Incu is where international labels meet Melbourne streets. You’ll always find a timeless forever piece in their stores, whether it be the Stone Island spray or the Paraboot Michael’s that you’ve been eyeing off for the last 2 years…Incu has it all. They have curated a selection of brands that you’ll fall in love with immediately and immersively. You may even find yourself getting inspiration from their well dressed staff.

Incu has delivered a refined palette of goods over the years, and their showrooms (store fronts) speak volume to the intentional style they pioneer.

Great for someone kicking off their fashion journey to the grail inspector picking up their monthly piece to enhance the wardrobe.

Location - Shop 12 Albert Coates Lane, Melbourne VIC 

Instagram @incu_clothing

Marais sits at the intersection of boutique luxury and streetwear – think high-end labels styled in a way that still feels wearable day to day. The edit leans into statement outerwear, sneakers and accessories, with enough range to build full outfits or just add one strong piece.

The space fuses luxury fashion and minimalist design…you could draw a correlation between brutalism and the aesthetic that Marais is going for. Brutalism in its purest form, unrelenting aesthetic and design, holding nothing back.

Location - 286 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC

Instagram @maraisaustralia

Above The Clouds is a newer arrival to Melbourne, and it brings a very specific energy to the scene – that sweet spot between sneaker boutique, streetwear store and low-key gallery. A lot of the other stores on this list lean into tailoring or quiet minimalism; this one is for the guy whose wardrobe still starts from the sneakers up.

The Melbourne space carries the same point of view they built their name on in Sydney: clean sneakers, graphic tees, relaxed trousers and outerwear from a mix of international and local labels. It never feels like hype for hype’s sake – more “considered street” than chasing every drop. The rails are tight, the branding is sharp, and the store feels like somewhere you’d happily hang out, not just transact.

Location - Shop T0.07/80 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Instagram @ abovethecloudsstore

HAVN is so well located, embodies the essence of the young intentional / crafted individual living in the locality. From the natural textures, to relaxed tailoring, well-cut trousers, knitwear, and outerwear you can build a full capsule collection from the curations found at this heavenly store.

HAVN provides a quiet nod to intentional design and well formulated fits without being pretentious. It signifies the unspoken, no logos, no brand names - only shape, texture and aesthetics matter to those that shop at HAVN, and that’s how it should be!

Location - 198-200 Gertrude St Ground Floor, Fitzroy VIC

Instagram @ havnstore

Iconic! Anyone that has heard about APC knows that you should only ever buy one tote bag….a denim one from APC. Founded in 1987 in Paris, APC brings raw men's and women’s denim to the streets of Melbourne.

This was most definitely the brand that introduced me into the world of fashion. While originally out of reach as a young 16 year old due to their prices, my admiration for their designs, uniquely universal clothing, and simplicity / elegance have kept me falling deeper in love.

Their collaborations over the years have propelled the brand forward in creating more unique designs alongside their existing and consistent range of denim and canvas classics. Thank you for existing!

Location - CL13, Albert Coates Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000

Instagram @ apc_paris

COS has become one of the anchor points of Melbourne menswear – the place you go when you’ve grown out of fast fashion but aren’t living in head-to-toe designer. It’s had a real impact on the city by making clean lines, good fabrics and modern silhouettes accessible to a much wider crowd.

It stands out on this list as the most democratic option: you can walk in without an appointment, try everything on, and walk out with a full outfit that looks considered without being precious. It’s not cheap in the way true basics are, but the fabrics, cuts and finishing make sense for pieces you’ll wear on rotation.

Location - 240 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Instagram @cosstores

Kloke earns its spot on this list because it represents a certain Melbourne sensibility better than almost anywhere else – practical, slightly arty, quietly designed. If you care about supporting local design and want pieces that feel considered but easy to live in, you can’t skip it.

Location - 199 - 201 Little collins st. Melbourne VIC 3000

Instagram @kloke