So Flock Boutique is this cute little shop in my 'hood that sells cool indie Canadian brands and…read morealso Canadian brands that have made it big(ger). They have clothes by Jennifer Glasgow and Miik. They have soaps and body care by Purple Urchin. They also have jewelery by local designers and weird knick knacks like hand puppets of Canadian prime ministers, lol. So funky and weird! This store is more neat, clean and upscale-ish, a la "Yorkville" (Toronto reference) and not like Adorit in the Byward Market (that also carries local and Canadian designs, and some of the same brands, like Miik) which is more, a la "Kensington Market" (sorry, another Toronto reference), but meaning more bohemian and smelling of patchouli. Prices are high, but your getting good quality and supporting the Canadian market.

I will definitely be going back to this trendy boutique soon. I have been looking for a wedding…read moredress (something trendy and artistic and untraditional!) and I found several options here. The great thing about Flock Boutique is that the clothes are made by Canadian designers, the majority of which are women! They try to bring in lots of fashions from Ottawa and Montreal also, to be local. The accessories here are amazing! They have lots of colourful pins and earrings and some great bags! I really had to control myself, or I would have had an empty wallet when I came out. I did see several dress options, but was tight on time, so I couldn't try anything on. One of the girls working in the store patiently showed me several dresses and answered all my questions about the designers and the store. The people who work here clearly know what they are talking about. It is also great that so many of the designs are by Canadian women! For someone who wants to dress artistically, this is the perfect spot to shop.

I was searching for a beaded bracelet for my mother and found the perfect one at East Wind. The…read morestore is unique and has a variety of products. It is a great place to find the perfect gift. Since finding the bracelet I have been back several times and always find what I am looking for. The owners and staff are very pleasant and helpful. The service is exceptional. If you are around the area it is well worth dropping in. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.

This is a pleasant and reasonably priced store that offers Asian decorative products. They have…read moreclothing, dishes, sushi sets, chopsticks, many books on Asia's culture, beautiful silks, Feng Shui products, art, cards, and calligraphy and painting supplies. There aren't many stores like this in the surrounding area, so if you're nearby and looking for anything I just mentioned, it's worth taking a look. I've always received exceptional service when I've come here. I think one of their best products is their tableware.

Still excited about the fall collection at NIN, thanks to the terrific charity luncheon and fashion…read moreshow last Sunday at Manotick's Black Dog Restaurant. For women "of a certain age" like myself, it is nearly impossible to get top-quality, distinctive fashions in the Ottawa area. Trust me, you visit once, you will keep coming back ... how about for Women's Day in Manotick on Saturday, November 5th ... sponsored by the MBIA! Bring your gal friends and spend the day shopping!

From the owner: At NIN Collection Boutique, you will find fabulous Women's fashions, and a selection of Designer…read moreand Prêt à Porter clothing and accessories for the discriminating taste. About NIN Collection Boutique: NIN Collection Boutique carries inspiring women's fashions for a variety of occasions ranging from career and office wear to evening and weekend wear. We are here to help you build your professional wardrobe and to ensure the perfect fit . Some of the outstanding fashion labels we carry include: Lisette and Joseph Ribkoff from Canada; Peruzzi and Ecla from Italy; Junge from Denmark; Betty Barclay, Monari, Comma, Oui, Barbara Lebek, and Tuzzi, all from Germany plus many others. Browse at your leisure; you will find our environment friendly and supportive. Let us make your shopping experience a truly enjoyable one by visiting NIN Collection.

Excellent option for shopping for less. Adult clothing and maternity also available. They also…read moredonate unsold items to local families and charities

Tanda Shoes carries a great selection of Quality footwear! I love the Birkenstocks I got from there!read more

From the owner: Tanda Shoes specializes in providing comfortable and stylish footwear with expert and friendly…read morecustomer service.

I would say that Jason D's review of this store is spot on. They have clothes which are on the…read morepricey end, but in unique styles. They carry a huge selection of Sympli pieces in lots of styles and colours (I personally am not a huge fan of this brand, but I do see the appeal of pieces that pack well (i.e. don't wrinkle and fold down to nearly nothing) and you can mix and match). Their clothing aesthetic I find very similar to Marianne's in Westgate and Shepherd's at Trainyards. So, yes, perhaps catering to let's just say women who would subscribe to magazines like More, or Zoomer. Their kitschy items are fun and cute. They have fridge magnets that say things like "a clean house is a sign of a wasted life," or "housecleaning never killed anyone, but why take the chance?" I hate household chores, so I can relate to these sentiments, haha. They have luggage tags shaped like fashionable shoes, by Fluff. They have quirky handbags shaped like unusual items, like one by Betsey Johnson shaped like an ice cream cone. I love kitsch and I love quirky, so I like looking at the accessories here. They also have a lot of things (greeting cards, magnets, napkins, books, etc.) that divorcees would find funny. They also carry costume jewelry. Lots of statement pieces. A great place to pick up something for that wild eccentric aunt you have, lol.

I have to admit that the name of the store really hooked me. Three Wild Women Living Sublime. Hmm,…read morejust what the heck was this place about? I have listed it under women's fashion because the back half of the store is devoted to very glamourous and fabulous women's (not girl's) clothes. The front half is a collection of kitschy items targeted to women who are more "mature" and may or may not be divorced. There were fridge magnets, greeting cards, aprons and oven mitts sporting saucy and witty slogans. There were also novelty luggage tags, divorce guides and books offering advice for those over 40 and 50. They even had tables with high-heeled legs! It was a hoot to hang out there for a while, but it is definitely aimed at a specific demographic of which I am not really a member.

Joanne's is owned by the same people who own Marianne's in the same mall. Like Marianne's, they…read moresell a lot of Canadian designers and made in Canada pieces. Unlike Marianne's, they don't sell lingerie. Regular prices are not cheap (I'd say about $150+ for dresses, $50+ for tops, $75+ for pants/skirts). However, they often have 50%-80% off sales (and that's when you'll see me in the store, lol). Admittedly, many of their items are frumpy (at least in my opinion), but they have some cool pieces, you just have to look for them. Staff are friendly and nice and their change rooms are beautiful (looks a little like a boudoir). Joanne's is in the Westgate Shopping Centre. Lots of free parking.

I love consignment stores for so many reasons: I love retro looks, sometimes I miss out on items…read morefrom previous seasons that are no longer in stores and can snag them for a fraction of the cost, and being both short and slim I can rarely wear things "off the rack" but at consignment shops, I can find pieces that other petite ladies have already made alterations to so then I CAN just wear "off the rack." And in the age of online purchases, where online measurements may not be accurate and return shipping is too expensive, I've found many brand new, still with tags items on consignment for cheap! However, some consignment stores are better than others. Act II is one of the better ones in that it is not overly crowded with merchandise. I don't like it when stuff is crammed together. Act II also does not smell musty. They have a good mix of regular clothes and higher end items. When I was there, the person working was named Penny and she was very friendly and nice. They have 2 prices listed on the tag. The original price, and the price if it doesn't sell after a certain date (the date is also printed on the tag). The tags are colour coded. After a certain time, certain coloured tags are 50% off (the original price). Then at the end of the season, some items are 70% off (the original price). So today I scored a Christian Chenail (really cool Montreal designer. Designed and made in Canada, woo hoo!) skirt for $19.99 (it was several sizes too big, but too cute and too good of a deal to pass on it, so I will have to pay for the alterations this time), a brand new still with tags Jockey workout top for $8.50 and a Holt Renfrew house brand basic black t-shirt without tags, but looks new for $4.20. All their designer purses looked legit (no replicas/fake stuff that I could discern). Their shoe selection is not that big and very little in smaller sizes (I don't think there was anything in my size (5)). They had some jewelry too. Act II is really out of the way for me and not in an area that I frequent, but it's a cool store and I think it will be one of the stores that I'll be sure to visit whenever I'm in Barrhaven. It's in a strip mall and there is a lot of free parking.