host of styles and colours, plus street shoes that could be worn anywhere and everywhere. The shop has a sleek black interior that makes you feel like you've entered the Batcave. 

Despite the name, Havana Blue's wares are mostly white and grey. The floaty linen and pure cotton kaftans, blouses and pants, are relaxed and make you dream of summer barbecues or beach holidays. The garments are high quality and on the expensive side, so be prepared if you're shopping on a budget. 

If you have a wedding or formal occasion coming up and you want to be the centre of attention, this is the place to go. Bariano specialises in bright formal dresses in contemporary shapes and styles. If you don't have a special occasion coming up, who's to say you can't rock one of these dresses for a night on the town or a dinner party? 

If you're shopping on a budget, give the Landes Warehouse a whirl.  With kooky stylings from the likes of MINKPINK, Ladakh, Junk, Downtown, Bluejuice and All About Eve, you’re sure to find something funky and affordable. With prices like these, you can probably redo your entire wardrobe, so be prepared to walk out of the shop with at least a few bulging shopping bags. 

Not all of us enjoy high-rolling it when it comes to buying underwear, but there's no doubt that we all love a good, comfy pair of undies that are made to last. At Bonds factory outlet, you'll find excess stock, discontinued lines and factory seconds from the brand, as well as T-shirts, bras, pillows and socks from brands including Berlei, Red Robin, Jockey and Tontine.

When Purvis Beer – sister store to the older Surrey Hills branch – opened its doors in 2010, craft beer was still in the early days of popularity. Slotting into the fertile grounds of Richmond, Purvis has established itself over nearly a decade as one of the best bottle shops for craft beer in the city. With a ridiculous 1200 beers stocked in-store and online, Purvis is the sort of place beer lovers could spend a full afternoon just browsing (and racking up a decent total). 

A feminist-owned sex shop means this store's less about raunch and blow-up dolls, more about buying toys that are fun to use (together or alone). There's the standard array of high-tech, German- and Scandinavian-made vibrators, along with books, lingerie, lubes, and oils.