Hasseen exclusive wear is just one of the many sari shops on and around Roundhay Road. It stands…read moreout for me because it has some exceptionally beautiful elaborately beaded garments which seem to be of a higher quality and level of detail than the pieces in many of the other sari shops. Some of them really are gorgeous, in vibrant gem colours with intricate patterns of gold and silver beads painstakingly sewn in. It would be worth a visit just to drool over them even if you don't intend to buy anything. The most elaborate garments are suitably more expensive than their less-detailed counterparts, with a very elaborate tunic top selling for £85.Though I'd be worried if it sold for any less considering the work that must have gone into it! If you want to experience the real beauty of traditional South Asian fashion then I would highly recommend Hasseen.

Punjab Jewellers is only a few doors down from Faisal Jewellers and is quite similar in its…read moreoffering. It has a huge range of necklaces that are striking and intricate, made up of many small pieces, either layers of thin chains or many pendants all on the same necklace. All of the necklaces have matching earrings, most of which are large and dangly and would definitely get you noticed! They also sell large chunky bracelets and a wide selection of rings. Prices here are not for the faint-hearted, with some pieces 22 or 24 carat gold and many incorporating diamonds. If you were shopping for jewellery in the area it would be best to pop into both Punjab and Faisal, as if you like one you will like the other, but one of them may have that perfect piece that you're looking for.

From the owner: Punjab Boutique which was formally well renowned Punjab Jewellers of Leeds, opened its doors on…read moreSunday 10th March 2013. The first of its kind in Leeds, we cater for every occasion and only offer the best in quality. Bridal lenghas, Sarees, designer readymade suits, heavy and casual unstitched material & exclusive jewellery - whatever your style - we will cater for every individual need. For 30 years we have built a reputation for serving loyal customers and we endevour to continue doing so.

Shiva Variety Fabrics sells women's South Asian fashions -saris and suits and a wide range of…read morebangles and costume jewellery. It is very eye-catching from the outside with a rainbow of bejeweled clothing displayed in the window below a bright red, blue and yellow sign and electric blue window frames. Anyone who loves to see a good splash of colour won't be able to stop themselves venturing over for a closer look. The shop is packed full of a huge range of fabrics, some thin and sheer and almost too delicate to touch and other thicker and more substantial cottons. It's the perfect place to buy fabric for a sari or suit but is also great for buying fabric for cushions or curtains or any other creative urge! The jewellery is very pretty and reasonably-priced and includes an array of metal bangles of different sizes and some large and colourful necklaces with matching earrings featuring vibrant glass gems.

The sign for Sharan Boutique has a delightfully retro style and has faded over time giving the look…read moreof a shop that has been there for a good while. It is probably one of the biggest Sari shops in the area selling a vast array of fabrics, suits and saris. They also sell similar jewellery to the other sari shops in the area - gold or brightly-coloured and shimmering. Anyone who loves fabrics could spend ages browsing through the range on display. If you're on the hunt for a sari or suit this shop probably has one of the widest varieties of the shops on Roundhay Road so I would make this a priority if you were limited time-wise.

This is how Jeans Studio described its offering: 'Ladies & Mens Designer Jeans. Ladies outsize…read moreclothing 18-30, gypsy, hippy and ethnic wear. Kaftan specialist.' And that's pretty much what it sells. Except for the life of me I couldn't see any men's jeans. The shop was established in 1987...maybe it used to sell more jeans back then, because being called 'Jeans Studio' you'd imagine they had more than one small rail's worth! And the poor outsize ladies that probably held out a lot of hop having read the sign don't get a look in jeans-wise, with the biggest size a fourteen. Most of the clothing here is quite hippy-ish with kaftans galore! They also have long embroidered dresses, with many a tie-die print. And some rather pretty quilted jackets and tops. I have a certain hippy friend that I know would just love this place! With character and a unique style I think Jeans Studio is a valuable addition to the Roundhay Road shopping experience.

Rohan is a specialist in highly functional clothing for all climates and weather. The clothing has…read morea simple, under-stated style and doesn't shout about its careful design and technical prowess. Rohan also sells plenty of travel accessories from medical packs and luggage to insect repellent and water purifiers. This is the kind of shop you might imagine Ray Mears would visit to prepare for an expedition. Prices aren't low but this reflects the careful design and technically high-performance fabrics that are used in their products. The products at Rohan aren't fashionable or beautiful, but that's not the point... the point is that they are highly functional and durable and their simplistic design means that they will not end up looking dated, thus increasing their lifespan. From Rohan's website they seem to take environmental and social responsibility seriously. They are members of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which, though not a gold standard for ethics, at least means that their progress on implementing improvements in their factories is being monitored and they are ensuring a basic level of acceptable working conditions - more peace of mind for customers than is provided by the majority of the high street.

It's silly I know but whenever I think of this place, or walk past and see the name, it conjures up…read moreimages for me of the Riders of Rohan. It also reminded me of the game a friend and I used to play, imaginatively dubbed "The Riders of Rohan", which involved simply trotting home at full speed when drunk. Warning: this may cause broken little fingers, especially when icy. Play with caution! Anyway. I mostly think of Lord of the Rings when I see the name. Being transported away to a magical, exciting place would always make the reality seem a little less exciting, but in my opinion this isn't the only reason I found Rohan dull. I wandered in on the ever more difficult Christmas shopping expedition, tasked with trying to out do last year's gifts. A nice jumper? No. Rohan is filled with, I suppose, nice jumpers, and other outdoorsy style clothings but here is the problem. Not only are the clothes pretty grey - colour wise and excitement level wise, but they are very expensive. I can't justify buying a simple jumper, with no real oomph about it, if it costs in excess of £60. According to their website they are award winning outdoors clothes specialists. Perhaps it is my lazy-bum way of life that deprives me of the special understanding of what makes their clothes worth the buy, but I just can't see it. For now we could blame my ignorance, and say, 3 stars as the chap was particularly friendly to me. But that was it really. Good for high end outdoors style (perhaps more style over hardwearing?) clothes and shoes.

I don't know why but I wasn't really expecting to like Oaks...it just looked as though it might be…read morea little trendy for my tastes, however I was definitely pleasantly surprised. The clothes are unusual and creatively designed, with unexpected added details or special touches which give them character. There's something here to suit every taste with everything from long, baggy jumpers to short sequined ice-skater style dresses. They also have many vintage-inspired dresses - one that caught my eye was a grey woolen long-sleeved dress with gold buttons and there were also dresses reminiscent of Victoria Beckham's designs, with fitted bodices and added pelmets. They also sell a small selection of jewellery and shoes. The fact that all the clothes here are by local independent designers makes me appreciate this shop much more, as it is supporting small businesses, showcasing local talent and providing a unique shopping experience.

I've gone past this shop so many times on the bus that I finally decided to pay them a visit. Oh…read morewow. The layout is open and inviting and styled more like a classy lounge than a shop floor. Bordering the room are rails and rails of quirky, individual and classy items, which, to my delight, I discovered are all by independent local designers. The girls working there were clearly passionate about the clothes, not only since they were dressed head to toe in them, but they went on to explain to me that the shop had been there for around 30 years and so was well established as an independent boutique. They also informed me that they only buy one of each size in so that any item purchased is virtually a one-off - I love one-offs! For this you do have to pay a little more than your average high street brands, but the point is that when you go out in one of their dresses/skirts/tops you know that you are likely to be the only one in Leeds wearing it. Even the scarf selection oozed class and design. It was very exciting, and as Christmas is creeping ever closer, I suggest you go in and and have a search. But not if I get there first...

An exciting new addition to the independent label scene in Leeds, Each To their Own have opened a…read morebranch on Duncan Street, following their success of their Sheffield based flagship store. A better job could not have been done in creating an attractive decor. Exposed brickwork, boldly patterned wallpaper and dramatic baroque mirrors suggests an underlying confidence in the quality of their clothes. Catering for both men and women, the garments are mainly designed by Alex, the owner of the shop. He speaks animatedly about his passion for fashion, the love and attention he puts into making the clothes is evident. They have a funky style. There are some lovely dresses with gathered hems next to dressy racer back t-shirts; some sheer, floral camis for bed, next to some knee-skimming low crouched trousers. Originality created by independent designers does slightly increase the price of the garments, but that is an inevitable consequence. Let us unite to support local talent such as this, against the constant onslaught of chain shop mediocrity.

This little boutiquey shop is probably in a slightly unfortunate place as I have a feeling not many…read morepeople frequent that side of Duncan Street (opposite the big Oxfam). I noticed it pop up relatively recently...probably less than a year ago (though I have a poor sense of time!). It is uber fashioney and would appeal to people who like to dress in unusual and striking clothing with a unique look. It's a small shop selling both women's and men's clobber. Men's stuff seems to specialise in giant collars and unusual fastenings as well as low-crotch trousers with long ties knotted around the ankles. Women's wear features similar trousers, some in vintage-style hound's tooth and cheques (which I love) and I like this slightly unisex edge to their offering. There are also quirky little waistcoats for women featuring leather buckle fastening as well as cute freeform tartan dresses and long confusing tops that you'd have to try on to figure out. Prices are understandably higher than average high street as the shop features underground labels and fashion-forward pieces...with trousers around £80. There is a lot of attention to detail in Each To Their Own as well as a love of unusual design and eccentricity, which unfortunately is often lacking in the often brand-name centric offering of many Leeds' clothing shops.

I love wigs! I really do. Is that sad? They are just so much fun. I only have one of my own, a…read moreluminous pink bob that was purchased for a festival and some silly party fun. It's not very good quality and you end up finding pink strands everywhere after wearing it, but it still brings me a lot of joy. I have considered paying quite a considerable amount for a good quality wig, I'm not a secret agent for MI5 (or am I??), nor do I have a problem with hair loss, I just love the way you can transform yourself with a simple pile of locks. CC Hair and Beauty have stacks and stacks of wigs to oggle at and I love browsing and trying them on. They also sell a range of extensions, made from human or synthetic hair. Plus Afro hair products, hair care products, make up, skin care, nail care, eye lashes, and various accessories such as clips, beads, pins, weaving threads and glue. As far as doing stuff with your hair goes, this place has it down to a T.

Whoa, there is certainly one thing that you'll notice about this place, and that is the wigs. As…read moreAlexandra has expressed, they have a number of them, and I share her sentiments entirely. I'd love to have one although it seems to be such a frivolous and expensive thing to purchase when there is no real need. I must say, however, one time I almost did need wigs and it certainly would have been good to know about this shop had I actually lost all my hair! (Essentially, in my attempts to be peroxide blond, I nearly made myself go bald. You laugh now, but at the time it was devastating!) Still, wigs is not all that this place is in business for. They hold a number of different beauty products relating to hair. Some are more useful than others, such as the various clips and such, but the others are all lots of fun. The hair extensions they have seem to be good quality. I don't use them regularly, more for fashion and silly photo shoots, but I must say once you've tried the real hair ones it's almost impossible to go back to the plasticky cheaper ones. False eyelashes too can be an addictive habit, although thankfully I do not have the time or inclination to use them more often than for the aforementioned photo shoots or a really special night out. Nonetheless, no matter how often or sparsely you might utilise these things, CC Hair and Beauty has them all stocked to burst!