This place may not look like much from the outside, but on the inside are works of art. This…read moremilliner spends every day making the hats (and selling them) and then teaches on the weekends. A favourite hat of mine in the store, I was told, is popular with many people, enough so that it has been requested for use on top of a model and graced the front of a U.K. magazine. It is a burgundy velvet hat with a large front brim and a large ribbon, the pattern on the fabric is what makes it, Carolyn Gibson, the master milliner thinks, I told her it is also in the little details of her craftsmen ship, in my opinion. As you might have already guessed, I am a big fan of hats, not a shoe girl, jackets and hats do it for me! I highly recommend dropping in for a visit, as seeing them in person is much better than on a website.

From the owner: I am a master milliner and I design and create beautiful hats for every occasion. read more

Queen Streets Rip Curl store is better than most inner city surf stores. They don't take themselves…read moreas serious as some other stores, who think street wear is high fashion. Also, unlike some other brands, Rip Curl actually stock boards and wetsuits aside from their clothing label. While this might not be super important on Queen St, it's nice to see a surf store that is more than a label. The front half of the store usually stocks the latest fashion and current sales, then the store bottlenecks at the counter and sunglasses section. Upstairs houses the majority of the surf related paraphernalia. Staff tend to be quite clued up and friendly. A great spot to pick up some cheap but sturdy jandals during summer or look at the latest big production surf video.

First impressions - hey this is great ! A thorough look through and sadly nothing for me on this…read moreauspicious Saturday in Spring . But hey that's not to mean someone won't be dropping of that wish dress or unwanted Marc Jacobs bag ? Will they ? I love the idea of clothes recycling at the end of day everybody wins , Stores get money , people dropping off clothing maybe get a small percentage and if the store has a heart they take leftovers to the city mission so a homeless soul can get kitted out in a Versace jacket ! #winning

Finally, I've discovered a second-hand clothing boutique actually worthy of the title 'Boutique.'…read moreEncore is everything you want it to be: an absolute treasure trove of used designer clothes, well priced and well ordered. What separates this store from the others such as Recycle Boutique and Finders Keepers is that they actually make it feel boutiquey rather than op-shoppy in there. This means luxurious Laura Ashley-papered walls, funky lighting and spacious changing rooms and staff who can help you pick out outfits and advise you on almost anything in the store. The brands they sell can be anything from Vivienne Westwood to Kiwi favourites Karen Walker and Zambesi, all at massively discounted prices. Of course, you're still going to be paying more for the privilege of owning these items than you'd pay for lesser quality items in a chain store, but what you'll get in return are pieces that will last you a lifetime...or indeed items you'd probably be able to resell again for a tidy profit.

I think I've got a new favourite shop. I'm such a sucker for anything cute, kitsch and quirky and…read morethat's exactly what this shop is. Brand new to K Road, this store embodies everything I love about the area. I think their selection of necklaces is actually even nicer than the similar ones in Monster Threads just down the road, and I looove those! It's clear the owners of this store really think about what they're selling and who they're trying to sell it to. This is only a tiny little store but everything in here is covetable, from the tea sets to books to the array of vintage-inspired sunnies and dresses. It's out of the ordinary, beautiful clothing, jewellery and homewares. I've got my eye on a necklace and the super-cute stick-on animal wall decorations.

This store has a cute, vintage image to it with a tumblr/pinterest style- they sell witty cards…read more(like a card with a penguin drawing on it saying "i'm a little blue without you"), very cute sunglasses, nifty books and journals (my favorites are the bucket list, do sh*t, and the notebook range from FRANK.) some room decorations (similar to typo) such as golden print posters, childrens clothing, a small skincare selection, gem jewelry and other accessories, and a small range of well picked vintage clothing and some other very cute "bits and bobs"/items The only downsides to this store is: - the prices are slightly high ($30 for sunglasses, etc.) - there are so many cute/nifty items it makes it hard to pick the ones you really want to buy!

Vintage doesn't get any better than Tango…read more The best thing about Tango is that there quite literally isn't a single thing in the shop that hasn't been hand picked because it's beautiful and high quality. There's a definite aesthetic to the stock - a sort of campy, tongue-in-cheek take on glamour - that you'll most likely love if you're into vintage. Tango is hands down the best place in town to get your hands on designer and name-brand vintage that's in top condition, but there are also less expensive items, like costume jewellery and handbags. Not to be overlooked, the service at Tango is perfect - it's always a comfortable browsing experience, but the guy who works there is really knowledgeable about clothes and is very helpful if you're looking for something in particular. In short: Tango should be your first destination for impressive vintage dresses and accessories.

This is the sort of place where I can imagine Greta Garbo just chilling out on a chaise lounge,…read moreclassily smoking a ciggarette and blowing smoke rings into unsuspecting customers eyes. You can see why this store is known as one of Aucklands best vintage stores, because the stuff sold here is actually vintage. Not just ugly stuff people dont want anymore. It is a veritable treasure trove of antique things I instantly craved. Court shoes, fur stoles, dresses so authentic they look like they could even have mothholes (they dont, dont worry) Though the guy working there could probably take a lesson in customer service, I was just taking a photo and he near about booted me out. How rude.

The first time I went to second to none was when I was looking for a ball dress for my year 12…read moreball. I had been to modes and found that it was way too expensive for my liking. I walked into second to none and I was suddenly overwhelmed as they was just so much choice. The prices were reasonably depending on what you got and whether it was second hand or new. This place defo requires some patience and time because you have to go through all the dresses so that you don't miss out on anything. The second time I went to second to none was to look for a dress for my boyfriend's end of year work ball. I found something I liked but I still wanted to compare to other stores and the sales assistant was kind enough to keep the dress on hold for me. She even called back after a day to see if I still wanted the dress. I liked that because some shops you put something on hold then you go back after a day and it turns out they hadn't put your item on hold as yet.

Every time I walk past Mischief shoes on Broadway in Newmarket it kills me. The shoes in the window…read moreare literally so beautiful it hurts. Though I've never actually bought anything from the store, I've tried on numerous pairs of shoes there over the years, and have always been really impressed by the quality of the shoes as well as the wide selection. The staff at Mischief are really helpful, and don't mind you trying on half the store (something I've done quite a few times!), as they too are shoe lovers and understand how important it is to find not only the perfect fit but also the perfect style for you. Stocking popular, fashionable and quality brands like Nude, Soles, Clarks, Chaos and Harmony and Paolo Vandini, Mischief caters to both men and women aged about 16 years onward. A little pricey is ol Mischief, but this an example of the whole 'what you get is what you pay for' scenario. Every pair of shoes in this store is made from excellent quality materials and is on trend with the latest European fashions. If you're in Newmarket and feel the need to treat yourself, take a peek in Mischief - it's well named - you never know what you'll be leaving the store with!

Really beautiful quality shoes! Every pair seems to be made of supreme quality and is just dazzling…read moreto look at. If I had a never ending budget I would be able to buy almost every pair. When i last wondered in here, my nephew (4) was really taken with some of the shoes! He would pick out the fanciest, shiniest, most sparkly high heel and bring it over to me and ask if I'd like to try it on. I was starting to worry about his love of shoes but thought he could obviously just appreciate quality as much as I can. I noticed down the back there are a few shoes on sale. This is a pretty important thing for me because most of the prices are well above my price range and so sale items are unfortunately my only option.

the girls here are so nice and helpful, and the clothes are super cute! its a little expensive, but…read moretotally worth it.

I don't shop at Glassons, so you might be wondering why I am reviewing it, well I went here with a…read morefriend the other day and I was so impressed by the interiors. They recently had a new fit out, I guess with the new branding and upping the ante on the fashion front by being a bit more cool and relevant their flagship Queen Street store had a haul over and it looks quite cool. The front of the store is nothing spectacular but the further you go down the back you enter a wonderland, you will feel either like Alice or some Disney Princess as you pass the giant white horse and little bunnies on your way to the fitting rooms. The plastic chandeliers that look like something out of a cartoon are less than ordinary and all the pink carpet and soft yellow upholstery, waiting for my friend in the fitting rooms wasn't bad at all. I thought to myself at the time that even though this space reminded me of a 10 year old girls bedroom it was really cool, I thought it was anyway. Check it out for yourself and see. (not sure if you're allowed to sit on the life sized horse, didn't say 'keep off horse'. Note on the service, it was good. Even when I was standing next to my friend the retail assistant called out to another one merchandising to come over to me. Attentive they are.

Lonely's first stand alone store is small but perfectly formed…read more Clean, modern and minimalist are the words that come to mind, with only two gold racks lining the sides of the room. It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea but I strongly dislike clutter so I find it to be strangely calming. The dressing rooms, on the other hand, are rather plush and very spacious. The sales assistants even offer you sparkling water when you try something on! Lonely are well know for their playsuits, cute dresses, loungewear and of course, lingerie, which now has a cult following. It's not cheap but which NZ designer is. And to be fair I still wear a dress I bought about 8 years ago. That's value for money I say!

Lovely lingerie and terrific staff. The fabrics and cuts are wonderful. From jewelry to sleepwear…read moreand even a beautifully draping and luscious jewel toned evening dress! I am looking forward to following the Lonely Line as they continue their growth - great stuff.

Seeking a decent purse that won't break in a jiffy can be a hard feat when you don't have the…read moredollars. What I appreciate about Strandbags, as they not only do sales on a regular basis, but they have a variety of different purses, bags and suitcases that suit anyone's pocket book. I bought a purse here at the Sylvia Park branch quite a number of years ago, and it's still in really good condition. (under $25) I always pop in to check out their sales when I'm buying for someone's birthday, and the shop assistants are generally very chirpy and helpful.