If you haven't been to Apartment before, it can be a little task to find. On the first level of a…read morebuilding that looks like it would be filled with, well, apartments, is this men's clothing store. It was recommended to me by a friend when I said I was in a pickle finding something for my partner for Christmas. Although I didn't find anything this time I will definitely be taking him to Apartment to check it out for himself. The long thin store stock designs mostly from Japan, as well as men's shoes, magazines, hair products and cologne. The clothing is functional and funky. Don't be fooled though, they put all the small sizes on the racks but there are more at the back of the store. There's usually only one or two of the same item hung up at the same time. Despite the high prices, these are the kinds of clothes you can't really find anywhere else in Brisbane. If you are a fashion forward young man, or you have one in your life, I definitely suggest giving Apartment a look. Don't be overwhelmed with the prices, because these kinds of clothes are investment pieces that will last a life time if looked after.

Apartment is one of the only decent men's clothing stores left in Brisbane, this store is hidden…read moreaway on Charlotte street (hiding from the fast fashion peasants perhaps), and sells brands that are hard to find outside of Melbourne/in Australia. A lot of their products are imported directly from Japan; Neighborhood, W Taps, Comme des Garcons and Head Porter to name a few brands. Prices reflect the quality and exchange rates of the garments so save up your pennies and buy yourself some premium threads from Apartment.

This menswear shop manages to pull off a bit of 'discount outlet' vibe while still managing to feel…read morehigh end (well, at least to me). They stock all the conventional standbys in business wear as well as some cool variations on the traditional which will appeal to the fashion forward corporate types. I went there to buy a couple of new shirts before a job interview a few years ago and came away with two shiny new additions to my wardrobe and surprisingly, change from $100. One of the finds, a fine white cotton number with a small collar and buttons down to the navel, has become one of my favourites for its casual yet stylish look and comfortable feel. Oh and yes, I got the job.

We walked in not needing a Thing. But what we Found was the…read moremost beautiful, quality menswear. My son fell in love with suit pants and the were tailored to him on the spot. The women (yes, three women) who waited on us, were so warm and lovely! We will definitely be back! Thank you for a terrific shopping experience!

This is the first time that I have shopped at a H&M store, and as a guy who likes for clothes…read moreshopping to be as simple (and quickly over) as possible, I quite liked the store. The different clothes sections (Women's, Men's and Children) are separate to one another in a very deliberate way, the change rooms are managed efficiently and there is a good variety of clothes without it being too overwhelming. I found the staff to be reasonably nice, though the person at the door may not let you in if you are holding a drink. The main issue that I had with the store was that XL sized stock was either non existent or hard to find, when going through the different sizes. I am not sure whether they stock less larger sizes, or whether it was simply a popular size for men. I would definitely recommend giving H&M a visit at least once, and seeing whether it is your cup of tea.

Love this store so much! Really good quality clothes for teens, young adult, gents, kids and…read morebabies. It loses a star for me because the baby boy section is not very big. When you are a mum on a budget, you want to be able to dress your family affordably and while H&M does that, more selection for boys is needed. Overall a great shopping experience, very friendly staff and great prices.

This is a much more student-friendly version of Retro Metro, offering vintage items at way cheaper…read moreprices. Extending a fair way back from where it tumbles out onto the footpath, the racks are packed with all sorts of men's and women's clothing. Lots of well known brands can be found here; I unearthed a Cooper St dress for only $10. Not all of the items are such bargains and the quality is not quite up to the same standard as the main store, but there's so much here that you're bound to find some sort of hidden treasure. The service is also very friendly; the guy working at the time was helpful without being pushy, something I think most people prefer. I think there aren't many things worse than an overly inquisitive shop assistant clearly intent on forcing you to make a purchase. If you're in the market for some vintage clothes, I suggest you check this place out before venturing to its more expensive counterpart. Because a lot of the store is outside, the opening hours are weather dependent. There is no phone number for this store, so if in doubt call the number listed above (for the main Retro Metro) and they'll be able to help you.

I used to walk past this place for years before I eventually went in. Whether I finally did was…read moreowing to a warming to second-hand clothing or an improvement in Retro Metro's stock, I'm not sure. But the stock is good. And cheap. Actually, thank God for Retro Metro. It is the one second-hand clothing store in Paddington that is not ridiculously overpriced. The clothing ranges from the horrible 1980s, the faded and almost-unidentifiable 90s and - most importantly - to the decent 70s-style clothing that's hip again. And, unlike many of its peers, the clothing is all of good quality and there's none of that musty-mothball smell. The store also boasts new stock - a few pieces from local designers with a slightly more expensive price tag (around $25 as compared to $10 for a second-hand maxi-style dress). A lot of this new stuff is excellent, and would be a big draw-card for fans of long, flowing dresses in modern prints. Inside the store are a few more zany, non-clothing items - gun holsters, books and intriguing little trinkets - and the respectful owner. He's a nice guy and once sold me a pile of books I liked the look of for $1. If you're at all open to the idea of second-hand clothing and/or cheap local designs, go here. I apologize in advance for the inevitable 2km walk from where you eventually find a car spot.

I recommend you only shop at this store in person, and not make online purchases. The 2 stars are…read morefor my in person experience. I would give zero stars for my online retail experience. I purchased a number of items online for a trip I had in 5.5 weeks. After 2 weeks of seeing they had not yet even been sub to be shipped out, I wrote them an email. They wrote back saying they would ship my things out, but that they no longer had a number of the items in stock - and could they pick some items for me? I wish I had said no, but I agreed as long as they could get the shipment out that day. What they should have done, the professional thing to do, would have been to refund me for the items they no longer had in stock and offered to expedite my shipping. It has now been 4 weeks since I put in the order. I have not received my items. I imagine I'll receive them in a week or two, when I no longer have need of the items I ordered. The store is a cute local shop - they do not have the customer service skills to being doing retail on a global scale.

Pushing the unassuming heavy glass door on Winn St you step…read moreinto a little store called the Outpost. Now it's a little tough for me to define this space. Do I talk about the collection of Zines and Mag's I have perused here on many an occasion? The range of amazing woman's clothing I have lusted over? The art events they have hosted? Or the friendly staff I've had good chats with? it is a bit more than your average retail space. I've been coming here for a while and I love their sourced and curated collection of eclectic designs from artists around the globe. Definitely worth a gander if you are valley side!

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.

This is quite an odd store that I found while searching in vain for a Christmas present for the men…read morein my family. Really, why must they be so difficult? I suppose this is not the appropriate place for my tantrum, so let's move on. This store comes across as a little of a disorganised jumble, but once you get past that you realise that it actually stocks a lot of well-known brands. Basically any form of men's clothing you are after, you can find here. There is work wear, formal wear and casual wear, along with lots of the most popular surfing brands. When I was there it was busy, full of men of different ages attempting to withhold the right to choose their entire wardrobe from their wives. Even though I didn't particularly like the setup, the staff were courteous and helpful, and there's no denying there was a lot of good stuff to choose from.

I first went to David's Mensland years ago, because it was near my then work. I'm a bit on the…read morecheap side and don't usually wander into shops unless there's a sale on and I have to say I've picked up some great bargains for my Dad and partner there at times - like a couple of Italian dress shirts at about 75 percent off for under $30 each; golf shirts, jeans... there's always something on the racks outside. That's the grown up side of the shop. then there's Cylinder Surf Cleveland, a more recent addition to the store. They are adjoined, so you walk from one section to the other internally, but what a difference. Cylinder Surf is for guys and girls, and is on the corner of Bloomfield Arcade, so long windows on two sides are filled with cool surf gear. I like the summer and winter sales, when I've picked up some great Roxy gear, boots, bags, jumpers, tops, at really good prices. The range of stock is good for a relatively small store.

For those that work in a boring office and are required to wear a boring suit, check out this place…read moreand spice up your life. Shirt Studio are (surprise, surprise) the shirt specialists. They can also help you with suits, ties and cufflinks, but the main focus is quality Italian shirts for men and women. This isn't really a store for me, but if you're into business shirts (and why wouldn't you be?) I'm sure you'll find their expertise more than helpful.

This shop is for ladies that are in their mid 30s to possibly late 50s. The fashion is…read moreunpredictable... what could look stylish from the front may be a picasso from the back. The dresses look really comfortable if only I would be game to wear the picasso out... unfortunately i'm not, but i'm not saying you might not be! The prices are reasonable, the shop smells nice, the clothes look really good, and they even mend and alter clothing for a reasonable price with a great turnaround. The lady inside is really helpful and friendly and maybe in 10 years time it might be the place I buy all my stuff.

I LOVE this store - the colours are bright and happy and the clothes actually fit real people! The…read morestaff and friendly are helpful too :) I will be coming back, despite living on the other side of town - I was very happy to find it while driving home from a day out :)