There's a wurlitzer at the top of the stairs. Four rooms packed with vintage delights as well as…read moresome modern reproductions. Stacks of hats and glasses (heart shaped sunnies anyone?) 1950's dresses and rockabilly repros. Lots of menswear too. Out the back there's a smattering of homewares, bric-a-brac and books. Love a shop where you can buy antique gloves and a stretcher to keep them in tiptop shape, a Superman tie or one of those weird turbans 1940's vamps used to wear in black and white movie just before they led some poor hapless chap to his doom.

There's not nearly enough gorgeous boutiques named after Ancient Roman Orators…read more Sigh. My favorite boutique ever. I have expensive taste, and not the budget to match it. But with frequent sales and very often a sale rack, I've bought the odd drop dead stunning designer concoction here. There's a red dressing-table like long couch for your shopping companions to sit upon while giving the requisite thumbs-up or -down response as you parade something you never want to take off. Staff are fantastic, one went to a great deal of trouble once to try and source me a replacement for a red winter coat after an accident with City Rail, rain, no signage and floor paint. Don't ask. They stock Lazybones (great cotton vintage inspired Australian designs) although the staffer the other day tells me they're getting harder to source, Katherine and Odd Molly. Amongst others. A few groovy shoes and handbags too. Desperately want an Odd Molly piece with not-really-making-sense writing all over it and Scandinavian embroidery. Sigh, one day.

I have a vivid image of Mrs Peel. If she were a person, that is. Cat's eye 50's sunglasses…read more Ponytail. Bright red lips. Bobby sox and saddle shoes because she's sensible. Poodle jewellery. Killer vintage wardrobe mixed with modern designer pieces. Doesn't mind attracting a bit of attention, and saving up a total sequin overload cocktail sheath for when she wants to arrive in a room with a bang. Sarcastic barbs have a way of just falling from her lips. I think we'd be friends. This fab store used to be hidden down the back of another Leura arcade, but is now front and centre, windows full of modern, quirkily designed jewellery and vintage clothing for women and men. Inside is even better. I instantly swooped on a piece from a designer I used to love from my days in Newtown, who no longer seems to exist. Lovely lady staffer and I chatted about Japanese fabric-using designers while I was breaking my no unnatural fibre rule with my purchase. Almost air-tight, but a woman's allowed exceptions for vintage, right? Prices are pretty good, especially for Leura, the modern designer stuff is a bit steep, but that's what you'd expect. Staff are lovely, and the offer gift vouchers too, which I'm thinking would beat a Myer GV hands down in the Christmas pressie stakes. Newly glammed, I'm off to scour the cafes for someone in cat's eye sunglasses. I'm sure she's around somewhere.

A very sweet and mostly reasonably priced vintage shop particularly for a store in Leura. There are…read moresome truly gorgeous little jewellery pieces, cute retro bags and a good mix of new and vintage clothing pieces. It is a little cramped but they have made good use of the space they have been given. A few pieces here and there were a little too expensive for what they were but generally prices were fair. The staff are friendly and personable and I will certainly be back again when shopping in Leura.

I should love this store, being fatally addicted to Vintage kimonos. But where can you wear them, I…read morehear you ask? Well, that depends how comfortable you are with looking eccentric. Renommee has another option for this dilemma, hence the discomfort. They sell clothing made from Vintage black kimonos, with the design cut off and reconfigured into a full length skirt. For $180. Can't quite decide if that's clever (if pricey) upcycling or just butchery. Several of the kimonos they had in stock the other day were less than that. By a bit. I think I'd rather the real thing. It's not just kimonos, most of their stock is recycled designer pieces with a few handbags and shoes thrown in. They're quite expensive, and I've never been tempted enough by anything to swallow the prices. Good for quietly drooling over the kimonos though. They've got a bunch attractively displayed which make quite a sight.

This is one of the best Vinnies around. Two levels of treasure-hunting, charity-supporting delight…read more There was an old radiogram in the other day, besides the usual secondhand clothes and books. They've got quite the range of crockery and glassware too, if vintage pieces are your thing. Saw some lovely handpainted plates suitable for the highest of high teas for a measly $1 each. Upstairs, there's furniture and manchester, including a pink velvet couch and a selection of jigsaw puzzles just about guaranteed to be missing one piece. Some of the clothes here are surprisingly good, I still wear a handknitted jumper I picked up here a couple of years ago that I'm sure people think I was clever enough to whip up myself. It's always packed too, testament to the great place Vinnies has in the community. Yay for Vinnies. And just for a giggle, I counted at least three copies of the 'Da Vinci Code' this visit. Can't give them away...

Every time I have been to this shop, the staff have been extremely polite and friendly. Good…read moreservice makes such a difference . Keep up the great work

I walked past the window here once and filling it to overflowing was a display of Korean kimonos…read more Nearly fainted. It's probably a good thing that this isn't an everyday occurrence, as this Presbyterian Church run charity shop stocks more everyday wear usually. The pickings were a bit sparse the other day, but I've found some lovely things in the past. Everything is arranged by colour, and the (cheap) prices clearly marked. They have a good range of kids clothes and the odd bit of manchester and bric-a-brac. The staff are very chatty and helpful and although most of the stock is fairly recent rather than real vintage, it's worth keeping an eye on. You might just stumble across a treasure.

There's generally not a lot going on in Bullaburra. Highest concentration of Yowie sightings in the…read morecountry apparently. And the 1st Saturday of the month, the Bullaburra markets. Right on the highway, with parking on Noble Street, this little market is full of treasures from bellydancing outfits and local honey, to books and tools. There was even a stall selling jam with profits going to MSF. My little treasure this time was not the Jane Austen eat your heart out teacup I bought for a snap, but the story that came with it. The lovely lady enjoined me to start my bone china collection now, dear, and put them in a glass cabinet. 'With all the handles pointing at 5 o'clock.' 'Umm, why?' I'm game. 'Because that's how the Queen has it.' She emphatically nodded. 'She has her tea at 5, and the handle's always pointing to 5 as well.' I smiled. I pity the poor creature who has to align the queen's teacup handle every day (job satisfaction? not so much), but was grateful for the story. Learned my new thing for the day, and it came with a crown. Although my cup's going on a bookshelf in front of a collection of Voodoo anthropology, with the handle any way it pleases.

If Sherman and Betty were a couple, they'd be cool and relaxed, but not so relaxed they didn't care…read moreabout good design, had a conscience about supporting local craftspeople and designers, with a slightly quirky sense of humour. Sherman probably wears the odd vintage Hawaiian shirt, Betty sports cats eye glasses and makes her own felt jewellery that looks like bodyparts. Or so I imagine. This lovely little clothing and accessories store seems more at home in inner city Melbourne or the upmarket end of Newtown than Katoomba - a place more known for shapeless rainbow woollens that well-designed, super-thin but warm merino numbers. All Australian made, the items here have clearly been lovingly selected. There's a gorgeous hand screenprinted skirt that really wanted to be friends with me, I can tell. The shop's open and bright, and perfect for those willing to pay that little bit extra for pieces that are well made, of good design and locally produced. Bags, hats, jewellery, clothing for men and women, the store's got the lot from design labels like Hikenbiker and Otto & Spike. The lady staffer was most kind, and I'll be back to visit my skirt before too long, I suspect. I think it wants to come home with me.

The hipster heart of Katoomba. I'm always telling people…read moreabout this gem of a store and they are always asking 'where is it?' Come on people. It's under the library - aren't you reading much these days? Pop in and visit both when you're passing. Fantastic wardrobe building pieces in super light and warm merino, great for layering in our cool climate and all made in Australia. And a great range of funky fashion pieces and accessories. Clothing with altitude.