Sneakers, relaxed silhouettes and vintage finds probably come to mind when you think of Melbourne street style, but if there are any hard-and-fast rules, it’s personality and individuality that reign supreme. “Street style to me is all about comfort,” says Stephanie Vigilante, a fashion writer, style expert and Broadsheet’s head of social media.

“It’s day-to-day casualwear … fashion that’s dictated by the people rather than the runways. It’s always really interesting to see how people spin the trends in their own way.”

Vigilante describes her own street style as “resourceful”, merging designer pieces with vintage items, and adding personality through jewellery, shoes and accessories. “I like to work pieces from my mum’s wardrobe from when she was my age into newer pieces I’m buying. That mix of old and new is something I really like to play with. Same with accessories – I’m lucky to have a bit of a collection to work from – my mum keeps everything, so it’s been nice to shop her wardrobe occasionally and find pieces to work into my more relaxed style.”

We think you might like Access. For $12 a month, join our membership program to stay in the know.

SIGN UP

Her sartorial essentials for a day out and about in Melbourne include a pair of wide-leg jeans, Asics sneakers and a tee, layered with either a vest, cardigan or jacket in accordance with Melbourne’s mercurial weather. “I’m pretty lucky in that my office style is interchangeable with my everyday weekend uniform, so I don’t have to keep those two styles separate,” she says. “My style is pretty consistent, and that style is comfort first.”

It’s the meeting of form and function. “I do a bit of walking so a comfy pair of shoes is always handy, like my Asics GT-2160 [from Hype DC’s Asics Streetstyle edit]. Top of mind when I’m getting dressed in the morning is to wear things I won’t get irritated by throughout the day, so I avoid super tight clothes and irritable materials.”

We hit the streets with Vigilante as she told us about her favourite spots that epitomise Melbourne style right now.

A hot neighbourhood bakery

My favourite cafe at the moment is actually my local bakery, Akimbo – I go there at least once a week for a coffee and often a little sweet treat. They also do delicious bread we stock up on once a week. Those guys are really friendly and get around the local community – they haven’t been open long but they’ve really cemented themselves in the neighbourhood. It’s a very Melbourne-looking bakery – terrazzo flooring and panelled walls. They’ve put as much attention into the interior as they have the baked goods.

A “stunning” new canteen and a Vietnamese return fave

One of my favourite restaurants is Carnation Canteen. It’s fairly new to Melbourne’s dining scene but it has already made its mark. It’s a tiny space in the backstreets of Fitzroy with lots of share plates, and there’s a stunning little sunny courtyard, which is nice for aperitivo hour with a Citrus Fizz cocktail in hand.

Because of my job I’m lucky I get to try a lot of different restaurants, so it’s not often I return to something more than once, but Good Days in Brunswick is one of those places – if in doubt, Good Days. The chicken and rice is my favourite dish and I’m often dreaming about it. On any given night, there’s a line out the door of people willing to wait for a really good meal, which feels very Melbourne.

Cosy bars and afternoon cocktails

For cosy winter vibes, I’ve been really liking Bar Olo and North Fitzroy Arms. They both have that warm space you want to be in after dinner during winter. Again, a lot of care goes into the design. The warm timbers and glow-y lighting, whether it’s candlelight or just nice lamps, make it feel very warm – like you’re in someone’s living room.

As the weather warms up, I like to be out in the sun on a rooftop, so I’d opt for somewhere like Runner Up or Johnny’s Green Room. They’re nice spaces to be in to have a cocktail on a Saturday afternoon in the sun, and the Johnny’s Green Room rooftop has a beautiful outlook of the CBD.

Boutique shopping in Fitzroy

An ideal weekend shopping day for me starts at Rose Street Markets, where there are lots of makers and vintage fashion stalls to browse through. You can spend hours there. Then it’s nice to do the walk up Brunswick Street onto Gertrude onto Smith and do that whole block. There are a lot of boutiques I like along there, places like Friends With Frank and Kowtow. They have really quality pieces. Then on Smith Street I like Somebuddy Loves You – it’s got a nice collection of local and international designers. I always walk out with something there.

Also Hay on Johnston Street – they have a lot of knick-knack-y homewares with a lot of colour and texture, which make nice little additions to the home without feeling like you’ve bought something gigantic. You can buy a little tin container or candle holder that elevates a space nicely.

This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Hype DC. Shop the ASICS Streetstyle edit by Hype DC now.