I held my breath as I crept through the door, looking around for a Style Authority to chase me out…read morewith a look of icy disdain. Nobody. Hmm. I crept in a little closer, taking in the distressed wood surfaces, the minimalist racks. Aah, staffer is on the phone in the next room. I might have a moment then. Oh my. Akira Isogawa designs and superlatives are hardly strangers, but to see them up close is quite the experience. Don't misunderstand me, I consider Fashion TV a form of penetential torture to be endured while getting my hair cut, I don't think I've ever bought a Vogue, and couldn't care diddly about what the latest skirt length is this season. But beauty earns its own respect. The lady even flashed me a smile as I inched my way into the far room, growing bolder by the moment, but she didn't get off the phone, which was a blessing. I got to run my (very clean, honestly) fingers over the silk, and imagine what these cloudlike suggestions of clothing must feel like to wear. Some were on sale, but no, there's no way I can afford them. But thanks for not running me out, scissors slashing and hurling pins at vital acupuncture points. I feel like this should be categorised as 'Art Gallery', for which I should have left a gold coin donation in gratitude as I slunk away, silkily serene.

Gail Elliott is a former top model turned fashion designer. She married an ozzie some time ago and…read moremoved to Double Bay where the Little Joe head office for the multinational label is located. But don't let the fact that a model-turned-designer turn you away - it possibly would me if I hadn't seen the clothes in the flesh - there's been so many Kate Moss types doing their own thing and not necessarily with success. Little Joe started of with camisoles and slip dresses but now have a range that can fill a wardrobe with beautiful, slightly hippy and sexy original cut pieces. Expect to pay $300 for a dress, $110 for a singlet. Pieces are pretty with usually something unique about them - the cut, the material. The friendly blonde in the shop said Gail frequently visits her stores and is super lovely... which is nice to hear - who wants to buy a snooty so and so's clothes. A favourite piece is the laser cut suede and scalloped sleeves and hemline Loving Cup dress from the Love in Exile Summer 2011 Season for $549. Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9.30am - 6.30pm Thursday: 9.30am - 9.00pm Friday - Saturday: 9.30am - 6.30pm Sunday: 10.00am - 6.00pm

Misty Girl is located upstairs of Paddy's Market in the Markey City shopping center. It has much…read moreof the Korean fashion that you've seen at shops around town, but always surprises with a little something different. Are you looking for a party dress, or killer pair of heals for a night out? The frocks and frills in here are certainly statement pieces. I wouldn't say their quality is super high, but at mid to low prices you can probably afford that "I will probably only wear this once" dress. You know, the leopard one with an exposed lattice back. The one that you doused in French martini and accidently lit on fire just a little bit (who knows, I'm speculating).

What's there is what they have--if your size is not there, don't ask. I was told in a much nicer…read moreway, but it's good to know. Well organised, easy to find things which is shocking for me in an H&M

The new H&M store in the Pitt St Mall is enormous!! I've been to the store at Macquarie Centre a…read morecouple of times, and have bought a number of items from a top to a bikini to thongs, but wasn't that impressed with the selection - there wasn't that much that grabbed my attention, plus it's such a cramped shop. That's completely different at the Pitt St Mall shop, with all of the huge ground floor plus much of the second floor being devoted to women's clothing alone, with easily twice of the floor space at Macquarie. The aisles are also wider, there's so many more eye-catching displays, and so much was so tempting to try on. Or not try on, given the huge queues for the change rooms (just like at Macquarie Centre) - it's probably easy to take it home and try on in comfort, then return (within 30 days) if you don't like it (well, I'm sure that's what the receipt mentioned). I made it as far as the Home section, where there were lots of great cushions, knick-knacks and summery bags. Most of it was organised by theme rather than item (so the cushions were scattered around), making it difficult to just look at cushions, say, but easy to see what goes together. I didn't make it as far as the top floor with men's and children's wear. Tip: Rather than queuing for the register at the ground floor, try those in the Home section for no queue.

My go-to shop for fashion that nobody else has or knows about or would dare wear to anyplace other…read morethan an outer-space-Russian-technocrat-gypsy-boho party. When all the other fashion turtles are retreating into their shells (or, if that euphemism doesn't tickle you, when all the other fashion groundhogs refuse to show their faces on the first day of spring), Provocator straps itself in and feels the G's, creating wild designs that have me frothing at the bung to own. Drop crotches, mummy wraps, acid wash pinks, asymmetrical hems, magician sleeves, you don't have a name for it, these guys are doing it. Now I just need to find a Daddy Warbucks to fund my unholy spending urges.

There are some great pieces here, however this place has a negative haunting energy attached to it…read more Buyer beware.

This place looks like a pink flamingo gobbled up the last five decades and vomited them back up…read moreagain. In the best possible way. Situated just off Crown and a block or two from Oxford, this vintage store involves two levels of mens and womens vintage clothes and accessories, the bottom floor selling stock at sale prices. The dresses here are more expensive than you'll find at your average second hand/Salvos store, but not as pricey as you can expect from some of the city's spendy trendy vintage stores. I don't really mind paying that little bit extra for someone else to fish out the good from the bad for me, as long as I'm not paying over $100 for someone having a better eye than I. Zoo Vintage Emporium has a bunch of nice skirts and real fur shrugs and jackets and their racks of dresses come from an exciting variety of styles and decades, a nice change to the racks of same style different material dresses you get at some vintage stores. Zoo Vintage Emporium was a new find for me and I think it's my pick of this cluster. Also, the exciting descriptions on the tags of each item all but impel you to buy them. Wanna buy a "Summery fun lemon swing skirt"? When you put it like that, who wouldn't?!

A must see building and a wonderful place to shop! Such fun stores and an incredible building to…read morewalk through. Very skinny as a building design which makes it so interesting to go through. Different floors to explore too! Love the historical building with some modern twists of restaurants and shops.

I enjoyed the aesthetic and ambience. It's unlike the malls in the USA that could feel vast and…read moreimpersonal. However, it doesn't mean that it'll have unique pieces. Don't expect to find deals that you are accustomed to in America.

Cream on King is remade vintage done right. Similar to its counterpart on Crown Street (rightfully…read morenamed Cream on Crown), the reconstructions and print / pattern variations are delightful. I have this shameless love for cowboy shirts with the pearly snappy buttons and the scalloped pockets. To the left of this skinny shop, you will find a couple racks of these, but wonderfully redone for the ladies. With styles that have peekaboo shoulder cut-aways, or midriff exposing tie ups, you can be vintagey and sexy all at once (which, lets face it, is NOT always a given when dealing with vintage). Teeter on over to the boys side and you'll find this same style of cowboy shirt in its original form. Hey guys, from the point of view of a little hipster-loving, San Francisco born female, try one of these shirts with a leather motorcycle jacket over it. BAM. Insta-hot. The prices here at Cream are midrange for vintage. Not as good as if you sourced the same shirt from Vinnies, but could you? Probably not. The bonus here is that they've done all the sorting for us and elected what the Sydney edgy, "in" crowd should be wearing. I realize it's not for everybody, but they definitely had me at plaid.

Cream on Crowns sits pretty amongst the many other vintage and second hand stores on Crown Street…read morein Surry Hills. Selling recycled and re-designed clothing, Cream on Crown has many similarities to its Newtown sibling, Cream on King. In fact, the two stores hardly differ at all, except that Cream on Crown's sunglasses stand is far less grand than that of the King's. As for its stock, many of the dresses are same same - beautiful, but if you've bought one from there within the last two years, chances are that the one you wish to buy next time will be exactly the same cut and style, simply made from a different fabric. Whilst I'm a fan of knowing what you like and what's right for you, I had to stop buying from King and Crown Creams when I realised that a majority of my wardrobe was made up of the same dress in different colours. Aside from dresses, Cream sells plenty of vintage cowboy boots which are still in pretty good nick (although I'm always certain to check for slippery soles) and a bunch of guys flannies, sleeves pre-rolled.