This tiny shop on the corner of James Street caught my eye immediately with all the pretty frocks…read morehanging in the window. I learned upon entering that it's in fact a concept store for Brisbane designer Edwina Sinclair, and what a clever lady she must be! The store boasts some absolutely beautiful pieces at very reasonable prices and have a timeless look about them, something you could wear many times for many different occasions. And I'm a sucker for a cute Peter Pan collar! The swimwear is what really caught my eye though. Interesting fabrics of metallic rope print and high cut neck lines make Soot stand out from the bathers that generally appear in other boutiques. There's also a gorgeous collection of headbands which would be a great present for any young lass who loves a good headpiece or is heading to the races. Soot stocks a few pieces from other labels as well, but it's really the home label that steals the show.

I have a strange obsession with peter pan collars, so spying…read moreone in my vicinity (and without much thought) my legs immediately marched me over to this cute James st store. Lemme tell you, Soot boutique is the definition of sweet. This pop-up store is the brainchild of Edwina Sinclair and is full of quirky charms. (Be sure to check out the lighting and birds skull mural.) The clothes here are effortlessly winsome and cool. (I admit I had trouble leaving without one of the beautiful cosmo dresses) The pieces are pretty reasonably priced considering the quality, and they also stock some enviable velvet headbands and accessories. Perfect for those special occasions (or as a justified and deserving Self-Gift) this store is permanently on my list of go-to places in the valley.

You know how sometimes there's shops you want to visit but you don't dare walk in because you feel…read morelike it is too cool for you? Sunday Social was one of these shops until today. With friends visiting from San Francisco we were exploring Winn Lane and I finally ventured into this small nook known as Sunday Social. Upon walking in I realised it was the exact opposite, there's something for everyone here. Full to the brim with carefully selected vintage clothes and accessories I began searching through the racks with endless pieces catching my attention. I couldn't resist walking out of the store with two tops for $90, which, if you think about your mainstream stores could easily equate to one top that a handful of others will also be wearing. For the same price I've gotten two tops, that I'll be hard pressed to find others wearing. Best of all as an introvert, the sales assistant let us just browse without hovering over our shoulders at every second. Sunday Social feels like discovering a secret world of clothes with great stories. I'm so glad I walked in and know I'll be back to revisit their racks for one of the kinds from this vintage wonderland.

Yay, more vintage! Sunday Social is a really cute little place nestled in the tiny Winn Lane market…read morearea. I had never even heard of the Winn Lane markets until my friend suggested we stop by on one of your shopping trips in the Valley. The lane is lined with drawings on the walls and market stalls, all filled with lovely jewellery pieces and vintage wares. It reminded me a lot of the lanes and alleys you find in Melbourne so I was more than enthused to see what was down there. It's so nice and secluded that you feel a little like Alice going down the rabbit hole. Anyway, enough about the lane itself. Sunday Social is perched at its end like a tidy little cottage. It's a tiny, gorgeous little shop with vintage clothes and pieces, including a very sweet range of shoes. Indie kids would have a field day in Sunday Social, but I also think it has a little something for everyone. Their pieces are just so gorgeous with bags hanging in its middle with accessories dotting the central table. Guys are confined to a rail and a few shoes but girls have their pick. They have clothes from cute peter pan collared dresses through to funky light, fluttery tops. There's also a really random but totally awesome Indian headdress behind the counter the wall too, just for a little bit of flair. I hear this gorgeous little place went from being a market stall along Winn Lane to a now staple store with four walls. It's no wonder, because they have such gorgeous novelty vintage pieces that you'd be crazy to pass by. Sunday Social has no phone number as yet but you can email them! sundaysocialstore@gmail.com

I recommend you only shop at this store in person, and not make online purchases. The 2 stars are…read morefor my in person experience. I would give zero stars for my online retail experience. I purchased a number of items online for a trip I had in 5.5 weeks. After 2 weeks of seeing they had not yet even been sub to be shipped out, I wrote them an email. They wrote back saying they would ship my things out, but that they no longer had a number of the items in stock - and could they pick some items for me? I wish I had said no, but I agreed as long as they could get the shipment out that day. What they should have done, the professional thing to do, would have been to refund me for the items they no longer had in stock and offered to expedite my shipping. It has now been 4 weeks since I put in the order. I have not received my items. I imagine I'll receive them in a week or two, when I no longer have need of the items I ordered. The store is a cute local shop - they do not have the customer service skills to being doing retail on a global scale.

Pushing the unassuming heavy glass door on Winn St you step…read moreinto a little store called the Outpost. Now it's a little tough for me to define this space. Do I talk about the collection of Zines and Mag's I have perused here on many an occasion? The range of amazing woman's clothing I have lusted over? The art events they have hosted? Or the friendly staff I've had good chats with? it is a bit more than your average retail space. I've been coming here for a while and I love their sourced and curated collection of eclectic designs from artists around the globe. Definitely worth a gander if you are valley side!

Shoes. Need I say anything more? Womankind's weakness, and for me, the demise of my pay cheque yet…read morethe fuel of so much happiness. Tom Gunn is no exception. This cute as a button boutique is relatively new in the popular James Street precinct, and holds many fancy delights for the feet of all ladies. I was lucky enough to see their new Spring/Summer collection when I was in store recently and there's so much to like! The fun colours, the interesting combination of textures. It's definitely not a cookie-cutter shoe shop and the designs have their own unique footprint (couldn't help myself!). I became particularly attached to Aurelie flats and the Jackson heel. If you're a shoe lover, step in to Tom Gunn and have a look for yourself. The shop is itty bitty so might be a bit claustrophobic for some, but is definitely a wonderful shoe shopping experience- particularly when you know that they are all designed in Australia.

Tom Gunn is mixing it up this summer by sharing his famous James Street space with Rebecca Manning…read more Rebecca Manning and Tom Gunn have merged their amazing designs this year in a little shop that holds its own in a beautiful blend of summer fashions. Rebecca Manning's beautiful season swimwear shares its space with Tom Gunn's bold and beautiful shoes, ranging from simple yet elegant flats through to bright and striking heels. I had heard of neither brand until I wandered into the store, but I have to say that now, I am a keen fan of both. Manning's swimwear prints are alluring yet sophisticated and occupy this small space brilliantly, while Gunn's shoes are all quality, beautiful handmade pieces. These shoes are actually to die for and made in such high quality leather. It's designer, so yes, it's expensive; but you get what you pay for with Tom Gunn's absolutely amazing shoes in particular. These two brands share this space spectacularly and showcase some true talent. I hope they continue this pretty little union and strengthen what I feel is going to be a strong reputation for both.

This beautiful, long, skinny store on Ann Street was always one I avoided thinking it would be just…read morelike the rest of the boutiques on that street. On a recent visit I discovered that I was wrong, and it's a great shop for young women who always find themselves needing a new dress for a special occasion. The store has beautiful womenswear from Lilyhart, Neon Heartache and Desmond as well as GORGEOUS swimwear by Surface Too Deep (which I haven't been able to find anywhere else). It's not as pricey as some of the other stores in the area, but doesn't compromise on quality. When I popped in for a browse the shop attendants were pleasant and we had a chat about the stock in store. They even went further to write on a business card the names of the styles I had been browsing and their prices. Drobe also acts as an art gallery, highlighting different works from local artists regularly. Yet another great boutique in the Valley offering young women plenty of choices for their wardrobes!

I've found my perfect wedding dress here. OK, I'm not even close to getting married but that's…read morebeside the point. Even though Drobe stocks edgy, eclectic pieces from young designers (like Amar, Justine Davis, Neon Heartache, El Amuleto), towards the back of the long, spacious store, I found some of the most exquisite "special occasion" dresses that I had to stop and touch them. The first one I fell for was a white, one shouldered, floaty dream of a white dress with layers of soft tulle - it was cool and stylish - the type of beautiful maxi you could waft around a posh event in, or...get married in (and only $409!) I also saw another delicous dress in an off white lace, one shouldered with beautiful silk flowers on the bodice. Again, it wasn't meant to be a wedding dress, but it easily could become one. And the sales assistant was absolutely lovely. I usually find the false conversations you are forced to indulge in when you enter most shops quite painful ("How are you? What are you up to today?") but this girl was just chatty, friendly, normal and not even remotely fake. I didn't indulge my inner Muriel and try on the "wedding" dresses, but I think I'll definitely be back in sale season.

Gold Coast's Trash Monkey have recently opened up a store in Brisbane's China Town Mall. Perfectly…read moresuited to the mish-mash of colour and style of the Valley, Trash Monkey stocks an array of vintage and alternative clothing. The store has been nicely renovated and is a pleasure to browse. There is plenty to look at and the range is worth looking at regardless of your personal style. As a bonus, the store is open until 7pm Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and open until 9pm Thursday to Saturday.

There is something alluring about vintage clothes and accessories. It seems to me that the 50s and…read moreearly 60s had the perfect blend of classy feminine clothing, that makes me want to go all Mad Men or Grace Kelly around town. Some of the clothing at Trash Monkeys oozes this classy sophistication that I yearn for. They stock a whole range of clothing and accessories from your 50s vintage inspired dresses that I was just talking about to 80s glam rock outfits. They pride themselves in stocking rockabiliy, pin-up, burlesque, punk, steampunk, victorian, lolita and queer gear as well. The store is chocablock full of bits and pieces and you can easily spend your time sifting through it all. Everything here is quite unique and definitely different from your average fashion store. The staff are funky and great for giving real and unbiased advice. They won't let you out of the store in something that looks bad and they are totally happy to have a chat or let you just browse your hours away. The store is also open late so it is easy to go and check it out after work or before a dinner out in the Valley. It is hard to really describe everything on offer here so my best suggestion is just to check it out!

Walking into St. Barts is like walking into a beachside villa in the south of France. It's more of…read morea lifestyle store than an interior design shop, with racks of women's clothing as well as gifts and home wares. The shop itself is gorgeous, with young and beautiful staff to match. There's a mixture of things to browse from armchairs, to jeweled sandals, to fabrics, to ornaments and statement pieces for the home. Given that it's located on ritzy James Street, I assumed that the prices would be higher, but they're actually quite reasonable. I would very happily add many a St Barts piece to my home and will be back soon to see what else they have to offer. The shop is brand new and has yet to build a hype surrounding its existence. From what I saw in store, it will only be a matter of time before St Barts has a steady following.

Ooo! This place is new. I get very excited when a new shop opens in one of the shopping precincts I…read morefrequent. A new shop always seems so promising and adds a nice freshness to shopping areas that you already know inside out. I actually just came across St Barts on the weekend when I was on my way to Harveys and couldn't resist a peek. St Barts sells clothes, accessories, and homewares and their style seems quite eclectic. They had some lovely cushions and cute accessories, and I got the impression that they're still in the process of fully stocking their shop so I'll look forward to poking my nose back in there in a few weeks to see what it's like when they get fully into the swing of things. The prices are a little bit lower than I would have expected based on St Barts's location and exterior so that was a nice surprise. I exchanged a quick hello with the sales assistant and then she left me to browse which I always appreciate, especially in areas like James street where a lot of the stores seem to employ hoverers. It is interesting to see a few fresh storefronts on James street and this is one of them. St Barts is only young yet, and I'm excited to see what it'll grow into!

I am a HUGE fan of shopping for the man friend. I'm also a huge fan of this chino, plain T-shirt…read moreand boat shoe combination which has taken over the young men of Brisbane. These two elements combined makes Angus Black a great place for me to pursue my weird interest in men's clothes. With brands such as Nudie, Bassike, Saint Augustine Academy and Vanishing Elephant, it's no wonder the sexy young men of Brisbane keep their eye on Angus Black. The store is a fantastic space. Simple and clean lined, exactly like the clothes stocked. A pre-warning though boys- you would want to save those pretty pennies before making a trip to Angus Black because the clothes are irresistible, yet a little on the expensive side. The pieces are of such high quality though, that shopping there would be more of an investment in your wardrobe than a frivolous spending spree.

Be prepared to spend some coin in a place like this. My whole wardrobe could be lined with clothes…read morefrom this store but alas. My Quik-Pix numbers haven't come through for me just yet. It's a friendly little store, expect to be greeted kindly on your way in with a hello and a smile, the sales girl was a model-esque creature floating gracefully around the store who helped us pick out a present for a friend of mine. After kindly rejecting the three $150 t shirts she suggested we decided to go elsewhere but not without promising to come back again later as soon as we had the money. This place would get 5 stars but I'm still too depressed at the look of my bank account after going back and purchasing a pair of jeans.