There are some surprisingly nice clothes available from this little North Laine shop…read more One of many independent, fairly cheap boutique type places in the area, this is I think one of the better ones. They tend to stock more unusual clothes, with skull-patterned dresses, brightly coloured jumpers and unusual t-shirts. I bought one of my favourite t-shirts here, which depicts two giraffes kissing. Aaah. They also seem to have a constant sale rail, which does often include a lot of duff items, but occassional gems can be found here - I bought a couple of lovely £5 dresses here over the summer.

When I walked into Sassy's, I assumed I'd do a once around and walk out. The front of the shop is…read morevery goth-centric, with black ballerina dresses and skull-themed accessories. But it's a bit of a mix and match shop really, and I was surprised to find a long, grey sweater that I liked enough to try on. Unfortunately, it was one of those styles that looks much nicer hanging on the rack. So, I'd consider this a clothing shop with a twist, if that category were an option.

Cute and quaint little shop this located on Preston Road selling an array of new and second hand…read moreclothes and accessories. Owner Jacquelina describes her merchandise as 'alternative clothing' which I think is great compared to all the awful Top Shop and Gap rubbish. If you're looking for something completely original then this is the place to head to. They also sell wigs, top-hats and a good deal of gothic and retro wear and claim that making made-to-measure corsets are their speciality!

Lulu Rose is Yoma's sister shop located in Kensington Gardens. Whereas Yoma is marketed at women in…read moretheir twenties and thirties, Lulu Rose is aimed at a younger demographic. The shop is packed with vibrant, youthful clothing and many of the same bags and accessories you'll find at Yoma. This store is much larger than Yoma and can get quite crowded with teenagers at the weekend. The selection of stock is impressive- it doesn't particularly wow me, but I'm probably 10 years older than their average customer! (wow, that's depressing...) The bag selection is great and very up-to-the minute with lots of tote bags and holdalls. I distinctly remember Lulu Rose being one of the first places I saw metallic bags and purses (before they were everywhere), so it's probably a good place to go if you want to jump on board with the latest fashion and accessory trends. In the past I have always thought the clothing was kind off the mark, but lately I've seen a couple of good old body-con dresses (who isn't selling them, seriously, they're everywhere?!) and some pretty cardigans in the window. I prefer Lulu Rose to Yoma, because I don't feel its masquerading as something more upmarket...what you see is what you get.

This is a relatively good independent woman's fashion shop in the middle of Brighton's North Lanes…read more I only came here by chance, desparate to find some kind of present for my house mate. After much searching elsewhere, Lulu Rose was among my last options. Thankfully I managed to source a bag that was in the sale, reduced for £35 down to £16. There were perhaps half a dozen items that I considered buying, which is certainly better than the previous shops I had tried. Some of the clothes were a bit average, looking like Top Shop inspired items from 3 months previous. Still, I was able to find a good quality bag for a cheaper price than I would have expected.

One of the flagship anchor stores of Churchill Square, Debenhams in Brighton is a pretty decent…read moresized store, although pretty much average for the chain it is located in. It is located fairly close to Apple, up to a steep gradient in the mall floor. The store isn't as modern as one would expect from an anchor store of a mall, but still pretty much does the job when it is open with a satisfactory selection. The store like most branches of Debenhams is pricier than the overall feel of the store implies on the first impression. Average, generic Debenhams store with poor opening times (unstructured, closing early on most days but this is the same as the entire mall) - A useful brand for the city but not really a great store within that brand. 2*

Debenhams is like a time capsule…read more Every time I offer to take my mum shopping and we've done every other store in the city from M&S to Wallis, she swears she just wants to 'Pop in Debenhams for 5 minutes.' And of course, we always emerge weighed down by bags one or two hours later. This particular branch is tiny compared to the Manchester and London stores but they still manage to squeeze a lot of stock in. The ground floor is mainly occupied by accessories, shoes, perfume and make-up counters from Clarins to Benefit whilst the first floor has a strong selection of bed, bath, kitchen and dining room goodies. There's also a small childrens-wear department. The reason my mum loves this store however, is for the womens wear in the basement. There's air conditioning, three changing room areas and small subsidiaries of Wallis, Red Herring, Jane Norman, Warehouse, Top Shop, Oasis, Coast and Red Herring amongst others. Right now, there's also a Blue Cross sale on - which means 70% off for card-holders. Hang on, I think my mobile's ringing...

Impulse has combined regular and costume-type make-up in their shop, which is interesting. Perhaps…read morethey want people to question why some types of 'dressing-up' are more socially acceptable than others. Or, perhaps they just sell more stuff this way. The eyeshadow, mascara and other 'normal' make-ups are down the centre of the shop, surrounded by tins of face paint, costumes and accessories (pirate eye patches, crowns, wings, parrots, masks, wigs) are along the outside walls. There's also some party favours and gift ideas (lots for stag and hen parties): silly string, fake boobs, plastic snakes ... a weird mix. I'd recommend checking it out for a fancy dress party, but the day-to-day make-up didn't seem to be very high quality.

The owners of this shop have got their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks and I love it! I'm in…read morehere practically once a fortnight just to browse around or give myself a little lift when I'm feeling glum. There's always some fascinating artifact or relic that I hadn't seen before because there is just SO much of it. Chinese lanterns, Mounted deers' heads, US license plates, antique cameras, walls covered in masks and racquets, crockery, glassware, hats, old potions, an impressive collection of owls and the odd bit of taxidermy... Having said all that, much of this chintz is surplus to requirement. Some may say that the point of most antiques is that they're surplus to requirement but I'm afraid I'm a little bit more of a utilitarian than to need a stuffed mongoose. The books and accessories however just keep me coming back for more.

Corner Shop Collectables is the most interesting antique shop I've been in, with several items I…read morehaven't seen anywhere else. A full size skeleton is one of the first things that comes to mind. (He was dressed up in a hat, though, to take away any scariness.) Other cool stuff included mannequins (full and a few pairs of JUST THE HANDS), plants displayed in bed pans, teeny tiny figurines, hair pins in the shape of hats, antique cameras and rotary telephones. There was also all the usual stuff: books, dishware vases, jewellery, less tiny figurines (mostly in animal shapes), paper lanterns and some sewing patterns. I'm probably forgetting a bunch - there was a lot to look at. In summary, it's worth the mini-hike up St. James to check it out.

Hi Valentina at 'Sensation'. I have purchased several pieces of jewellery for myself and friends…read moreBirthday Presents over the years and have been more than satisfied. Recently a Bracelet which I have worn so many times needed to be re-strung. Valentina, a very pleasant professional young lady came to my rescue, an excellent repair was carried out. Valentina is a great asset to 'Sensation'. Thank you Valentina. Pauline, Brighton. 2nd July, 2023.

In a city with no shortage of jewelry and handicrafts, Sensation sticks out from the crowd by a…read morenice blend of semi-precious stone jewelry mixed with some light silver designs. The general stock is always quite 'light' and not gaudy. Certainly not a store to frequent should you require some Bling! Whilst the majority of the stock is the kind of thing you would be buying for your girlfriend, there are also enough bracelets and necklaces of jade and citrine etc. for the more bohemian gentleman. I have bought myself a very nice amber bracelet from here before and more importantly received the thumbs up for presents to girlfriends. There is not always quite as much stock as some of the larger jewlers, but as the saying goes sometimes 'less is more'. The staff have always been helpful and will box up your purchase nicely, so that those who are lazy or inept at wrapping would be able to get away with giving the gift as it comes from the shop. The price is kind of wide ranging with nice pieces available for those on a budget, but also some fine items for shoppers wanting to spend out of something that will draw compliments at relevant functions. They regularly rotate their stock and display a nice range of items in the window. Highly recommended.

Owned by the same peeps as Igigi General Store and Cafe a few doors away, this lovely boutique…read morespecialises in elegant and stylish womenswear. Refreshingly, they stock sizes 8 to 18 and their niche seems to be classic dresses, skirts, trousers, shirts, blouses, jumpers and dresses made from beautiful and ethical materials. Turning it into a one-stop destination for shoppers in a hurry, they also sell shoes, bags and accessories. Designers include Beyond Skin, Sam Ubhi, Ally Capellino, Best Behavior, Hartford, Anna Nygards and Anouk. If you see something you like and it doesn't quite fit, they also provide alterations and styling advice. If they could make me a size smaller, I'd buy my whole wardrobe from there!

As with the I Gigi general store a few doors down, their women's boutique leaves me in two minds. I…read morelove some of the labels they stock- most with ethical stances, great mixes of classic and avant-garde, particularly Humanoid, Beyond Skin, Fillipa K- admittedly expensive brands. The women's boutique has a harder edge to the decor which is welcome after the crisp clean neutrals of the homestore, yet ultimately, combined with the stiff staff, comes across as snooty.

I would describe the women's clothing in Noa Noa as...inoffensive. Mostly plain, solid-coloured…read moreoutfits with subtle decorative sewing techniques that definitely wouldn't stand out in a crowd. Long sleeved blouses, vests and softly-coloured half-sweaters were the majority. I saw a few pairs of dressy pants and coats, some tank tops and dresses as well - all in the same style. Items looked to be of high quality and the prices seemed to indicate as much. (Oh yes, the tags had about eight different currencies on them, which was a bit annoying.) Tops were up to £90, pants around £65 and tank tops were £20. Accessories included felt hats, which were pretty cool, actually, and a few pairs of dress shoes. Casual and elegant...and inoffensive.

Not to be confused with the brighton shop Nua, which sells sex toys, Noa Noa has an altogether more…read moredemure attitude. It sells soft, feminine clothing often with a rather vintage look. In the last Autumn/Winter season the look was rather 'Edge of Love,' with felt cloche hats, cardigans and 40s style floral skirts. Their current summer season reminds me more of the Painted Veil, particularly if you look at their catalogue shoots. They have got 1920s style bathing caps and Chinese parasols, and loose fitting chemise tunics. The clothes do have a danger of looking a little bit frumpy if the outfit isn't put together right though. It's not terribly cheap, either, and quite often I feel the more basic pieces don't merit the extra expense. For the odd piece though it's a good place to look, particularly if you are in a romantic or nostalgic mood.