The Designer Warehouse is one of my favourite London discoveries…read more Not far from my home, and just off Seven Sisters road is a monthly sale for designer clothes - having heard from it from a colleague, I didn't really know what to expect. It was great and would definitely recommend giving it a visit. When getting to the warehouse, you have to leave your bag and coat (including your phone) in a cloakroom, and may a small fee of £3 (or 2?) to be able to get in. The sale is over 2 floors, and organised by designers - some are really well known, some are smaller names I've never heard of. It's not a posh environment, it's just rows and rows of clothes on hangers - and you have to take the time to go through them to find the gems, and also your size. There aren't any changing rooms, but there is an area where you can go and try them on at the back of the venue - it's closed off to men, but you do have to accept getting changed in front of other women. I am myself a massive fan of Vivienne Westood, and this was also the opportunity for me to try on a few pieces of her clothes - and yes, I did cave in and buy a top (1/3 of the original price) and a scarf. Good to know: they separate their sales between womanswear and menswear - their schedule is updated on their website.

From the owner: Named "The Best Designer Discount" outlet in London by the Independent on Sunday, by Time Out as…read more"one of the Ten Best Reasons for living in London", and by Elle "a Top Twenty favourite shopping spot", the Designer Warehouse Sales have established themselves as one of the foremost destination venues for fashion lovers. With more award winning designer labels housed under one roof than at any other outlet in the country - including high style retailers Selfridges and Harvey Nichols - DWS provide fashion lovers with the best of designerwear at the lowest of possible prices. Held over three packed days, twelvetimes a year, these Sales offer customers catwalk one-offs, showroom samples and cancelled orders from the pick of the current seasons collections. Expect reductions of 60% or more on the rails of clothes packed into spacious studios in London, outside the Congestion Zone.

As I mentioned before, I love Holloway. Not to live necessarily here but I like to come here and…read moreshop. Lotus Leaf is not particularly zen in any way but it is good for cheap clothing deals. The clothing here is cheap but doesn't look cheap. Right in the front, there is clothing (mostly off season) for 3 and 5 pounds respectively. There are some nice sweaters and dresses here as well but no shoes or bags. The average dress costs between 15 and 20 pounds and a sweater is around 12. I think this store may not seem like much but actually it is a pleasant surprise of decent quality for very inexpensive prices, not the crap in Mkone or similarly cheap places.

And the award for cutest boutique to find your partner in crime an adorable purple jacket for…read moreChristmas goes to..... Lotus Leaf!!! Yes, this is where we scored my girl Laura her darling little purple jacket that looks like it was tailor made for her. It was only 39 pounds with tax and all and it is adorable. They also carry a cute variety of other fashionable finds and I think you would have a hard time NOT finding something to take home here, because the prices are fair and the selection is brilliant. Check it out and then head down to the pub on the corner. Total win win.

Leila is very Arsenic and Old Lace. Beautiful vintage inspired clothing, and accessories. There are…read moretwo parts to this store Leila London and Leila Home next door to each other. Leila London has great clothes, and jewellery, but also things like hat boxes (are these in fashion now?) candles, picture frames, and cosmetic cases all very dainty and girlie. Basically your boyfriend is not going to like being dragged in here, and will probably only suffer it for three minutes before he's bored out of his mind. Every Monday morning there is a 10% discount and if I wasn't working tomorrow I would be there. Leila Home is the same style and feel of Leila London except that it's stuff for your home, as well as children's clothing. Now that I am an aunt I notice these things. The have thins like French made dusters, to make cleaning a little more glamorous, or coasters, and jewellery boxes. This is a great place to come for gifts, because it is things you would want yourself.

I've always found this vintage store a bit hit and miss. The selection of shoes and bags is…read moreusually quite good but a lot of the clothes are not what I would consider to be vintage. There seems to be a lot of early 90s wear, discarded sleeveless polo necks from Tammy Girl and the like. They do however have a good selection of leather jackets for men at quite reasonable prices. The dresses are mostly garish full-length 70s numbers, but any vintage shopper worth their salt should be equipped with a sewing machine or at least a mate with one so that the strange hemlines of yesteryear can be easily rectified. I wouldn't say it was worth journeying to Church Street from afar to sample the goods in this store but it is always worth a look in if you happen to be in the area.

You have to do some real hunting at Ribbons and Taylor to find a bargain! There is a variety of…read morevintage clothing for both men and women available. The store however looks a bit like someone's warehouse or forgotten garage space full of clothes and shoes. Vintage has real charm, but they seem to have forgotten that here by cramming everything into one space. The shoes are what I always look at here, as well as some of the bags. There are some really funny clothes here, and its such a laugh to go with a friend and try on some ridiculous clothes. But you can always have a look around, develop your archeological skills and have fun!