Sheila Vintage

Yes Sheila, yes, I like your vintage style. My first trip to Fitzroy’s Sheila Vintage marked the moment I realised Melbourne’s shopping landscape wasn’t all that bad. In fact, it had the ability to throw up some gems.
Doing a fine line in vintage from roughly the fifties onwards — with, I would say, a preponderance of sixties pieces — Sheila Vintage is a particularly good Brunswick Street boutique with an incredible range of dresses, coats and accessories.
My most successful trip to Sheila saw me walking away with a dove grey vintage faux fur jacket — a steal at around $ 60 — and my friend walking away with a pair of black vintage Spanish leather Mary Janes for…$ 10. Yes, $ 10.
Sheila, like many of the vintage boutiques on Brunswick Street, can be a bit hit and miss when it comes to earlier pieces. But if you don’t mind your vintage on the more modern side and don’t want to spend a fortune procuring it, Sheila’s your gal.

I’m a big fan of Sheila Vintage, but am still yet to buy anything. They stock some gorgeous stuff; leather belts, 50’s style shoes, and some very colourful swimwear but I am yet to find anything that suits me.
However the rockabillies of Melbourne will be attracted to this store with it’s ladylike dresses with just a hint of sexiness, and their well-​to-​do woolie cardigans. But the most attractive thing about this shop are the prices.
The $ 10 rack has tempted me more than once. I have found genuine studded leather jackets and long, trench-​style coats so if you’re up for a bargain you should definitely trawl through the back room.
I am definitely have more of a daggy 80’s style to my fashion, rather than 50’s/60’s, and although Sheila does stock outfits from all the decades, I have found it focuses on those earlier ones. So pop in for a squiz if that’s your flavour.

Sheila Vintage has an enormous range of clothes, bags, shoes, belts and accessories, from the 50s to 80s.
When I first discovered the store I bought a red leather satchel for $ 30 and a pair of black suede boots for $ 70. It was a bargain, and I was happy.
Since then I’ve found skirts, dresses, coats and jackets. There’s a great collection for men including some excellent (if a little pricey) leather jackets.
Two years have gone by and Sheila is trading well. The store is generally packed and if you want to try something on then be prepared to wait.
The service is okay, not overly friendly and on occasion, a little pushy. It is worth remembering that this stuff will sell out fairly quickly, but remember that you are after a bargain.
The prices range from very reasonable to inflated so hunt around and keep your eyes open but be prepared to walk away as its unlikely the price will be dropped down.
Sheila Vintage is a place where it’s great to rummage every now and then; you can find a bargain some days, and others you need to keep walking.