Cooshti is an awesome shop on Park Street that sells some really cool clothes and ranges that you…read morewon't find anywhere else in Bristol. It is probably the last really cool clothing shop left on Park Street. The style and clientele Cooshti caters for is definitely more urban that many high streets shops in Bristol. You'll find baggy jeans and some over sized t-shirts and shirts - quite unlike most shops nowadays. They also sell some seriously cool trainers which again, you'll struggle to find elsewhere in Bristol. I rarely buy stuff from Cooshti, but thats because its not really my style and unfortunately park Street doesn't have the appeal it used to for fashion/. But when I'm in the area I'll always go in and check out what they've got. It will be a sad day if Cooshti ever dropped off Park Street.

I first new Cooshti on Park Street as the best place to pick up Don't Panic packs, helicon magazine…read moreand free club flyers. It took at least three visits before discovering that there was a women's department in the back of the shop! There's many labels on display here; Nike, Levis and Diesel to name but a few, all accompanied by a designer tag. The men and women who work here all look fantastically cool and wear their stock to the best of their ability. There's a great mix of footwear, dresses, t-shirts and hoodies with the odd one-off. Sizes are fairly small (nothing above a 14) which is disappointing, and I would say it's better for boys than it is for girls. Bit too label loving for my blood, but worth a look if street wear is your bag.

This shop exists quite discreetly in a lane off Park Street. Seeing as Park Street has many…read moreclothing shops which are quite popular, every time I try to explain where Seven is, I draw blank looks. When I say, it's right next to The Woods, people usually nod and say 'Yeah, we know The Woods, but I didn't know there was anything next to it..' Well there is! A shop just bursting with flavour, style and individuality. The next time you're shopping up Park Street, or drinking at The Woods, keep your eye out for this graffiti laden shop and enter its grotto of awesome tees, caps, shoes and posters; some produced by the designers at Seven, others by independent Bristol designers and also a handpicked selection of other imports. This is just a really cool shop - small but everything in there is ace.

This place is cool…read more This shop reminds me of the little vintage/independant boutiques I used to rummage through during my time in East Berlin. You access it by walking down the stairs from the front door into a small shop area. There's pretty cool music playing and a small selection of clothes which isn't too confusing to navigate. Check out the little suitcase of vintage items right by the stairs, definitely a few cool finds in there, all for £10, and above that there are some awesome trainers. If you're looking for a designer tee, they print their own, for RRP of £25 but you can find sale ones for as little a tenner. It's a very low-fi shop; they don't even have a till, but appreciate any custom they get and are really grateful and friendly.

Uncle Sam's has been here for as long as I can remember, and I do quite like it, but despite saying…read morethat, I haven't actually bought anything from here. It is a fairly small shop, a beacon to vintage lovers on Park Street. They sell records, leather wallets, jackets, 80s dresses, cut off levis.. anything vintage that pops in your head, they do have it here. You do have to dig abit to find things though, which just adds to the fun. This is somewhere I always pop by to have a browse, always expecting to find something awesome, but never really do. Maybe that is because the prices are quite steep; rising with the rise of the love of vintage fashion these days.

From the outside it looks as though Uncle Sam's is going to be the best offering that Park Street…read morehas. A classic American vintage sign, a window full of Levis and checked flannel shirts, but it's best not to judge a book by its cover. (Or a vintage clothes store by its window!) I love a bit of a rummage through piles of retro clothing, but the interesting finds here are so few are far between that it doesn't make your wait worth-while. On the whole, I find that men do better here than women with some fantastic leather jackets and belts to be had. Just be prepared to pay a hefty price for some of the better pieces. It's worth a look for die-hard vintage clothes fans, but personally I prefer to save my pennies and go rooting around Bristol's fabulous charity shops. Cheaper, with added feel good factor!

Dulay offers a wide range of both men and women's clothes at very reasonable prices. More often…read morethat not they've got a sale on, so whatever time of year there's likely to be a bargain available. There's a large denim section on the ground floor, along with the ladieswear, whilst upstairs there's a large mens section, offering both a range of smart clothing and suits, as well as casual wear and accessories, with watches and belts at particularly reasonable prices. Denim is their main focus, and Dulay is one of the largest denim retailers in the south west. They stock all the main brands like Levi and Wrangler, but cheaper than you're likely to find elsewhere. A good team of staff (which is quite large - there's always someone available to assist) complete the package for a very good shop.

I'm not big on clothes shopping in general, not when I can save my money up for new gadgets and…read moresuch, but on occasion I find myself in desperate need of some new jeans/jumpers/socks and find myself with no option but to venture into the jungle that is high street fashion. Dulay isn't a place I'd even considered before, to be perfectly honest, but as I found myself walking past I decided to go in and check it out. They do a good range of jeans - although I couldn't find any baggy enough for my preference, there's plenty to choose from if you're into average leg widths. The staff are friendly, but not overbearing as they can be in other places and the prices aren't bad either. I didn't pick anything up this time, but I'm sure I'll head back at some point in the future.

What do you buy for the man who has everything? This is the question I asked myself repeatedly…read morebefore my Dad's 60th birthday. Now I'm not saying my dad is Alan Sugar - he doesn't have a Rolls Royce or a monkey, but he has everything that he wants. So, there I was, traipsing around Bristol like a lost child looking for her mum when all of a sudden I saw the word "Boss" shining like a beacon of hope. What my dad needs is... another tie! Now, having not gone shopping in men's fashion stores often I didn't realise that this is where Bristol seems to keep all the handsome, helpful men. This shopping experience was certainly looking up. It was an absolute joy to have a flirt with the sexy shop assistant while looking at sophisticated ties. The prices were steep, at around £50 for a tie, but you are paying for quality and style - I opted for a classic black slim tie. They also have classic shirts, coats and accessories to make any man look fashionable and well put together.

Dutty is an interesting new(ish) shop on Cheltenham Road. Its primarily a clothing shop and aims to…read moremix art, music and fashion, with ranges of exclusive handmade garments, hand-printed T-shirts and hoodies. They also stock a good selection of spray paints. The fashion is a little 'out there' but if you are looking for something a bit different and unique then Dutty is definitely worth a visit. The shop currently lists over 25 local designers, so if you are interested in getting some of your designs sold then get in contact with the owners. The owners (who I am guessing were art students) were pretty knowledgeable when we visited to get some spray paint. They sold a can for roughly £4 which isn't bad.

This shop always looks closed! It might be the abundance of stickers and drawings on the windows…read moreand the fact that the door is always closed, but the next time you walk by, make sure you check the sign on the door (they are mostly open most of the time!) and head on in. I really love their stock in here; they sell vintage clothes, reworked vintage, and local designer duds, and boy are they good. Prices are really affordable too; especially if they are having sales! They have a great selection of jewelery, half of what's there is handmade by the owner sitting in the store, behind the counter with a sewing machine in front of her, working on clothes and other bits throughout the day. They stock graffiti markers and spray paints too. A lovely, lovely shop that's awesome.

A funky cafe pretty much in the heart of Clifton…read more They sell all the wonderful coffee's and teas that you would expect, as well as the diverse range of sweet cakes and savory pastries to satisfy all of your taste buds. Then some times you can treat yourself that extra bit more and get a milkshake, yes they are quite expensive, yes you will probably finish it in a matter of seconds, but those moments of pure happiness and joy as it smoothly slips down your throat cannot be matched by many other drinks! The tables outside mean that in the summer you can sit and while away the hours people watching till your hearts content.

I really like this place a lot. It's an odd mixture of a café, serving coffee, tea, croissants and…read moreso on, as well as an independent clothing store. I bought one of my favourite t-shirts ever here - it cost me £20 or something extortionate like that, but it was unique to this store and hence where the value and must-have-ness came from. There are t-shirts, hoddies and some jeans, etc, all gloriously and professionally designed, and as I say, all unique. There's a few tables outside as well, for enjoying a coffee and pastry in the sun, watching the Cliftonites do their thing.

One of the many things I love about Gloucester Rd is the huge range of independent shops and…read morebusinesses. There are few other parts of Bristol where you can see fresh local talent really shouldering its way in. Just over a year or so ago now two local lads Sam and Logan started up their very own clothing label. Focussing on the growing styles of snowboard and skate clothing they've come on in leaps and bounds. A lot of the clothing designs have deep roots with local graffiti artists and as a result the prices can be a little steep. Rest assured however that this money is paying for quality and shelf life, and the money is going back to the kids that deserve it, not some fat cat corporation. As big supporters of local up and coming 'urban' music Avalaan get about, getting involved with nights out and local festivals. This is a great shop to pick up some original bits of clothing but you really get the feeling that this goes beyond just a clothes shop - it's a lifestyle.

Avalaan may specialise in sports and ski wear but they're also a great place to stock up with…read morewinter essentials. Heavy duty gloves, woollen gloves and scarves are in abundance here, and it's the perfect shop to protect yourself from the cold. This flagship store also has a great range of t-shirts, posters, shoes and jump suits. The prices are fair for the quality of the clothes, and the shop assistants always smile when you walk through their doors. A lovely shopping experience - better for boys than girls.

Having shuffled along the Horsefair to be part of Cabot Circus, Topshop and Topman have picked up…read moretheir young crowd again. Kids only have to shuffle across the path to get from H&M to this store so when I come in here I do actually feel about 60 years old. The layout is pants, it doesn't feel comfortable. They have huge window displays which are fantastic but the extra height inside isn't utilised. The only positive thing is that you can get into Topman without being too conspicuous - the mens tshirts are always more interesting than the girls and their size extra small is a girls size 10 - you may need to customise the neckline though. If you want the clothes but not the crowd, then head to Debenhams up the street where Top Shop have a reasonably-sized space on the second floor.

They say 'good things come in small packages' which is certainly true of this Topshop found in…read moreCabots Circus. Being an absolute enemy of their mega-store on Oxford Street, this store suits me down to a T. I'm always amazed by what they can fit into the teeny tiny store: a personal shopper, Office, a maternity section, accessories, and men's and women's fashions. They also stock several lines including boutique and Kate Moss which makes the store feel unique, interesting and bang on trend. The only thing that lets them down is their slow service as they often have queues leading well into the shops. Their sales aren't too exciting, but the clothes are affordable enough that there's no need to wait!

I wish this shop stocked men's clothes! Now I don't know if…read moremore mirrors are being manufactured or if it's the result of a subtle advertising campaign but I'm sure more men nowadays are taking more pride in their appearance. It would be a godsend, essentially, if places like RagTrade could be of service to us. The idea is spot on. A shop that gathers, in their own terms, pre-loved designer women's wear. Another delightful name they call themselves is The Recycle Boutique. Think modern feminine Dickensian, with a kind of sexy urban twist. The website, the flyers and of course the shop are all very poetic and friendly, offering services to customers of all age, budget and occasion. With regular discounts and sales they must be, I am sure, popular with the local student market. Indeed it is shops like this, and thus the writing of reviews about, that I sometimes feel I'd have made a pretty good woman. A shopaholic, but woman nonetheless. Roll on the man's Rag Trade!

Rag Trade is simply a lovely, and functional idea. From the outside it looks like yet another…read moreboutique, but their concept is just great. Basically they are a dress agency, who you bring your unwanted designer clothes to, and they price it and put it in their shop for sale. Hence, anyone wanting to find some unique price slashed designer pieces, try here! The clothes stay on the racks only for 7 weeks, in which they get lower in price as the weeks go, if the clothing doesn't sell. After that 7 weeks, they go to charity. So if you are a seller, and if your item does sell in the shop, you either get 40% of the sale price in cash, or 50% of the sale price, in store credit. Ideal for label lovers, or those who are just looking for something non high street. The 7 week rule ensures the stock changes regularly, and I'm really glad that a shop like this seems to be sustaining itself through the more difficult economic times. It's quite inspiring.