A mother-daughter trip to West End is never complete without a visit to this place - my mum…read moreabsolutely loves it. Don't stop reading! She actually has pretty funky taste in shoes. I've never seen so many Doc Martens anywhere else (my mum does not wear Doc Martens). They have plenty of other big brands like Birkenstock, Florsheim and Sketchers. There's a lot of great stuff here; quality shoes that look stylish and unique but also look like they would be comfortable. There's heaps of stuff for men as well, with the place seeming to be equally popular between the sexes.

Shays Shoes was established in 1901! How crazy is that? My friend's Mum was telling me about how…read morewhen she used to work in West End in the early 70s, she'd go to Shays Shoes after work and gaze longingly at their range of shoes and wait until she'd earned enough money to go and blow some of her paycheck there. I love that Shays Shoes has been around for so long and is still selling many of the brands that they sold back in the 70s. They still sell a big range range of Dr. Martens, Birkenstocks, and Hush Puppies. Maybe one of the reasons that Shays Shoes has been around for so long is that they manage to cater for everyone. Whether you're a youth wanting a pair of floral-patterned docs, a Mum wanting some Birkenstocks, or a Grandma after some comfy Hush Puppies, Shays has always been the place to find a treat for your feet. I bought Docs here a few years back and they were so helpful and lovely and I still enjoy browsing their new stock when I'm in the area. Some things are built to last and Shays Shoes is one of them.

Jo Mercer's shoes generally are like Cinderella's slipper for me. They fit like a glove and last a…read morelong time. So when my last pair fell victim to the great Puppy Chew of 2013, I headed back to her great range of classic pieces. The lady on shift when I arrived was already exuding grace under fire as she dealt with a demanding customer but still found time to help me. My visits may be infrequent as I often wear shoes til they are "dead" but I'll always return for quality and great customer service here.

I got my small Samsonite suitcase fixed by Craig a few months ago and was impressed by his…read morewonderful and prompt service. Since then, I continued to have his help fix my handbag and saw a handle strip for two travel bags each. I'm very happy with his craftsmanship and careful design to cater to my needs. It's not easy to find such craftsmanship and a reasonable price for fixing my beloved bags. Thanks so much, Craig.

this place is also called Cobblers Inn and Steward's leather and grinder…read more After waiting over 4 weeks for a repair that should have taken 1 week, I went Io get my bag back to take elsewhere. Instead of tending to finding my bag, the owner decided to join conversations relating to other customers coming in after myself. I ask if he please could fetch my bag from the back so I could get going - and then it started. They both turned to me said they didn't take orders, calling me typical American and Trump supporter. OMG! I'm btw not American. But why would you start profiling anyone?! they laughed and said - I could see that - when I explained that English isn't my first language ( after asking them to "fetch" my bag instead of "get"). Racist. Not customer friendly, sarcastic and actually very slow - as after 4 weeks it still wasn't completed. I do not recommend place.

I heart Nine West. Purely because their designs are classic and not too difficult to wear and…read moremostly because they fit perfectly! I find this store quite small. It's a little challenging trying on shoes, especially, when women flock here on their lunch break to feed their shopping craves. So try and visit on non peak time like after 10am but before lunch, or after lunch but before 5pm. Despite this, I still love it here. The girls who work here are so nice. Even when it's busy they make sure to get to everyone and help. Customer service is very important in shoe shops, because most times you want to try on different sizes, different colour, different styles and that's what they're here to help with. Busy small shoe store, but fabulous service!

I would love to work in the newly developed Albert Lane with its food and shopping options on the…read moreground floor and offices located on the upper levels. The building lets in a lot of natural light with its glass atrium and you'd be easily fooled into thinking you were in an outdoor environment. Shops on their ground level include Birkenstock, Universal and The Tea Centre. Dymocks is always good for some lunchtime browsing especially now that Borders has shut down. There's Mad Espresso to get your daily caffeine fix and Sushi Sushi and Little Singapore for fast food options. It's lovely to see re-development of laneways in the city and Albert lane is a perfect example of a re-developed strip bisecting two commercial towers (141 Queens St and 140 Elizabeth Street) bursting with eateries, shopping, artworks and businesses.

Huge range of shoes (predominantly for women) in this long-standing shoe store in the Myer Centre…read more With a range of shoes to suit most tastes and budgets this place is definitely worth a look. Each time I have stepped into this store I have been given fantastic service, even though I am yet to make a purchase.

From the owner: Fitting, Comfort, quality,read more

I probably go to the Queen Street Mall too often. At some level, I feel lame for not exploring…read moreother options or areas. However, it's just too easy. It's well located and has just about everything one could want. There's food, drinks, movies, food, drinks, clothes, mobile phones, banks, etc, etc, etc. The current construction is a bit annoying, but it's hard to knock improvements being made. The result is a bit of a bottleneck with the huge crowds walking around on weekends. This is a problem when you walk faster than basically any other human in existence and are incredibly impatient. So, it's probably more of a problem just for people like me, which thankfully, I don't believe can be found in abundance. I like that there is often music and the people watching is tremendous.

I find Queen Street Mall a very convenient place to shop and to eat at some point. Luckily I found…read morethe bag I am looking for and its here, I also get to watch some movies after.

This cottage-turned-home-to-high-fashion oozes class - from the manicured garden out front, to the…read moreluscious interior. Each room has a different theme - like the slightly more minimalistic room housing the younger designers, to the elegant area with antique style furniture in which the evening gowns live; and the beautiful front room, awash with natural daylight and full of beautiful treasures - accessories, handbags and clothes in such beautiful fabrics you just have to touch them up. Naturally I headed straight for the sale rack to try on a fab 50s style dress (that was all ruched and gathered, a little reminiscent of Vivienne Westwood) by a Swedish label whose name escapes me. I also tried on a divine Brigid McLaughlin maxi "Jasmine" dress - made of light-as-air silk that was striped on one side, with a floral pattern on the other. The shop assistant wasn't at all pushy - but she made sure she was on hand to help me adjust straps, do up ties and make things sit and fit properly. When I've, ahem, saved some cash, I'll definitely be back for a splurge.

From the owner: Fashion, Accessories and Footwearread more

If you're looking for sneakers, you want to come to Laced. They've enough Vans, Adidas and Nikes…read morehere to clothe the feet of an army of skaters. I'm not really into gimmicky sneakers, but I have to say I was impressed by a pair of army camouflage sneakers that had a wing shaped velco grip across the tongue. You should also check out the accessories while you're here. They've got some killer minimalist leather wallets by Italian design group Il Bussetto. The jewellery is kitschy- you'll find your wing commander rings here as well as ones with diamante skulls on them. The toys are also well worth the look. The service is a little too cool for school. We were in the store for half an hour browsing around, and no one came to even simply acknowledge us. As I said, if you're looking for a sneaker a little more sophisticated than Dunlop Volleys, you'll want to come here.

It's quiet. A little too quiet…read more I am upstairs at Laced Sneaker store and judging by the silence at the register I have interrupted a serious discussion about a certain gentleman's kickbacks. I have been to a couple of sneaker stores overseas so I am a bit surprised with how bare Laced looks. The usual Nike's, Vans and Adidas abound here. And while they did have a reasonable selection of art and toys there is not much of selection SHOE WISE for me. I do like the sales staff here, but I am a bit disappointed in the range. Needless to say I didn't walk out with any new kicks.