When it comes to shopping, Brisbane is always seen as the poor relative to Sydney. And it usually…read moreis. But the uber chic Level 1 Designer section David Jones is definitely equal to, if not better than its counterpart down south. Let me run through just a taster of the labels you can get your hands on here: Burberry, Paul Smith, Scanlan and Theodore, Easton Pearson, Willow, Romance is Borne, Sass and Bide, Camilla and, my fave, Thurley (note to parents: as the sales will be on by then, I'd love the one shouldered lurex top or the long sequinned necklace for my birthday!) The drawback - the expense makes your eyes water. So my tip to you is, browse now and make a note of what you want, then come back in sale season and rummage, rummage, rummage. It's worked for me many a time. Ladies, be strong, be determined and above all, keep looking until you find it!

When I was a young whipper snapper I remember going into the David Jones store in Sydney. It felt…read moreall fancy, and i'd marvel at the food markets they had in there too. And the cost! Well, DJs still goes for that fancy, up market look, and if their Brisbane store ever had food markets, they're long gone. This is a newish store in Queens Plaza, and it's still quite fancy. Multiple levels, I usually come in for clothes, or sometimes to check out the electrical stuff. They've scaled back on games, and I note that their electronics is just a Dick Smith now. The department stores of the past are long gone. Despite the up market vibe they go for, I've found they are quite often competitive with prices, so it's definitely worth checking out if you're shopping around for the best price.

Variety of sizes available and very much affordable. Located in the perfect area for shoppingread more

I love Big W. I like how it is conveniently placed above Woolworths. It has escalators and a lift…read moreif you have heavy bags. I wish they would make a security system so you could take their basket trolleys (which can't leave Big W) and supply you with regular trolleys to take down to Woolworths to shop there vice versa . I hate carrying bags. I had to buy a granny's trolley for this purpose. I wish they had a underground carpark or something because how are you gonna take your purchases home? I either have to walk far to my car or catch a cab from the cab rank which is thankfully nearby. There are buses and trains but the who wants to wait at a bus stop with all their things? Also buses can be unreliable. The train station is about a ten minute walk up the hill so no go for me. If they had more parking areas and let you take the basket trolleys into the food court I would buy more and heavier things. Unfortunately most things on the Big W website are unavailable to get delivered? Almost makes me wonder what's the point, except I suppose being able to see what they sell. Big store, lots of variety, good prices but not as dirt cheap as Kmart. I would give 5 stars if they didn't always run out of basket trolleys at Big W and Woolworths! Woolworths have regular metal trolleys but usually run out too with the annoying insert coin security system. I don't know how your expected to use the trolley and then catch a cab. How are you going to return the trolly to bay to get your $1/$2 back? Oh well. There are barely any lines at Big W unlike Woolworths and they have self service checkout there. Oh, and only spread over two levels, not three.

I probably go to the Queen Street Mall too often. At some level, I feel lame for not exploring…read moreother options or areas. However, it's just too easy. It's well located and has just about everything one could want. There's food, drinks, movies, food, drinks, clothes, mobile phones, banks, etc, etc, etc. The current construction is a bit annoying, but it's hard to knock improvements being made. The result is a bit of a bottleneck with the huge crowds walking around on weekends. This is a problem when you walk faster than basically any other human in existence and are incredibly impatient. So, it's probably more of a problem just for people like me, which thankfully, I don't believe can be found in abundance. I like that there is often music and the people watching is tremendous.

'Ello chaps! Queen…read moreStreet Mall is a marquee tourist and shopping area of downtown Brisbane. It extends from George Street to Edward Street with more than 700 retailers. Many of them include the kitschy tourist shops. NOTE: Don't assume all of the stores are the same. Some may have the very same products, but even at different prices. It's worth the while to browse around first and then actually make your purchases. Other stores include shoe stores, clothing, jewelry, and odds and ends. It does seem as though Queen Street Mall may have seen better days, although it is buzzing. It's better than a typical American shopping mall, although it is not a five star high end shopping plaza, making it very affordable for most shoppers. Reportedly there were 26 million visitors to Queen Street Mall last year. Overall I give Queen Street Mall four stars out of five.

Quick and easy to buy food…read more Connected above Brunswick Train station in the Valley. 280 seat food court, Terry White Chemist, fitness first, Foodworks ( grocery store) 10-12 fast food places, 7-11, nail bar and medical centre. Parking building is also connected to the small centre on Alfred street. Major brand names like Subway, Hungry Jacks, Muffin Break, Fitness First, KFC, Hungry Jacks, pollen Florist, BWS liquor, sushi, Indian, etc. It's fine for a quick shop or a bite to eat. If you spend a certain amount at Foodworks you can get you car parking validated.

Valley Metro is more commonly known for housing the Brunswick Street Train Station in the Valley. I…read morepass through here more often than I probably should but it is quite a nice station and the Valley Metro Shopping Centre surrounding it definitely makes it feel a little safer and cleaner than most train stops. Surrounding this train station is a bunch of shops and a little food court. When I was here just before Christmas there was also a lovely group of guys playing Christmas Carols on their brass instruments. While mainly just the train stop, the shops do offer things to look at while you wait. There is a foodworks, newsagent and florist if you need to pick up some last minute things. The food court has plenty of seating but only a few food outlets to choose from. There is a great juice place, and a funky Japanese Crepe shop you should try if you get the chance. Overall, Valley Metro is a small shopping centre, if you can really call it that. Still, it makes the Brunswick Street stop a whole lot easier to bear.

David Jones James St promised to be a concept store that was a bit higher end than its regular…read morestores. The company claimed that since this store was much smaller there was a highly curated range available. The store was nicely done and the fittings were nice and new. However this David Jones had the most pathetic range of any DJ's store I've ever been to. DJ's had the chance to make this into an amazing store which had things that were unavailable in its usual stores, however it's chock full of the regular brands but with a lot more country rd and mimco (both owned by DJ's). The brands were not high end at all, mostly mid range with the exception of Valentino, Jimmy Choo and a minuscule range of Aquazzura accessories. Queensplaza has all of these things and more, and is much more accessible than this store. Parking was a mess and difficult to find. David Jones squandered the opportunity to add something new and exciting to the Brisbane retail market, and as someone who is enamoured with David Jones I was disappointed.

This along with the newly opened Stacks (Myer center) may be the only traditional dollar stores…read moreleft in the city. The Japanese $2.80 shops are squeezing them out. RS has a decent variety of goods and the quality is fine for this sorry of thing. You won't find a container whose lid doesn't fit or a hair barrette that works once. Here are some of the sections on offer: gift wrap n cards, art & stationery, bags/suitcases, containers, decor, candles/oils, frames and pictures, gardening, pets, laundry/linen, car, kitchen, clothes, beauty, phone/PC accessories, candy, tinned food...

I'm not really sure if I should be offended with the name "THE REJECT SHOP"…read more...does it make me a reject if I want to buy everything in its vicinity? ...But judging from the number of people wedged in on a weekday I am not the only reject who relies on this store. This place has saved my butt on numerous occasions, from awkward lunch date fiascos to that time the batteries in my boombox died. This store has everything you could ever possibly need in life. Novelty tins in shape of currency, oodles of stationary, leather belts, cheap candy, garden hoses, office chairs, perfume, speakers, DVD cabinets, small motorized helicopters, solar garden lights, clothing of all kinds, shortbreads, santa suits, blackboards, pottery wheels, diaries, beach tents, boogie boards, miniature drum kits AND a family pool. If you are ever in the city and feel a strong urge for a mini sewing machine or perhaps a rug in the shape of lassie I strongly recommend you give the Reject Shop a gander.

Go junk diving in the Valley at the I Life Shop. It's an amazing jumble of eclectic goods in the…read moregenre of Bargain Variety Asiana. Flags, hair ties, parasols, fake moustaches, 'Sticky shit' fake poo (yes, really!), bags, suitcases, ties, Australian souvenir tack... you could get lost for a couple of days in there. I bought my Dad a very cool parking sign, and loved browsing through the little cards which are almost eloquent - the spirit in which they are written is so heartwarming, I like to buy them for friends. You know the kind, cute hearts, clouds and characters, with words like "It is not for understand, but you and I are lovely together forever one." There are hidden treasure - the parasols are lovely - and the prices are absolute bargain basement.

This shop is adjacent to Fortitude Valley train station and across the street from a few strip…read moreclubs so that should tell you everything you need know ;-) nah I Life Factory is basically a chinese version of the reject shop. Everything is cheap and most of it is nasty. Drop in here and brave the Valley to stock up on much needed trash.