(Cowboy) boots on the ground. That’s the ethos at American Rag, where owner Eileen Carney travels to the US every few months to source high-quality American vintage for this veritable treasure trove, located up a discrete staircase off Melbourne’s Little Lonsdale Street.

Since 1990, Carney has spent thousands of hours every year picking through assorted vintage – from Los Angeles to New York – to curate one of Melbourne’s best vintage collections. And the hard work shows. Here you might find a 1970s seersucker two-piece suit still with the original tags, a rare Levi’s Big E denim jacket, a floor-length suede trench with faux fur trim, or an Oscar De La Renta piece.

But it doesn’t all scream old-world vintage. Carney prides herself on curating something for everyone, not just vintage aficionados. That means you’ll also find timeless and high-quality staples (because they just don’t make them like they used to) including denim, outerwear, officewear, Oxford shirts, one-of-a-kind party dresses and more.

The staff are friendly and approachable and are known for their ability to find jeans for any body shape. The prices are at the higher end of the scale, commensurate with the quality and level of curation here. And the fact that you’ll likely leave with something you’ll be gushing over for a lifetime.