Shopping at vintage boutique Dear Gladys in Northcote can happily tick several boxes: good selection of clothes, reasonable prices and an ethical conscience. The interior it's quintessentially quaint, charming you with its perfectly dressed mannequins and fanciful decor that could confuse you for thinking you were flicking through the pages of Frankie magazine.

Regular Sewing Circles and a forthcoming line of self-designed stationary only enhance this craft-like whimsicality that suits their self-declared analogy to a favourite aunt or grandmother. Like the aforementioned, Dear Gladys prides itself on that notion of good old fashioned style and taste, resulting in a store that sees items hung in pristine condition with handwritten tags to inform you it’s “super cute”.

Not only does Dear Gladys line its walls with pretty dresses, colourful knits and plenty of lace and sequin tops, it also contributes its profits to the charity, Fitted for Work. Set up in 2005, this committed not-for-profit organisation continues to help disadvantaged women get back into the workplace and back to a level of self-sufficiency via an appropriate interview outfit and helpful mentoring and advice.