If you aren't interested in female fashion in any way, please look away now: this review is going…read moreto get super girlie/ style geeky. As much as I love cute fashion (hint: it's a lot), I am also a lazy, lazy person and love shopping for fashion whilst in my pj's in bed even more. The inevitable result is that I actually physically visit fewer and fewer boutiques and stores in real life. The Birdcage is one of the few boutiques I will actually get out of bed for. And here's why (oooh, I feel a list coming on...) 1. It's around the corner from where I live. So while I *do* have to change out my pyjamas, I don't have to put in too much effort to get there. 2. The act of browsing there is enjoyable. The smallish space has personality, with vintage trinkets and boudoir styling to offset the racks and racks of fashion, as well as spacious change rooms. The visual merchandising works really well - they even organise product by hue which I really dig. 3. The sale rack is ever present out the front. What girl doesn't love a bargain? 4. The prices. Falling somewhere in between fast fashion prices and higher end boutiques, you can easily walk in with $50 and walk out with a gorgeous little summer top, or spend $450 on a splurge piece. I'd say median prices are around the $150 mark and the quality in my experience has been really good (but of course that will depend on label). 5. The labels. It's a well curated selection of both local and national labels, from SA locals to Australoid bigwigs, it's an aesthetically cohesive range that fits somewhere between out and out girlie and on trend. Cameo, Finders Keepers, Keepsake are all stocked here, to name a few. Lots of whimsy going on with short skater skirts and shades that gently meander from cream to pale blue, with the occasional party piece thrown in. 6. Lover. This cult Aussie label is A BIG DEAL to stock. While Lover pieces stocked at the Birdcage are few and far between, it is one of the only places in Adelaide (I think Whistles also stock select pieces but I could be wrong...) to nab yourself a piece or simply ogle it in real life. As a HUGE Lover fan this is a massive selling point for me.

Birdcage has been one of my go-to places to shop for a while now. It's more affordable than Sooki,…read moreand has a broader range than Kitschy. The staff at Birdcage are really friendly, despite being oh-so-purdy and always impeccably dressed. They also don't mind having a bit of a chat and take the time to guide you through new stock, which I always appreciate - I'm a big shopper! If I don't have time to stop by and actually browse, I just check out the sales rack out the front - how handy is it to have a sales rack just sitting there. Sometimes I just want to discreetly carry it away with me as I walk past...

This store was a pleasant surprise! I stumbled in here still reeling from my stroll through One…read moreRundle down the road and expected more sky high prices and mouth pursing glamour. Not so! The clothes here are not only beautiful but they're totally affordable. Considering Stuart Street Dulwich is a bit of an exxy spot the prices here are really very low. They had a sale rack out front with lovely pieces from Finders Keepers and Mink Pink and the prices started from ten dollars! Swoon! The staff are very nice here and they have a second area next door with lots of lovely Wish and Paper Heart clothes where you can try things on and hang out on the comfy couch and feel a bit special. Let there be Lace. I will be back.

Alexandra & Lace is located in the delightful cluster of shops in Dulwich. This area holds such…read morecharm, mostly as it feels quite hidden away which gives it an exclusive vibe. Alexandra & Lace is, in my opinion the best of the few clothing shops in the group. It is geared for the most part towards women in their 20s and 30s with an outstanding selection of brands such as mink pink, ladakh, wish and tigerlilly, amongst others. It's a great place to pick up a tasteful frock that is at the cutting edge of fashion. Most of them are quite affordable also, with an average price being around $79.95. For those ladies who enjoy Rundle st and Norwood Parade boutiques, this store will provide you with a Miss Gladys/Tu Yu/Birdcage style shopping experience minus the crowds. You may just nab the store all to yourself. If you can't make it during opening hours, they may even open the boutique for you by special arrangement. The number is on the door!

This boutique is one of my all time favorite shops in Adelaide. Yes it is pricey, but there are…read moresome brands in here that I love, Custo Barcelona being one of them. The name of this multi-level shop originates from its history being a Chinese import shop in its heyday. It now stocks trendy clothing for men & women as well as accessories. Club goers rejoice! Be sure to bring your credit card! Style does not come cheap.

23/12/2011 If there's one thing that turns on a…read moresophisticated Aussie gentleman like me is a hot girl, with a hot body, in a sexy hot dress. Miss Gladys Sym Choon provided that for me. A sexy girl in a sexy dress is a certainty to be spotted at least once in a visit to Rundle Mall, Adelaide. Come here on any given weekday and you'll believe me. It's only a matter of time before you suddenly turn your head towards that girl's direction...I remember an American businessman friend of mine that told me, "When I visited Australia for the first time, and I saw how beautiful Aussie women were, I knew it was highly likely that I could get into trouble. And I'm married." This isn't an understatement. I've fallen victim to the lure of Aussie women several times before. I especially loved the music that was playing. It's hard not to like a store when they have a playlist of a Sade song, followed by 'World Tour' by 'A Tribe Called Quest'. Frilly at the top, and skimpy and tight around the waist and legs. The prices are higher than usual, and you can get far classier dresses for a lower price. Miss Gladys Sym Choon still deserves a lot of credit for its designs from the Malaysian designer. Although designs can be simple and of one bright colour (my top two colours from this store are bright red or metallic black), there are other items on offer, and you've gotta appreciate that they've allocated a generous section for menswear too. Though not the best on prices, Miss Gladys Sym Choon do dresses very, very well. It was funny, because once I asked the shop assistant for a sexy dress, he was on fire and picked out five different colours without any hesitation! The other girls downstairs saw what was happening and they laughed when I said, "She's tryin', I'm buyin!'" LOL For those of us blokes who randomly suddenly get a testosterone hit while shopping, Miss Gladys Sym Choon will cause your jaws to drop. Thank you so much. The best way to end my day. I left there thinking, "Damn girl, you looked sexy in those tight dresses. Sexy, sexy, sexy." This store, like the Sade song, "gave me a kiss of life."

I was first drawn to this shop because of the eight manequines in the window and its brightness…read more They were all dressed in cute skirts and dresses (very girly). I walked in and soon realised that most items were one-off pieces, even better I thought! There were cute, pretty earrings and other accessories which caught my eye. Looking around at the price tags shorts and skirts were around $40-$60 (not too bad), and dresses were around $100. The clothing sold here is for young women who like bright, dressy-casual pieces. If you are looking for a warm welcome and some assistance, you might struggle; the shop assistant looked at me twice and didn't smile or say hello. The shop could also use some music to add a bit of atmosphere. Although I have given this shop a 4/5, I would give the service about a 2/5.

I had quite a different experience to Jessica in relation to customer service. I found that the…read moreyoung shop assistant was very friendly, she immediately greeted me when I walked in and asked me after an appropriate amount of time if I needed any help. The shop window looks fairly nice and the overall of the store itself makes you think they sell cute but decent dresses, skirts and shirts. This is only partly true because a lot of the items are actually quite extravagant and very colourful. I didn't really find anything in there that stood out but saw a few nice dresses. Most clothes come in one size only and you'll find a lot of going-out dresses, not much that is very daytime-oriented or casual. Good for a browse though, and with most items ranging from $20-$100 it's reasonably priced.

I first fell in love with Tree of Life stores in Sydney and then Brisbane, and ever since have been…read morehanging out for one to hit Adelaide. My desires were satisfied last year when this treasure trove of trinkets and colourful fashions and accessories sunk its roots into Adelaide's Rundle Mall. Whilst the window suggests it makes a largely hippy clientele happy, most who step beneath the boughs of the Tree of Life leave just as contented as any wood nymph. One of the sections you really can't appreciate until you're in the store is the fine jewellery located on the western side of the store. There are beautiful pieces of jewellery here, designed to give as gifts for those special occasions or a delightful self-treat. The reduced section is to the back left of the store, and always has unbelievable bargains. I got a Jimmy Hendrix-like orange velvet jacket from this section for $20. The staff are also really nice, helpful and vibrant. When friends had bought gifts from here that didn't really suit, returning the items with receipt was easy, and I snaffled home a beautiful marcasite set of earrings and ring instead.

25/12/2011 5 photos Now, I walked around the whole shop…read moretwice with no attention paid to me whatsoever. I was the one that had to approach someone. When I asked the first shop assistant for help, she told me, "I'm busy. Go ask one of the girls at the counter. One of 'em will help you." How rude! I immediately got a bad first impression of this store. The second shop assistant lady was much more helpful but when she told me, "All the clothes here are made in India because of fair trade," I didn't know how to respond. What the heck do you mean? What are you trying to say here? Was she on some "Third World makes these-First World wears these" power trip? I dunno. ...If only I could work out the meaning behind her words. In actual fact, when she starts our conversation by saying "All the clothes here are made in India because of fair trade," in my head, I was thinking: "....is the fair trade bit of your sentence really relevant to what I need right now? I'm not here to learn about International Politics. Damn it, I just need a nice blue dress with matching blue jewellery for my female friend for Xmas!" Worst, she pulled out several dresses and jewellery pieces that weren't even blue. I specifically asked for blue, young lady. Thus any women's clothing store where I am not being listened to, and pieces are pulled out in such a haphazard manner and not really matching what I want, I knew it's gonna be a looooong day inside this shop. From the outside, this store is so unnoticeable because of it's black sign, but once you walk around inside, there are plenty of Indian "Bollywood-like" clothing and jewellery designs. Most of the customers here are....(yep, you guessed it) Australian women. Nevertheless, the second shop assistant did not abandon me and although she took a long time, she did not lead me astray! We finally found a nice blue dress for $40 and matching blue necklace = a very affordable winner. If you want to feel like a Bollywood Actress in Adelaide, this is the store to go to for conversion.

Miss Jasmine doesn't exist online or in the phonebook. It's a quiet new addition to Regent Arcade,…read morewith some very cute dresses and fancy dress (but by this I mean those sexy maid outfits and cute bunny costumes that I've never seen in a young women's clothing store before - on sale for $10! Okay, I was tempted...) They have a mixture of generic current fashion (those mermaid tail skirts) as well as some great styles that you won't see elsewhere. Their prices are great, most pieces under $40, and there is a decent range of sizes, even though on first entry you assume they'll all be tiny, judging by the two petite girls running the store. Never fear, there are still size 12s! (Though I didn't check if it went above this.) Their sales racks are really worth a look, with everything on them $10. It's an interesting little shop, and good to have a newbie on the block. Check it out!

I can imagine my teenage sister loving Miss Jasmine! The clothes and accessories available stocked…read moreare very trend orientated, with low prices, making it the perfect place to buy a statement piece for the season, without blowing your budget (especially if you'll only wear it once). The jewellery is also very cute and affordable. This is one of those boutiques that I have to quickly stop into every time I walk past, whether I'm planning to buy something or not. The girls working here are lovely, friendly and always happy to help. Definitely one to try.

You know when something is so bad for you that you can't help but want it more? Like…read morechocolate...well now I'd put Kmart into that little shopping basket. Yes it is just another chain store full of stuff you don't need but I am in a love/hate relationship with this Kmart. The layout is clever. Bloody annoying and sneaky like IKEA - but gosh it's clever. - You can't see over any isle so you have to hunt through the maze of gigantic displays. - They put women's bargain clothing (tops starting at $4) at the entrance. Bright colourful displays that make you think "yes I should start wearing more of this tangerine or fluoro blue in my life." - The store is also double storey so you feel like you are in a luxurious department store that has bargain basement prices. And finally the prices are amazing. You know that when you buy a $4 t-shirt it will last you one season and be 2 sizes bigger after a couple of washes. But hey what the hell it's only $4 right? Consumerism at its best. It is also refreshing to see a good homewares and toy store based in the mall with a really good range of items - something I was complaining about as I trawled the mall just 2 months ago unsuccessfully looking for a present for a 3 year old. Well done Kmart your rebrand is bringing you back into the naughties...you're so bad, it's good.

Kmart has gone downhill in quality with some items and have stopped stocking a few decent brands…read morewhich is quite disappointing and sell poor quality footwear which falls apart quickly. the reason why I have given this review 2 stars is because the boys clothes are quite thick and are probably thicker than big w clothes. what I was pretty impressed about is the boys 7-16 flannelette shirts I bought today were $6.50 each and I bought two of them for $13.00 and in bigw they were $12 each and the material was thinner than the ones in Kmart. what a bargain! but I do avoid buying footwear. pros: Clothes are still of decent quality and very low , affordable prices and some bargains waiting for you. cons: bad quality footwear that falls apart after a wear, tinsel that sheds bits and not many different brands to choose from.

Koko Design sells female fashion, with the main focus being on dresses. They come in every length…read moreand colour, from more glamourous and shiny party dresses to decent, everyday, casual wear. Most things are sold in one size only so you'll at least be able to own something unique, which can be a bit hard sometimes when you go shopping in Rundle Mall. They have a nice - fairly small though - selection and something for almost every taste I'd say, at reasonable prices. Sometimes they also have a sales rack out at the front. Worth having a browse.

In a place with a lot of bling, Showies stands out among the shiniest, and not necessarily in a…read moregood way. A large store, it stocks mainly formal and evening dresses, as well as fashion for slightly older women (with money). Their formal dresses are in stark contrast to their casual wear. The latter is quite sophisticated, with some very attractive, flattering pieces, and very little bling in sight. On the other side of the store, the formal dresses almost blind you with the amount of shininess attached to the dresses, which makes them look much cheaper than their price-tags reflect. All the dresses are well over $200, and many of the styles can be found for much less elsewhere. On my preferred side are some gorgeous silk skirts and a two-piece tartan suit that I swear I'll wear well I'm a tiny, ancient grandma (I intend on shrinking substantially before then). In the middle of the shop is some of the biggest jewelry I've laid eyes on. I suggest keeping your sunnies on for this one.

After being bombarded by a pushy salesperson and talked into buying an outfit that was to big for…read moreme - I know what you are thinking - I should have been strionger and said no. But I took the outfit home thinking it may need a small amount of altering but upon trying it on again in not such a rush at home found the skirt to swim on me and the top too large. I called to ask for an exchange and was told that was ok but "she didnt really have to do that". I then asked if there was nothing in the shop that fitted me could I get a refund - thats when things got ugly. The ladys tone altered and she told me she did not offer refunds. I actually intended to buy another dress but did not want to be stuck with a credit that I couldnt use either. I have mutitudes of freinds with kids all getting engaged, married or turning 21 - they will not be going to Showies.

A new-er addition to the Ebenezer strip, Leonard St is an import from Melbourne whose designs fit…read morein oh-so well to the leafy lanes "off Rundle". The stock is predominantly women's fashion (there is a small children's selection) with a strong eclectic lilt, unusual patterns and colours feature here, as well as designs and fabric textures you don't often see outside of boutiques. I'm a fan of this brand, mainly because it is just so different to other clothing on offer, I can generally find something I like that is effortlessly unusual compared to other brands. Pieces from here aren't for everyone but I am a fan of their "dressy casual" numbers and quirky tops. Staff here are quite friendly and will do my favourite salesperson thing of suggesting other pieces for you as you try on clothes. Leonard St clothing seems to always look different on compared to on the rack, so listen to the ladies and give it a go. If your size isn't available they always seem happy to look up availability interstate or online to get in for you, which is a real help. Sizing can be difficult, I find I go up a size in tops as the cuts seem to be designed for those a bit "flatter" in the chest area, but I prefer the more relaxed fit. Clothing here probably errs on the pricier side, but is comparable to other fashion stores in the area, expect to pay $120-$220 per piece. Like to wear something a bit unique? Maybe a different colour, style, cut or pattern to what is out there? Like clothes that can be worn any which way? Then maybe drop into Leonard St.