When it comes to shopping, Brisbane is always seen as the poor relative to Sydney. And it usually…read moreis. But the uber chic Level 1 Designer section David Jones is definitely equal to, if not better than its counterpart down south. Let me run through just a taster of the labels you can get your hands on here: Burberry, Paul Smith, Scanlan and Theodore, Easton Pearson, Willow, Romance is Borne, Sass and Bide, Camilla and, my fave, Thurley (note to parents: as the sales will be on by then, I'd love the one shouldered lurex top or the long sequinned necklace for my birthday!) The drawback - the expense makes your eyes water. So my tip to you is, browse now and make a note of what you want, then come back in sale season and rummage, rummage, rummage. It's worked for me many a time. Ladies, be strong, be determined and above all, keep looking until you find it!

When I was a young whipper snapper I remember going into the David Jones store in Sydney. It felt…read moreall fancy, and i'd marvel at the food markets they had in there too. And the cost! Well, DJs still goes for that fancy, up market look, and if their Brisbane store ever had food markets, they're long gone. This is a newish store in Queens Plaza, and it's still quite fancy. Multiple levels, I usually come in for clothes, or sometimes to check out the electrical stuff. They've scaled back on games, and I note that their electronics is just a Dick Smith now. The department stores of the past are long gone. Despite the up market vibe they go for, I've found they are quite often competitive with prices, so it's definitely worth checking out if you're shopping around for the best price.

Target in Australia??? Yes. But WAIT . . . before all you Americans get too excited, this Target…read more(as well as other Target stores in Australia) aren't like their American counterparts. Typically, they're MUCH smaller, and sell primarily clothing. No groceries. No pharmacy. Etc. Another distinguishing factor is price. It's EXPENSIVE here!!! Target stores in the US are usually reasonably priced. Looks like we're not in Kansas anymore Dorothy . . .

So, this is sort of a Target, but it sort of isn't. American Targets have become giant superstores…read morewhere you can buy anything. This one inside a mall has two small-ish levels and sells mostly cheap clothes (no one in the U.S. goes to Target just for clothes now), and a few household items, entertainment options, and electronics. Moreover, they were out of the one thing I needed (adaptors to charge my American devices in these freaky diagonal Australian outlets). I will give them credit for pointing me to a place that had something, but I probably won't go back there to shop much.

'Ello chaps! Queen…read moreStreet Mall is a marquee tourist and shopping area of downtown Brisbane. It extends from George Street to Edward Street with more than 700 retailers. Many of them include the kitschy tourist shops. NOTE: Don't assume all of the stores are the same. Some may have the very same products, but even at different prices. It's worth the while to browse around first and then actually make your purchases. Other stores include shoe stores, clothing, jewelry, and odds and ends. It does seem as though Queen Street Mall may have seen better days, although it is buzzing. It's better than a typical American shopping mall, although it is not a five star high end shopping plaza, making it very affordable for most shoppers. Reportedly there were 26 million visitors to Queen Street Mall last year. Overall I give Queen Street Mall four stars out of five.

I probably go to the Queen Street Mall too often. At some level, I feel lame for not exploring…read moreother options or areas. However, it's just too easy. It's well located and has just about everything one could want. There's food, drinks, movies, food, drinks, clothes, mobile phones, banks, etc, etc, etc. The current construction is a bit annoying, but it's hard to knock improvements being made. The result is a bit of a bottleneck with the huge crowds walking around on weekends. This is a problem when you walk faster than basically any other human in existence and are incredibly impatient. So, it's probably more of a problem just for people like me, which thankfully, I don't believe can be found in abundance. I like that there is often music and the people watching is tremendous.

This along with the newly opened Stacks (Myer center) may be the only traditional dollar stores…read moreleft in the city. The Japanese $2.80 shops are squeezing them out. RS has a decent variety of goods and the quality is fine for this sorry of thing. You won't find a container whose lid doesn't fit or a hair barrette that works once. Here are some of the sections on offer: gift wrap n cards, art & stationery, bags/suitcases, containers, decor, candles/oils, frames and pictures, gardening, pets, laundry/linen, car, kitchen, clothes, beauty, phone/PC accessories, candy, tinned food...

I'm not really sure if I should be offended with the name "THE REJECT SHOP"…read more...does it make me a reject if I want to buy everything in its vicinity? ...But judging from the number of people wedged in on a weekday I am not the only reject who relies on this store. This place has saved my butt on numerous occasions, from awkward lunch date fiascos to that time the batteries in my boombox died. This store has everything you could ever possibly need in life. Novelty tins in shape of currency, oodles of stationary, leather belts, cheap candy, garden hoses, office chairs, perfume, speakers, DVD cabinets, small motorized helicopters, solar garden lights, clothing of all kinds, shortbreads, santa suits, blackboards, pottery wheels, diaries, beach tents, boogie boards, miniature drum kits AND a family pool. If you are ever in the city and feel a strong urge for a mini sewing machine or perhaps a rug in the shape of lassie I strongly recommend you give the Reject Shop a gander.

I visit Uptown Brisbane yesterday,very dissapointing experience,There were few Christmas…read moredecorations in a few shops and no Christmas decorations in the main area.There was a very subdue mood in the shop.Crhistmas is a very hard tiem when you lost family and we go to the shpos to cheer ourselves.I did not experience any joy on the contrary I was angry for the lack of resoect the owners of the shop show to Christans.It is certain my family and myself will nevet visit Uptown again.

Previous stay .. I saw they leave bins overflowing with garbage…read more Needs a ice cream store and subway if it isn't already there

Very rude experience purchasing on Mother's Day weekend - argued with me about gift wrapping and…read morerefused to provide GWP despite being advertised with a full size 100ml perfume just because I made a click & collect order to secure the perfume instead of a purchase at the counter. Also refused to provide the mother's day gift with a flower because I didn't make the purchase between 12-2pm on the Saturday? When I asked to refund and purchase again to receive the in-store treatment, they refused. Very disappointed with the customer service considering I was so excited to provide the gift to my mother for her special day.

Thank God for Brit perfume brand Jo Malone. Because after a humid day dashing around Brisbane's CBD…read morerunning errands, well, I needed a little freshening up. So I headed to the concession in David Jones and spoke to lovely counter manager, Donna, who happily talked me through the brand's fabulous perfume combining concept (and let me have a spritz or two to help cover up my sweat attack). Perfume combining does what it says on the tin - you mix two fragrances together and create your very own, unique scent. For instance, I am slightly obsessed with the brand's Orange Blossom fragrance, so for an even fresher, summer scent, Donna advised me to mix it with English Pear and Freesia. It's a way of getting your own signature smell, without having to don a white coat and hire a laboratory. And to help me along on my new path as an amateur perfumer, she gave me a list of all the scents they think work well together. But for the time being, I might stick with my Orange Blossom / English Pear and Freesia mix (need to think of a catchier name: Opear? Blossia?). And I got a few compliments on how lovely I smelt from a couple of handsome strangers, and a hot shop boy. Result.

I love Broadway On The Mall (BOTM). It may not be as popular these days compared to the Myer Centre…read moreor even Queen St Mall, but it still has some lovely boutiques, cafes, takeaways and services located inside. The food court is located on the ground level and contains Italian, mixed-Asian, Japanese, American, Indian and even a big Coffee Club. All other stores are scattered across the 4 levels, which it is made up of. There are entrances from Queen St (where you will find Hype DC), as well as on the 1st level near the recently opened Scotch & Soda retail store. It's not very busy during the weekdays compared to the weekends. And unfortunately, there are still a number of vacant shops, which makes it look a little dreary. But overall, I still think it's a great place to shop. Just needs a little more support from Brisbanites as well as a bit of TLC from the BOTM managers.

This would have to be one of the most beautifully preserved arcades in Brisbane. With it's olden…read moreday atmosphere, you'd expect the shopping there to be a little but classier, a cut above the rif-raf out on Queen Street, but I find it a bit pretentious, particularly the upper gallery. Looking in jewelery stores up there recently, I felt very alienated by icy shopkeepers. Also, there's quite a few empty stores up there which makes me think businesses might struggle up there. Down the bottom is more lively, with a lovely tea shop, selling a large range of tea pots; jewelery stores; and bridal shops. With the exception of the cheap and nasty accessory store, Colette, at the Queen Street entrance of the arcade, the shops in here require you to have money to spend (or at least pretend you have money to spend). Best not to rock up in your Havianas--it won't help things with the already snooty shop keepers.

I love this arcade, I wish every arcade in Brisbane was like this…read more The architecture has a renaissance feel about it that makes you feel like you have just stepped into old European hotel lobby or opulent castle foyer. Its the sort of place most people probably go to look and admire rather than shop but in saying that it is home to some of Brisbane's most awarded retailers especially if you are after jewelery or bridal wear. If you are looking for a unique gift or something for the person who has everything this place is your treasure trove. I particularly love looking at all the beautiful time pieces in the Vintage watch shop and pens right next door.