Village Idiom is a long-standing and well-loved store in Yarraville, filled with beautiful jewellery and clothing, unique gifts, homewares, and more. You can’t miss the eye-catching shop as you walk down Anderson Street, with its colourful, vibrant window displays beckoning you inside for further exploration.

Village Idiom’s bubbly and friendly owner Elise Hopper started out as a hairdresser and in the last 30 years she’s worked in cosmetics, perfume, costume, giftware and arts.

She aims to stock the best fashion, gifts, art, and fun things that she can find while supporting local artists and designers and sourcing ethical and sustainable brands.

“I only stock things that I believe in or absolutely love,” says Elise. “My store is full of eclectic things – things that are a bit quicky, a bit unusual, things that aren’t necessarily mainstream.”

That is why inside Village Idiom you’ll find items such as cosy woollen beanies by Melbourne’s Otto and Spike, Erstwilder jewellery, retro-styled Miz Mooz shoes to hand painted Russian matryoshka nesting dolls and whoopie cushions.

Through Village Idiom, she also shares her greatest love for fashion.

“I have loved fashion since I was a child,” she explains. “I think that clothing is a language. Clothing speaks to what you want to say about yourself, how you’re feeling and how you want people to think you’re feeling in some situations. It’s an important way of expressing yourself.”

The best part of Elise’s job?  “I love putting together the perfect gift or outfit and seeing my customers leave with a smile on their beautiful faces!” laughs Elise.