Top of the Ops: Melbourne’s Best Op Shops For many Melburnians, the first thing they want to know when passing through a suburb that's new to them is where to get a good coffee. For us, it's where to find pre-loved goods. Here are our picks of Melbourne's best op shops, the ones that make crossing our metropolis worth it. Recently renovated by the Red Design Group and now with double the previous amount of apparel (that's a LOT of clothes!), this branch of Vinnies is so huge you can easily while away an hour or more, as I did a few weeks ago. There's a curated vintage section, but plenty of gems on the regular racks make a thorough rummage rewarding. In the unlikely event that you don't find anything you like at Vinnies, head to the Salvos store just over the road. Best finds: bright pink silk skirt by Sportscraft, $8; vintage Pucci-style print maxi-dress, $8. A cheery rack at Vinnies Ringwood. Brotherhood of St Laurence Community Stores - Brunswick & Moonee Ponds

While some op shops have gone a bit upmarket in recent years, the BSL remains an old-school op shopper's paradise, in terms of both aesthetics and prices. Huge floor space allows room for rock-bottom priced furniture (vintage dressing tables and wardrobes for $5 at the Moonee Ponds store), homewares and BSL's curated vintage range, 'Hunter Gatherer'. If you're looking for kitsch wall art, there's a good chance you'll find it at the Brunswick store. And wherever you are, you can browse and buy second-hand books online at Brotherhood Books. Best finds: Mongolian embroidered boots, $8; Amco pants, $1 (Moonee Ponds); Afghani hall runner, $25 (Brunswick). Savers - Various locations It was a sad day when my nearest Savers in Dandenong closed and moved to Narre Warren, but with branches around the state, there's always a chance to drop in. Check out the two massive levels of bargains at the Frankston store on your way to the Mornington Peninsula, sort through the racks for retro hits at Brunswick's Sydney Road store, or make a stop at the Greensborough branch on the way back from a trip to St Andrews Market.

Best finds: too many to count (my friends have been known to give me Savers gift vouchers as birthday presents!). Lots of Ops - Chapel Street An op shopper's idea of heaven is when they find more than two shops within walking distance, which is why the Windsor end of Chapel Street is something of an op shop Mecca. Canvas Outdoor Curtains UkOr should that be mecwa? Achieve Medical Weight Loss Protein BarsSmall enough to feel somewhat boutique, and with cute touches such as 'installations' made from tea pots or stacks of books, the mecwacare store is a browsing haven. Prom Dresses In Short Hills NjPiles of National Geographic magazines and a solid selection of reading matter sit alongside bric-a-brac and racks of clothing which hide some vintage treasures.

Not far away is Sacred Heart Mission, Prahran Mission and its adjoining Mission Cafe and the revamped Salvos store - and for what is ostensibly a limited time (but looks set to stay), there's the Pop Up Op Shop, which has been the lucky recipient of donations such as brand new Italian shoes and vintage designer gear. Best find: Commemorative plate from Edward VII's coronation, $8 (mecwacare). Editor's Note: Want more op shops? Check out round two of Melbourne's best op shops! Our best stories, direct to your inbox, helping you to out-trend your mates every weekend...The Shop of Op If you're a Windsor-end of Chapel Street kinda shopper, then you'll know the Pop Up Op Shop well. Set up by Shekinah Homeless Service, it's the sort of place where you can leave with armfuls of secondhand designer fashion, quirky homewares and retro furniture knowing that you've also helped provide meals and beds to those in need. Brotherhood of St Laurence: Brunswick This northside store is how one would imagine op-shop porn.

It’s impossible to leave this store empty-handed. From records, to books to quirky pieces and a whole vintage clothing section complete with shoes and bags. This is the kind of op-shop you can walk into with an idea of what you want and you can guarantee you will get it - whilst holding your first album, on vinyl in mint condition. Moved to Melbourne and need to furnish a bedroom, a house? This Salvos has all your furniture needs sorted. Buy a chest of drawers for $30, a '70s coffee table for $40 and a couch for $50. The clothes here aren’t anything special but their book collection is out of this world. This is the kind of op-shop were you buy that obscure piece that you know you will never use, but at the same time, can’t resist. This Salvos is for the keen op-shoppers who love the thrill of striking gold in a pile of suburban waste. Behind the plastic prams and crap floral furniture you will find the best set of wine glasses or a retro wooden fruit bowl shaped as pineapple for 50 cents.

Savers Recycle Superstore: Greensborough It’s worth the long hike alone once you step inside the juggernaut that is Greensborough Savers. A massive warehouse filled with endless aisles of clothes you will need to make sure you’ve had a big brekkie to tackle the task at hand. You will come out of a day’s shopping with a bagful of new threads and RSI. Sacred Heart Mission: St Kilda East This tiny little op shop houses some kitsh little pieces that are soon to adorn the walls of your house. And because of it’s Christian background, you will be sure to find Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary prints and some gold-edged religious icons. Great for retro cookbooks and random bits and bobs.Lifestyle, Fashion, Things To DoIs this Melbourne's coolest Second Hand/Op Shop? At 302 Racecourse Road Flemington this is a classic. The Parish Bargain Shop serves St Georges Anglican Parish and has a fairtrade policy. e here to a compact Op Shop with great clothing bargains including a $1 rack that included designer clothers - hard to beat!

Scarves were only $2. I found clothing here to be cheaper than most other Op Shops.The absolute classic is the mannequin called Melissa. She even has her own Facebook page! Staff were hilarious and told me Melissa goes to many parties and even does karaoke. She is often dressed with saleable items.Also find a good selection of books and shoes and handbags here.Another classic is the shoplifters warning consisting of a skeleton - very humourous.With crooner music playing and character staff it's a real experience coming here. Not to mention the prospect of a designer item for $1.Salvos at 916c Doncaster Road Doncaster East is a great Second Hand/Op Shop with good quality options. Overall I rate it highly but some items seemed a little expensive for a Second Hand/Op Shop.The store is deceptively large and goes back a long way with two main sections.The clothing section is large and good selection for all categories. They hav ean excellent designer section. Several changing rooms enhance the buyer experience.

There are a surprising number of books, vinyl records, videos and CD's in the back section.The children's toy section is excellent albeit the section is small.There is also a good amount of kitchenware and bric a brac items. I was however surprised at non descript wine glasses for $6 each - about the same price as new ones in most retail stores.Salvos Doncaster has a large range of shoes and handbags.Staff are excellent and the store is well organised. I always feel sorry for the Salvos when people dump trashy items in their bins, sometimes overflowing with useless items. You can see the evidence of this at times when you drive down Doncaster Road.Parking is great during the week but you might have to park around the corner in Jackson Court on a Saturday.All in all an excellent Second Hand/Op Shop.St Vinnies Mitcham is an excellent Second Hand Store/Op Shop with a large selection of goods.The store is a pleasure to visit with excellent displays in the window and a well organised store.