Het couture Millinery is a wonderful studio in the Old Wool Barn Art & Craft Centre in Verity's…read moreCourt, just behind the HIgh Street. You can get there via a handy little alleyway, to the left of Arthur John Hardware. (I had lived in Cowbridge for six months before I discovered this handy little alleyway!) It is absolutely brim full, (please excuse the pun), of the most amazing creations and fabrics that you could ever hope to cast your eyes on. There is something utterly exquisite about the abundant, rare opulence and extravagance of this boutique style studio, that makes it a really enriching experience to visit. As with all of the artisans who have their studios at the craft barn, you will be able to engage in discussions about the art of hat making, as well as discussing a commission, should you be attending a winter wedding, or some other such grand occasion. Having a bespoke hat made to suit you, and only you, has to be something of an essential extravagance at least once in your lifetime! (I have done it several times, but mainly because hats off the rack never suit! I have a difficult head to please!) Highly recommended!

This is the most beautiful shop and a wonderful experience.What shopping should be about! Sarah who…read moremakes the hats is fantastic. So creative! If you take your outfit with you she will match the colour and style perfectly. I'm now on my 3rd hat and once you've worn them you've got your own little work of art. Reasonably priced too! Once you've discovered Het, you'll be addicted! Beverley Porthcawl

Visage is a high quality dress shop on Cowbridge High Street. I was drawn into the shop by its…read morespectacular window display. the shop stocks a number of designer labels, none of which I was particularly familiar with, but the owner explained they came from some newish London and Italian based designers. The shop had a number of beautiful hats which were surprisingly reasonable at £40. There was a good range of unusual jewellery, at various prices. There was a variety of long and short dresses tops and shirts. I tried on a particularly pretty floaty top, which at £45 was good value (especially as there would be no risk of seeing other people wearing it, unlike popular high street brands). The changing area was delightful, with a lovely sitting area for accompanying friends/partners. I found the owner very helpful and friendly, she made me feel at ease with browsing and there was no pressure to buy. I would definitely recommend this shop when looking for that special outfit, and I think Visage will become one of my regular haunts.

I see Visage as just another women's clothing boutique on Cowbridge High Street that is…read moreindiscernible from any other in the area, unfortunately. Don't get me wrong, the clothes and accessories are absolutely lovely and many are reasonably priced for designer garb (I saw one in the sale for less than £40), but there's nothing especially spectacular that makes it stand out from the rest. Visage offers a varied selection of special occasion outfits, which comes as a relief to those ladies sick of showing up to a wedding in the same dress as three other people. The boutique carries a wide range of designers including Gina Baconni, Beppe Bondi, Save the Queen and Michel Ambers, as well as hats, jewellery and other accessories to ensure your look is complete. The decor boasts mosaic vases, clear-beaded chandeliers (these seem to be a common theme in this area), and frames constructed out of a gilded gold material. It's not my favourite boutique in Cowbridge, but luckily Visage has enough quality clothing and helpful staff that its appeal will reach far and wide.

Xantippe (try saying that when you've had a few) is a boutique furniture and gift shop that…read morespecializes in all things French. Style wise I'd say this is a place for the ladies as I'm not sure how many men would be keen on the delicate hand painted book cases and pink garden chairs. That aside, if the furniture isn't to your taste then there is a huge selection of gifts for the women in your life. Expect beautiful little china tea cups, candles and hand woven baskets, (perfect for storing bottles of vin!) It's a little on the twee/kitch side but that's exactly my style so you won't find me complaining. If you're not into it then that's a whole other kettle of poissons.

Devon, when I lived there about ten years ago, used to be awash with shops that sell the kind of…read morestuff that Xantippe specialise in... but their prices were never quite so steep! I guess there's been a fair few price hikes in the last ten years, but I'm still prone to a stiff intake of breath when I pick up a mug, albeit a very nice mug, and see that it costs somewhere around the £12 mark! i am also astonished by the cost of butter dishes! Did you know that you can pay as much as £40 for a butter dish...? yes, that's right, a butter dish! And that's on eBay. My quest, whilst not being of the Holy Grail epic proportions quite yet, has seen me visit practically every interior design, kitchenware, and charity shop in Cardiff and surrounding area over the last six months, and so desperate am I to find one soon that I have resorted to looking on-line. I peeled through in excess of twenty pages of dishes the other day, and didn't find one that I was suitably impressed by... well, I did actually, but I am unwilling to pay £40 for it! Sadly, Xantippe also didn't offer me a solution to my perpetual search either! But it did provide me with a half hours worth of extremely contented browsing. This is a lovely shop, that sells a lot of rusticana... delightful!

Sigh. Why do I go in shops like these? It's only a tease, I tell you, and I love every insufferable…read moreminute of it. Shoe fetishists beware: Jon Ian will seduce your senses and satisfy your urges, as well as clear your purse of any available funds. With designer shoes from Moschino, Lulu Guinness, Ugg and Anya Hindmarch, there's something for every gal here: studded heels (yes, please), cowboy boots (sure, why not?), leather flats (oh, go on then!) - if you're here with your partner, just tell him to leave and come back in two hours. That should be enough time, I reckon. They don't just carry shoes, either. Jon Ian also carries umbrellas, bags, belts and purses so you can get spoil other parts of your body besides your feet. If you're in Cowbridge and have an urge to spend some money, come here first. You won't regret it.

Jon Ian is like mecca for shoe lovers. A good, well stocked boutique shoe shop, choc a block with…read moredesigner names like Lulu Guiness and Armani. They also stock genuine proper lovely Uggs .(I know most men hate seeing these on their girlfriends but they're here to stay boys so get used to it) I fell in love with a polka dot pair of Italian leather kitten heels that came in at just under £170. They fitted my awkward size 5 1/2 feet like a glove. Sadly, when I returned with ample funds to buy them someone with excellent taste had snapped them right up. Don't go before payday, it'll be torture.

Hippy havens is what I so lovingly call shops like these - I feel I can say that because I…read moreabsolutely love this store and any like it (I believe in another life I abstained from wearing shoes, lived in a commune and wove baskets for a living). I guess I also adore shops like these because I hate pretentious shopping experiences with blaring dance music and blank-faced shop assistants (I guess I'm getting older?). Little Shop of Calm is indeed is an oasis in the surrounding bustle of Cowbridge High Street. With so much in this boutique to catch your attention, I could easily spend an hour in here, browsing the clothing, jewellery, bags, as well as the ranges of oils, knick knacks, crystals, and crafts from around the globe. If you're interested in attending concerts or poetry readings or taking yoga, Tai Chi, or other classes, check out their website for more information.

Halcyon Daze Little Shop Of Calm has changed its name, but I can't remember whether this is the new…read morename or old... I always simply refer to it as Halcyon Daze. I've never been very good at remembering names and so it's a wonder that I remember this bit! I wish I could remember the name of the manager that runs this shop, because she's very lovely and deserves to be referred to by name. But I can't! This is the second Halcyon Daze, opened after the success of the Cardiff branch. The owners still man the one in Cardiff, hence the need to employ a manager for the Cowbridge outlet. I'm glad they do. This shop is much smaller in size, but still manages to pack things in. They stock a range of bohemian clothing and accessories, and the usual ornaments and healing artifacts. They also possess a wealth of information. They've got a great notice board as well as a business card table, where it's possible to find out about all of the local alternative therapists. If there isn't a card for what you want, then it's worth asking the staff, as they are incredibly knowledgeable.

I first became aware of Ushi's when I lived in St Hilary, a couple of miles away from Cowbridge. I…read moreused to shop at Ushi's on the High Street in Cowbridge quite regularly back then, but still had no idea that they had two other outlets in Cardiff! These days I am to be found closer to the city centre, and so have realised that Ushi's is a small homegrown chain. The brand now supports three outlets, with a concession in the ill-fated Morgan Arcade off St Mary's Street in the centre of town, and another in Roath in the pretty shopping area of Wellfield Road. Stocking things for home and garden as well as jewellery and accessories it makes an ideal place to shop for presents, or for yourself if you are feeling frivolous! They carry many products that you won't find anywhere else, as well as some you will. Prices are not the cheapest in town, but the quality of what you are buying is generally superior. We get what we pay for these days!

This boutique-style gift shop is part of a small local chain with shops in Cardiff's Albany Road…read moreand the city centre. This Cowbridge location probably suits it best, being in the midst of a wealthy town with plenty of ladies of leisure looking to treat themselves. Some of the clothes in the window are a bit frilly and frou-frou for my liking, but inside there are plenty of lovely things that catch my eye, including some homeware, jewellery, knick knacks, and items for your garden - all in a similar vein to Vinegar Hill for those who are familiar with that chain. If you're visiting Cowbridge from Cardiff, you're probably in the mood for a treat - and this shop has lots of bright and pretty things to choose from. It's not cheap, but then few gift shops in Cowbridge are, and at least all the stuff's good quality.

Pebbles is a little boutique in the center of Cowbridge that allegedly offers designer clothes all…read morein one place. It says designer but if you're expecting really upmarket brands then you'll be disappointed. There's no Dior or Gucci here, rather you'll find things like French Connection and Old Molly, nice but not exactly designer. The prices are alright but you'll find a better selection of brands elsewhere, especially French Connection which you'd be better off buying online. All in all, a decent selection of cute clothes but not exactly something to scream about from the rooftops.

Pebbles are the artful purveyors of High Street low-impact, understated chic. Carrying brands like…read moreFrench Connection, Deisel, Gas and E.vil they have opted to be a little more cool than curious in their tastes. Do they pull it off? Hell yes! When you juxtapose this shop with the likes of Scallywags and Ragg, their positioning within this quaint market town, makes them so cool that you'd expect icicles to be hanging off the lintels in summer! Pebbles also stock designer hand crafted jewellery, some of which is made by local designers, as well as vintage bags that are dazzlingly different from the more mainstream alternatives. Being eminently progressive, and clearly very market savvy, Pebbles also stock an organic clothing range from the Cornish company Seasalt. Yes, this is definitely one of the better clothing outlets in Cowbridge!

Predominantly a shop which sells guitars and harps. The lady who runs this store is incredibly…read moreknowledgeable on her stock (particularly when it comes to the harps). They do however, also have a good selection of music books and sheet paper, Including many scores from popular films, TV shows and Musicals. My younger sister particularly liked this store as she was delighted to discover that they had a Glee music book, which she has now been practicing continuously!

When it comes to musical instrument shops, there's a lot to be said for service. In the more…read morepopular, wider-known stores such as Cranes, there's an unfortunate tendency for snootiness to set in amongst the staff. That distasteful though that goes "we are the instrument masters, and you people want to come and get your grubby fingers all over them? Eugh! Peasants!" And Cranes has that particular element of snobbishness all over them. And in stores such as Gamlin's, there is so much choice, and so many people asking you questions about what you're looking for that there is a small element of intimidation. That's not their fault; it's a symptom of their dedication to their field. In Pencerdd Cyf though, you have the perfect balance. The reverence for the instruments and the knowledgability that comes with it is there, but there's no sense of "us insiders, you outsiders". Instead, there's an atmosphere of community in the store; an atmosphere that fosters musicianship. If I could combine the service here with the stock of Cranes, you might just have the perfect music store.

Cowbridge high street is filled with little boutique clothing shops that tend to cater for the over…read more30s 'ladies who lunch' type that makes up the population so it's refreshing to see an outsider like 'Blushbaby' in its midst. Blushbaby is the shop equivalent of a rebellious younger sister with the tongue piercing and a vodka stash in her wardrobe. It stocks Christian Audigier, Victoria Beckham jeans and a whole host of other rhinestone embellished goodies. In general it boarders on the 'chavy chic' so it's perfect for orange faced WAGs in training. Not exactly my cup of tea, though I really like some of the evening dresses and find it's great for letting my inner footballers wife run riot for a bit.

Blushbaby may be pitching to the younger generation, something that is unusual for clothing shops…read morein Cowbridge, but it most definitely has limited appeal! Instead of the cool and affordable urban street-wear that you find at Amici, here you will find the kind of designer gear that the wanabes want to wear, regardless of the silly price tags. It's all glitz and kitsch dangling off the rails at Blushbaby! It makes me wonder sometimes where we are heading when shops like this survive the recession and other, more commendable shops like Halcyon Daze, (The Little Shop of Calm), look set to close their doors forever in a month or so... Why? The Little Shop of Calm stocks dresses that are about a quarter of the price and have a load more class... so why aren't people buying their gear from there? We seem to be over-awed by the designer label these days, and are somehow seemingly rendered unable to distinguish between a tag and taste! Perhaps Blushbaby would be more appropriately entitled Bamboozled!?! I don't get it!