This Law

There’s certainly no shortage of vintage and retro clothing stores in inner Melbourne. However, there are those that are run for financial reasons and those that are run out of sheer love for clothing and accessories. This Law is one such venture.
With a blatant affection for the styles of yesteryear, particularly 1970s leather-​goods, This Law stocks both an eclectic array of second hand clothing as well as co-​owner/​operator Cecelia Hagerty’s own leather based designs. There’s also a small collection of independent Australian music.
Cecelia has a particularly good eye for clothing that stands the test of time across all your basic vintage/​retro eras. Only the best of the 1940s/​1950s/​1960s/​1970s/​1980s makes it to the racks. She’s also friendly, helpful and honest to a fault.
The shop itself is small and a tad cluttered, but is easy enough to browse. The lone dressing room consists of a heavy curtain pulled across the back corner of the shop but it works, and there’s more privacy than you’d expect. It’s also livened up with a collage of high fashion photographs from decades gone by, proving that great fashions look good in any era.
Though credit card facilities are sometimes available, it’s best to bring cash as there’re are plenty of ‘cash only’ sales. Cecilia has also been known to do customisation on her own designs.
However, the business was recently sold so Cecelia can concentrate on her own label and online sales, so the future of This Law is ambiguous. Get in quick!

Lady knows her stuff, enough to declare it law, one I’m up for defending.
It’s a tiny shop rammed full of beautiful vintage pieces with an emphasis on 70s leather items like tooled handbags and shoes in varying shades of brown. There’s a makeshift change room made glamorously bohemian with wonderful fabrics draped about.
It’s a little bit on the pricey side for pre-​loved garments but that’s only because This Law-​abiding owner knows her worth, and sometimes, when that perfect dress that you know no one else should own is calling out to you, just step in line and buy your way out of This Law.