48-hours: Fashion

Friday night

Hit the ground late-night shopping at Emporium, a multi-level retail space that's home to fashion giants and food outlets that leave you wanting for nothing. Grab a rooftop drink to go with your shopping show-and-tell. Head to Swanston Street's Goldilocks or Rooftop at QT.

Saturday morning

Fuel the day's fashion hunt with coffee and bagels from Bowery to Williamsburg and map out your morning.

For serious style hunting, promenade the strip of designer stores in heritage buildings at the top of Collins Street. Here you'll find flagship stores for Dior, Louis Vuitton and Giorgio Armani.

One block over, Little Collins Street is great for local designer labels tucked away in tiny boutiques. For exquisite contemporary jewellery design, check Lucy Folk on Crossley Street, e.g. etal and Pieces of Eight off Flinders Lane, and Lord Coconut on Lonsdale Street.

Saturday afternoon

For lunch, meet Collins Street's Mamasita, the modern Mexican that started the wave, or duck down Flinders Lane for pan-Asian flavours at Chin Chin.

After lunch, let the historic Nicholas Building elevators take you back in time to Retrostar, a vintage bazaar with outfits for every occasion.

Back at street level, check boutiques around Flinders Quarter for gorgeous contemporary lines from independent designers. Don't miss local favourites Obus, Alpha60 and Kuwaii.

Wind up in Manchester Lane with one-off pieces from Melbourne creative concept store Design a Space.

Saturday night

The seven levels of fabulous at Curtin House will meet all your Saturday night needs. Check out fashion at P.A.M. Store and Dot Comme, stay for dinner at Mesa Verde or Cookie, and catch a gig at The Toff in Town.

Sunday morning

Rise and shine with breakfast at Manchester Press in Rankins Lane, and check out cult Japanese label Comme des Garçons nextdoor. Gents, see gentlemen's outfitter and cafe Captains of Industry in Guildford Lane.

Out of the laneways, head back to glossy Emporium and across to Melbourne Central for more local and international labels.

Sunday afternoon

Take the free fashion shuttle from Federation Square to Chadstone, for more big brands at the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere.

After something more indie? Hop a tram to Fitzroy and start your afternoon at Rose Street Artists Market. From here, explore Fitzroy. In Brunswick Street, check out vintage and designer boutiques, and don't miss Gorman and bùl.

Detour to Johnston Street for bespoke t-shirts from Das T-Shirt Automat, and Gertrude Street for Smart Alec Hatters and The Signet Bureau. Bargain hunters, bag the best at outlet stores at the north end of Smith Street.

Sunday night

Stroll back to Brunswick Street for rooftop drinks and Basque bites at Naked in the Sky for a perfectly fashionable end to your weekend.