Vintage doesn't get any better than Tango…read more The best thing about Tango is that there quite literally isn't a single thing in the shop that hasn't been hand picked because it's beautiful and high quality. There's a definite aesthetic to the stock - a sort of campy, tongue-in-cheek take on glamour - that you'll most likely love if you're into vintage. Tango is hands down the best place in town to get your hands on designer and name-brand vintage that's in top condition, but there are also less expensive items, like costume jewellery and handbags. Not to be overlooked, the service at Tango is perfect - it's always a comfortable browsing experience, but the guy who works there is really knowledgeable about clothes and is very helpful if you're looking for something in particular. In short: Tango should be your first destination for impressive vintage dresses and accessories.

Do you like old and kind of misc. stuff? Do you like dresses…read moreand pants and all that kind of crap? Do you like archaic suitcases? Do you like to pretend you're way way cooler than you actually are? Do you think you should have lived during the roaring twenties or something dumb like that? Do you have heaps of disposable income? Do you like to impress people by showing them how your suit has some discernable amount of horse hair in it? Do you like dumb hats which cost a lot of money? Do you enjoy wearing fur which has been pulled from the carcasses of murdered animals? Go to this place if you say "Yes" to any of that stuff.

After hearing friends say; "I'd love some of that!" Audrey and her family decided to open the first…read moreRedcurrent store in Havelock North way back in 1999. Since then, they have opened 4 stores in Auckland and several more across both the North and South Island! Best of all, it is New Zealand owned and operated! Redcurrent do some wonderful in-store displays and stock a range of nice homeware pieces. I dare you to walk through their stores and come out without having said: "I'd love some of that! - at least once! I am currently in love with the Menton picnic basket and the rabbit fur throw! I also have my eye on their Kiwiana tea towel gift box range which are designed right here in New Zealand and made from 100% cotton. Checkout the Jaffa, Hokey Pokey and Chocolate Fish options..quirky, fun, practical and lightweight! - think they would make for a pretty cool souvenir!? Definitely one of the nicer shops in the Albany Mall!

From the owner: Redcurrent offers home and lifestyle accessories that make everyday life beautiful.read more

I think I've got a new favourite shop. I'm such a sucker for anything cute, kitsch and quirky and…read morethat's exactly what this shop is. Brand new to K Road, this store embodies everything I love about the area. I think their selection of necklaces is actually even nicer than the similar ones in Monster Threads just down the road, and I looove those! It's clear the owners of this store really think about what they're selling and who they're trying to sell it to. This is only a tiny little store but everything in here is covetable, from the tea sets to books to the array of vintage-inspired sunnies and dresses. It's out of the ordinary, beautiful clothing, jewellery and homewares. I've got my eye on a necklace and the super-cute stick-on animal wall decorations.

Everything in this store is scrumptious. You know the kind of stuff that you could just eat up…read more These girls know what's good out there and now they've got it for us to buy. There's everything from clothes, to candles, to sunnies, and little knick-knacks that you probably don't need, but must have. It's the perfect place to go if you're trying to buy a present for someone who has everything. My favourite product they stock is the ceramic crinkle cups. They're so cute and everyone who sees them thinks they're so awesome. Having just moved from their old store the Bread and Butter Letter is looking seriously suave. I love the new branding and the light boxes out the outside of the store. Best thing about the new place is that you can now buy a cup tea there too. Love it.

I wish I could do no stars. I am incredibly appalled at the customer service. Read the fine print…read moreof their contracts carefully. This company does not deal in good faith whatsoever. They are incredibly arrogant. They don't care about their customers, only their money. Just find another store, literally any other company will give more of a shit about you. It's your special day you're planning, and no one deserves to feel the way they treated me. Find ANYWHERE ELSE to buy a dress from.

If you want funky fashion thats affordable then this is a place to go.My friend and I walked past…read morehere a few years ago and have been going back to get bits and bobs ever since. Second hand items that are well looked after and well maintained, they have good brands and a good selection. The prices are reasonable and its easy to find some awesome buys. There is an awesome 21dollar rack where you can find some great little deals Bright and light fitting rooms, with loads of space for taking multiple items in with you. The sales staff are lovely and very helpful.

Finally, I've discovered a second-hand clothing boutique actually worthy of the title 'Boutique.'…read moreEncore is everything you want it to be: an absolute treasure trove of used designer clothes, well priced and well ordered. What separates this store from the others such as Recycle Boutique and Finders Keepers is that they actually make it feel boutiquey rather than op-shoppy in there. This means luxurious Laura Ashley-papered walls, funky lighting and spacious changing rooms and staff who can help you pick out outfits and advise you on almost anything in the store. The brands they sell can be anything from Vivienne Westwood to Kiwi favourites Karen Walker and Zambesi, all at massively discounted prices. Of course, you're still going to be paying more for the privilege of owning these items than you'd pay for lesser quality items in a chain store, but what you'll get in return are pieces that will last you a lifetime...or indeed items you'd probably be able to resell again for a tidy profit.

Fantastic level of safety, I would trust my 83 year old mother to this team. Great success seeing…read morethe rare effect. Don't forget shoes that go in the water or be ready to step in mud to get into the kayak's.

Abigail's was the first gift-store I ever knew..we used to go and spend our pocket money on the…read morelucky dip bags they had then spend the rest of the day squabbling over the booty. They also used to have flowers and a little outdoor courtyard with plants and even an upstairs! However none of that is relevant now (sorry) because it has now moved premises and somewhat downgraded..or maybe just simplified. Nowadays you'll find a small, tidy, upmarket giftstore where everything is nice but nothing is too stand-out. The most useful thing for me personally is they seem to have branched out into baby wear and gifts - very helpful when every second person you know is having baby every second day. Oh and their gift-wrapping is exquisite!

If you're after more Billabong fashion than the average surf store holds, this is the store for…read moreyou. Nearly everything from the latest catalogues can be found here- the spacious clean shop almost looks like catalogue itself with plenty of posters showing huge Australian waves and coy girls looking out from under their lashes. This "surf store" caters to the branding and the street look of Billabong instead of it's surfing roots. T-shirts emblazoned with sponsor's logos and denim factory faded and everything summery you could wear. The service is average, the prices are high and the chances the majority of people shopping here actual surf is low, but it is a decent store. There is a good range of men's and women's beach-styled street wear and swim wear and a good addition to the Queen St shopping district.

The problem I have with surf labels is the same one I have with Sum 41 and pineapple-flavoured…read morefizzy drinks - they just don't age well. Or rather, they don't age, and I do. While these things are fine for teenagers (I remember thinking my Billabong cap was pretty cool at fourteen), the problem is that it's very much aimed at that audience, and once you leave high school you can't wear any of this stuff without looking like a bit of a dick. This is minimised if you're actually on a surf board, or at least on a beach and carrying a surfboard, but how many of Billabong's customers ever find themselves in that situation? How many actual surfers are buying their clothes full-price at a chain store on Queen Street? Very few, I'd guess. But if you're a poser with too much money or a teenager whose parents have too much money, this place is ideal.

Vixen: A retro-monster that swallows you whole and then spits you out some time later, slightly…read morelighter on the cash and a little wiser in the wonderful ways of all that is vintage clothing. This shop has everything - men's, women's, and a kick-arse haul of vintage boots. It's the best place to start any serious hunt for a specific vintage piece, whether it's a dress, a sweatshirt, or something from the amazing range of accessories - gloves, handbags, scarves, and sunnies. Unlike some other large retro clothing shops, the stock at Vixen changes all the time - a testament to it's large fan base that keeps coming in and collecting goodies!

If you're wondering how cool Vixen is - let me tell you a story. A few years ago now, a young…read moreAmerican walked into the store to have a look around, but the store assistant told him Vixen was closing and he would have to come back another time. After sending the man packing and scratching his head, the store assistant would later click that she had sent alt-country superstar Ryan Adams on his way; she was to see him in concert that night. If you're looking for a secondhand store that is packed enough with Americana to entice Ryan Adams, and too cool for him to even get a look-in, Vixen's your place.