Swish, Damn Swish - no, not a famous line from a swashbuckling James Bond rip off, this arcade is…read moreincredible. A whole Victorian street in the shopping heart of Leeds enclosed by a wonderfully modern glass covering. OK, so the shops are all designer, the ones everyone loves to look in, sometimes go in to have a look at just how much some people are prepared to pay for t-shirt....but boy the designers have designed a perfect place for designers to come sell their designer bits 'n bobs. little bubbling fountains, coffee and bagel huts for that quick pit stop and belly filler. I sat in here for about an hour, just sipping my cheap filter coffee and commoner's bacon and egg bagel getting a good view of how the other half live. I didn't mind, I was content, in such a place I find it hard to believe anyone could feel otherwise.

The Victoria Quarter is the Leeds hotspot for chic shopping. I'm sure it would object to being…read moredescribed as such but that's tough, cos it's be that's writing it so ner. In all seriousness, The Victoria Quarter is the opulent home to some of the more high end brands of the Leeds shopping arena, and with it comes certain prestige in being housed here. The little independent stores like the French Revolution and Rose & Co gain a little kudos in being located here, as that is the effect the Victoria Quarter has on a business here. It is really rather easy to get lost in the annals of the walkways, be it through gawping at all the lovely shopping enticements, or be it from the identical high vaulted ceilings and archways criss crossing across one another, identical fountains, and sympathetic shop signage so that it doesn't interfer with the original features and feel of the Victorian decor. Depending on which entrance you take you will find fountains tinkling delicately, or small tables with coffee service, or even a small but assuredly delicious pattisserie. Benches are also dotted around and if you take the time to perch, and knock your head back you'll see the bizarre yet beautiful glass decoration. A worthy attraction all on it's own.

Grin, having come to exist here once evicted from the Corn Exchange, is an old time favourite place…read moreof mine to browse. Being one of the original alternative places to shop in Leeds, supplying all the old school goth kids who amassed outside the Corn Exchange with their garments, I am really glad that it survived the relocation. There's definitely a hint of nostalgia in it for me, it was one of the first places that I'd regularly shop at, but having been in Leeds a while it is now more than loyalty that draws me within its doors. I don't usually shop here for many of the clothes, being that I prefer a different style, but for accessories and shoes I love this place. A while back I bought my 'non-converse' trainer boots here and I literally wore them to death. It was only once the backs had entirely ripped away from the heel that I had to give up the ghost with those. They lasted me a year or so, of virtually constant wear, and for forty pounds I think that's no bad thing. They also supply me with a great collection of arm warmer things, cool gloves and interesting tights with which to lift a more standard outfit! Even if you aren't sure what you like, Grin will twist your arm. There is a cool about this shop that just can't help but find its way to you. Contagious style. Just go and have a look - I'm sure you'll enjoy!

The 'alternative' clothing provided by Grin when I was a teenager no longer seems particularly…read morealternative, their products having remained very similar for over ten years and having seen a huge growth then slight decline in popularity in that time. Though providing some of the lacier, buckle adorned, PVC coated items and tiny black and red tutus popular among goths, much of their products now have similar incarnations in the likes of H&M and Tammy at BHS. Oh well. Grin still appears to be Grinning! Despite the seemingly tiny size of this shop I had a bit of an explore and discovered a basement dungeon full of Nintendo and comedy Banksy-inspired hoodies and band T-shirts. While upstairs there is a rather disorganised fancy dress section with a good wing selection, some pretty cool giant comedy glasses and some 'Part Animal' all-in-ones, including a cow, a bear and a bee - a rather hilarious antidote to the pandemic of 'sexy' nurses infecting the nation. My favourite products from Grin are their Stargazer vegan makeup range and La Riche hair dyes, both available in bright and unusual colours. Prices at Grin are pretty cheap - £15 for a tutu and £10-£20 for a hoodie. Not necessarily a good thing as it rather makes you wonder where and how they were made...

This is one of those wigs, weaves and hair accessories shops, of which there seem to be a fair few…read morein Leeds. And true to what appears to be the tradition of these shops, every available inch of space is used to display their wares. There are little niches barely wide enough to squeeze down covered floor to ceiling in hair pieces. Bizarrely one of these niches had a car tyre stowed in amongst the shiny packets of hair and one of the display hooks had been used to hang somebody's leather jacket...weird. Due to their clever use of space Busy B manages to pack a heck of a lot into a relatively small space, and thus caters well for most hair-piece related requirements. They also stock a range of makeup and nail varnish. The staff seem very helpful and friendly so if you find yourself confused by the huge range of products on offer they will steer you in the right direction.

I actually rubbernecked when I saw this stall, and that's not something you get to do a lot of…read morethese days. Aesthetically, it is beautiful. Although the stall is diminutive in size, it is so colourful and vibrant; a mix of feathers, netting, ribbons and pizazz. There are many different styles of hat to choose from. The couture hats are extremely elaborate, definitely worn to make a statement. Whether at a formal wedding or ladies day at the races, you would guarantee some serious head-turning when sporting one of these creations. The range of fascinators is fairly impressive. For the weddings I have been to in the past, I have opted for this alternative. A bit more quirky and trendy than a traditional hat, it accessorises the hair elegantly. The stall also sells many items online, the products varying dramatically in price. As I already have two weddings to attend this Summer, I will be keeping an eager eye on Love Hats.

Love Hats is an eye-catching little shop full of wonderfully flamboyant hats and fascinators…read more Brimming with feathers, flowers and bows it stands out a mile among the many disused stalls in this part of the market. The stall owner sits lovingly hand-stitching a weird and wonderful creation- in-the-making surrounded by the impressive evidence of her skills. The headgear is a mixture of fantastically OTT hats that might be worn to the races or a wedding, wildly striking fascinators and unusual vintage-inspired winter hats. Prices vary from between £85 and £850 for the more flamboyant hats, £60 to £170 for fascinators and £32 to £48 for winter hats. Love Hats is an example of a shop in the market really taking pride in its presentation, displaying its wares lovingly and making sure its sign is visible and provides the necessary information. Love Hats is exactly the kind of shop that is needed to breathe life into the Leeds Kirkgate Market, making it appeal to a broad range of people and reflect the creativity and passion that the small businesses of Leeds have to offer.

I feel as though, and I do hate to say this, that I've found a shop that's definitely not suited to…read moremy age. I feel a little sad about this, as I actually really enjoyed having a browse in here, but there's a ton of offerings within that screams 'defiant teenager'. It's punk, it's practically got a pierced tongue sticking out at you, and it's definitely got dyed purple hair. (In fact, the shop assistant may have even had purple hair.) There were Disney princess t-shirts with their rock and roll sides showing -- think Alice in Wonderland with a Jack Daniels style t-shirt on, Jasmine smoking shisha, and Ariel as a Day of the Dead character. I actually really wanted one, but for the fact I loathe Disney, even if subverted. The shoes all look as quirky and crazy as Irregular Choice -- they may even have been that brand. Other assorted punk-grunge-gothic items were available also, but it was the Disney tees that really stood out to me. Amongst those, there were tons of other cool accessories (hello Jake AdventureTime back pack) and other neon, shiny things that I enjoyed having a look at. I may come back, and if I'm feeling like I can get away with it, even buy myself a little something.

Bags & Baggage have two stalls in the market. The one with a more central position in the upper…read moremarket hall sells mainly handbags and purses. If you like your handbags with large sprinklings of kitsch garishness then you will love this shop! There are plenty of brightly coloured gleaming quilted PVC bags with gold fastenings. Some have a shimmering leopard print and are embellished with bows and lace. There are also some rather cute classic-style purses with snap fastenings and some slightly more reserved brown and cream bags in a more unassuming style. They also sell umbrellas and have a make-your-own charm bracelet thing where you can choose different letters and charms to add to a chain. Prices are probably about high street level or cheaper. 30 seconds walk away, the Bags & Baggage on the south side of the upper market hall sells a similar range of handbags but also sells luggage bags of a variety of sizes and some unisex shoulder bags. Together the two Bags & Baggage shops cater for a range of tastes and uses at a decent price.

This little shop sells all types of bags from handbags to suitcases, sports bags to school…read morerucksacks. The handbags dominate the small shop and nearly put me off my lunch. They are quite tacky and all seemed to have a gold crown symbol on. Perhaps the proprietors are royalists? If you long for the designer handbag but like most of the population cannot justify spending hundreds then you will be able to find an equally sparkly, glitzy replacement here for a fraction of the price. If you can see beyond the handbags then there are some good deals on suitcases which are strangely expensive outside of market-world. There were a few sets decorated in different patterns in varying sizes. A decent sized one is about £25.

Missy is another absolute treat to for any girls who happen to reside in Horsforth. Situated along…read morethe main strip of shops, this place is an absolute must to visit, for quality, style and value. I feel so annoyed that I went and spent pretty much *all* my wages before finding this gem - as I can tell you, there would have been some spendage. Inside they have a huge range of delightful shoes, handbags fascinators and other little items. The shoes they have in are fantastic, mostly I think, because there is such a range to suit everyone. As well as having boots (both Ugg style and heeled) they had a range of cute little pumps. They had beautiful court shoes and beautiful vintage style dolly shoes. I was in shoe heaven, and so was my friend, who went away with two beautiful pairs of pumps - which were not only half price, but also scented too! Amazing. The handbags were also gorgeous, my favourite being a rather large black faux leather number with embroidered red roses over the top. They had all colours, shapes and sizes - so again, something for everyone! The fascinators were also exquisite. They had a range of simplistic ones, which were bought in, and a range that are hand made by a local lady. In this way you can go in and find the almost perfect fascinator and make bespoke requests - such as, "I love this one, but I need it in jade green!" How handy is that?! Finally, the staff in this shop were particularly wonderful. They were friendly, attentive and not pushy at all. At first I needed to sit down, so the lady welcomed me to sit and had a friendly natter. As we browsed up stairs the manager (I believe) told us all about the stock and the fascinators and then helped my friend purchase her lovely new shoes. The whole shopping experience was a delight! Couldn't be more fond, you have to go and see for yourself!

Running along similar lines to the shop before but dedicated to handbags and shoes and with a much…read moreclassier price this shop, decked in silver and pink is a real girly paradise. From Birkenstocks to Fiorelli handbags, there are accessories and footwear to make your heart flutter with girly pleasure. Enthusiastic staff are here to ensure you find what you need and enjoy handing over your money. Flutter it away on bags bejewelled with fake diamonds, and UGG style boots. P.S. MASSIVE SALE ON!

Accent Ladies is a rather large shop selling a wide range of clothing brands. It's quite a mixed…read morebag of styles with some more casual wear, some a bit more glam, and upstairs some evening or occasion wear with more elaborate dresses and a few unusual quirky pieces. Because of the variety in styles the shop doesn't really hold together well as a concept and a browse can feel very hit and miss. There is so much choice that I imagine most people would find at least something to their taste but you need to be prepared to pay more than average high street prices as most items have a designer label attached.

Accent holds a wide range of unique labels like Firetrap, which I love! It looks like a very…read moreexpensive shop and is located in the shopping area Queen's Arcade that also has a few expensive, independent jewelry shops. Firetrap is a more affordable label as they do good quality and unique styles but they do stock other more outrageous labels in terms of style and price. You might find the odd footballers wife trying on a leather jacket in this shop. Last time I went in I was slightly put off by a women browsing whilst talking rather loudly on the phone about her friends villa - its nice despite its size, apparently. As I looked through their wall of jeans I tried to block her out and focus on the job in hand - jean shopping. There are so many styles and brands to choose from here you could spend all day at it!

Oh my gosh. I have no idea where a place like this springs from, especially in the LS8 post code,…read moreand yet here it is standing proud. For some of the most high end designer clothes, outside of Harvey Nichols, this is absolutely the shop to browse. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I literally spent about five minutes here as I was so daunted by the price tags. I was, after all, weighed down by a cumbersome ugly rucksack, dirty shoes and a red world-weary face from my travels that day. The lady, who I assumed to be the manager, greeted me very kindly even though she was busy with another customer so I thought that was really nice. Not even close to the reception I'd had in some of the other high end shops, as she was warm and friendly and didn't seem phased by my disheveled appearance one iota. In spite of that I only had to touch one of the beautifully designed dresses to realise that it cost £800 and I instantly became convinced that my hands were covered in grease and had left some kind of grubby mark on the collar. Perhaps this was the paranoia of being in a high end shop. I felt like at any given moment my rucksack may catch an entire display and put me into more debt than my student loan. There is a beautiful range of clothing, accessories and shoes inside this wonderfully laid out shop. They cater for men too, just as exquisitely, but as you may have gleaned by now - we are talking *high end* clothing here. My most coveted item, a jacket costing £300 odd, almost seems cheap in comparison to the dress I first glanced at! In any case, though I really thought highly of the design and the service, there is no possible way I could afford to spend money in here! Lovely, but definitely a place to save up for.

An up market, boutique shop selling high-end fashion wear for the well to-do of this neighbourhood…read more Black, chic, slim build and sunglasses type affair are what you'll find here enter and beware, you are likely to be pounced upon by an over-enthusiastic sales assistant or be greeted in a blasé manner until you flash your amex. Either way browsing isn't the most comfortable option unless you really don't care that is.

This shop radiates style. Already in the chic atmosphere of the Corn Exchange, The Hidden…read moreWardrobe's sophistication and originality more than matches its surroundings. The clothes seem to mainly consist of neutrals with splashes of colour throughout the shop. They seem to really experiment with textures of colour and varying hemlines. It is the perfect place to discover an outfit which will set you apart from a crowd. Although they aren't show stopping, the garments are all really interesting pieces, the Monkey & ELF label is particularly intriguing. Dresses flaunting cowl and ruffle necks, and beautiful sweater dresses with batwing sleeves fill the space. There is also a range of bags, belts and various other accessories. The decor is understated, but elegant, just like the clothes. The woman who ran the shop was very pleasant, eager to answer any questions. If you've never visited The Hidden Wardrobe before, I would advise you to go and discover its creative, sumptuous contents immediately.

The Hidden Wardrobe showcases the collections of independent designers in this minimalistic…read moreboutique. Most of the clothes are GORGEOUS, really inventive, quirky, and cool. Think draping, unusual shapes, cool prints, assymmetry...but not too pretentious! Most pieces are completely unique and would make a great gift. Prices are reasonable, expecially considering these are small up-and-coming designers and you would be buying something unique that you wouldn't find in a high street chain store. I saw a skirt I absolutely LOVE priced at £50, a top for £45 and a coat for £95. They also have regular sale items so you could find a bargain! If you have unusual taste and shudder at the thought or another high street chain store you may well love this place! Check out the website for more info and products.