Won the lotto ? Feel like a fancy pants ? Head here . From humble beginnings on High St , city …read more This is a fashionista Valhalla ! I had the nicest sales girl show me through their range of perfumes , now she probably knew I had zero deniro but did not care at all and was just interested in showing me a particular perfume which I will now plot to get ! They also have books , fashion ones of course but books all the same . We discussed the merits of real books to a kindle and the difference of woody chypre scents to powdery frou frou ones . This girl really knew her stuff even after admitting she hadn't been into perfumes until she started at World . With the use of luxe fabrics and vintage trays this is a awesome shopping experience !

I could seriously look around this store for hours, it holds so many wondrous knick knacks, weird…read moreand wonderful art and collective items. You can be looking at some beautiful fashion items and then turn and see a stuffed animal! World has a few locations Auckland wide, but my favourite is the Newmarket branch, I just love the way it's set out. It's dark and mysterious yet everything on display is clear and eye catching. World stocks a lot of brands, many of which you can't get anywhere else in New Zealand, for me I wanted a specific perfume, and they had it! The service was also extremely helpful, I wanted the hand cream to go with my perfume but they had run out at the time, therefore the retail assistant took my name and email address and they are going to email when it comes in, amazing service!

Usually you can find a Meccano in most New Zealand malls, stockists of brands like FourFontaine and…read moreIndustrie. As a menswear store, the do well to have a range of casual and formal fashion- everything from shirts to underwear. The are reasonably priced for quite good quality clothing. The Newmarket store in the Westfield mall is surprisingly larger than most of the Meccano stores I've visited. The service is happy, helpful service, typical of a mall store when customers can easily wander off if they are feeling ignored. The selection of button up shirts and variety of patterns and fabrics used is what keeps me coming back and seeing what new ideas they have for my wardrobe. Meccano's is a staple in menswear stores and, even though it's proximity to other, more classy menswear stores, Newmarket's Meccano should not go overlooked.

Think a mini Department Store like the one on the shore but no where near as far away. This store…read moreis such a treat to have so close to town. I love that Karen Walker has brought in other brands to her stores because it's so great to see what the other labels are up to. Here there's Karen Walker (of course), Topshop, Saint James, Julie Roffman, and a whole lot more. They've done such a great job of decorating the store. I love the huge pink horse in the middle of the store. You really feel like you're somewhere special. Maybe this is because they sell my favourite perfume, Flower Bomb. There are always wafts of this luxurious fragrance all around the store and it definitely sends me to my happy place! I also love Topshop's prices! It's like you're always buying something on special, they're so reasonably priced. There's nothing like feeling like a million bucks when you've only spent $100.

I've said it before and doubtless, I'll say it again: I miss Topshop. I miss having it there a five…read moreminute walk from where I worked in the UK. I miss the way the clothes always fit me perfectly and I miss their uncanny ability to always have the latest fashion trends. So imagine my surprise the first time I walked into Playpark by Karen Walker in Newmarket to go and buy a belt by the designer that I'd seen online and noticed that they've got a whole section of Topshop in the back of the store! They even do Topshop makeup (my favourite lipstick colours EVER). And that's not all they've got either, this gorgeous warehouse-like emporium (think florescent strobe lights and concrete floor) is an absolute treasure chest of not only Karen Walker but also Fred Perry Laurel Wreath, Happy Socks, Cacherel and more--an eclectic mix, but somehow, in amongst the giant plastic horses and floor to ceiling sized birdcage fixtures, it all works. I just want everything in here.

After the service I received I just had to write about this place! I wanted shoes and my style of…read moreshopping is in and out. I don't usually shop in retail stores but needed shoes today so it had to be brick and mortar. I went in, was greeted by a lovely shop assistant named Melody who informed me of what was on special in store. When I asked to try on a pair of shoes, she got them for me which was nice. I put one foot in decided I wanted them and said I'd take them and it was almost as if she felt she needed to do the features and benefits thing on me anyway. I was already sold but I was impressed by her product knowledge none the less. Melody then signed me up to be a Mimco member and I had a pleasant conversation with her about shades of grey, clothing that is, not the book. Wonderful service, the shoes are great and I will definitely be back.

How do I write this without going overboard. I've been very happy with my prescription spectacle…read moreexperiences at Gates for a few years however today Lee, the owner, provided me with the best service I've ever received, anywhere. He solved a pretty big problem I created with the most professional demeanour you'd only ever dream of. If you are looking for absolute expertise go and see what the team at Gates has to offer. Especially Lee. Honestly you will not be disappointed.

Excellent, excellent, excellent. For years, Gates has had consistent, excellent customer service…read more Each time I have gone in, even if in service of glasses not purchased there, the staff has been helpful, gracious, relaxed and professional. Their range of frames is more interesting than more others in Auckland too. Keep up the good work, Gates Team. (And no, I swear, I am not related to any of them--they just plain old deserve a good review). Give them your business.

After the service I received today I just had to write about this place! I wanted shoes and my…read morestyle of shopping is in and out. I don't usually shop in retail stores but needed shoes today so it had to be brick and mortar. I went in, was greeted by a lovely shop assistant named Melody who informed me of what was on special in store. When I asked to try on a pair of shoes, she got them for me which was nice. I put one foot in decided I wanted them and said I'd take them and it was almost as if she felt she needed to do the features and benefits thing on me anyway. I was already sold but I was impressed by her product knowledge none the less. Melody then signed me up to be a Mimco member and I had a pleasant conversation with her about shades of grey, clothing that is, not the book. Wonderful service, the shoes are great and I will definitely be back.

Pocket is like the Newmarket branch of MADE in the city. Both stores are owned by the same people,…read moreso it makes sense. It's kind of off the beaten track, behind Rialto cinemas in that little area on Kent Street that seems to be growing more and more popular by the day. It's standalone and the layout of the store is quite nice. They stock similar things to MADE - notably APC. They also do Karen Walker, Standard Issue, House of Holland eyewear, etc. There's men's and women's clothes and accessories, and as well as new, they stock some vintage. The staff were nice, friendly without being overbearing. I tried on a few things, walked out with a pair of really stonewashed 90s Levi's. I'd say the store fits somewhere inbetween Area 51/Black Box and Fabric in terms of prices and brands. My fashion/shopping expert friends thought I should give the place three stars but I think it's a bit above 60%, and extra points because I bought something. Worth a visit.

Another new discovery of mine and new favourite, I left this store with my wallet a little sore me…read morethinks, but who cares I got such lovely things! This is a brand new store which is part of the new street complex in Newmarket. It's a really lovely place, laid out beautifully and stocks labels such as Status Anxiety, Louis Vuitton, APC and Karen Walker as well as boasting a pretty awesome vintage section! Their prices were really reasonable and that is what I loved so much about this place, they hadn't conformed to the Newmarket trend and overpriced everything. I purchased a lovely leather bag for only $150 which I though was a real bargain, as well as one of Karen Walker's new season key-rings for only $29! The two staff working there was so nice to talk to and I felt really comfortable with them, not looked down upon which is sadly common in upmarket boutiques. I knew instantly that I had found my new favourite shop and I'm probably going to have to go back tomorrow and get those boots....yay!

What a wonderful store, such a great range of product. If you needed to buy a gift for a female…read morethen this would be a good bet. I often come through Newmarket and admire their window displays which are lots of fun, but inside, there is so much to take in. You cannot go by what you see on their website, you have to go into the store. There is stuff in here you would not need until you saw it, such as an owl ornament and bright coloured candelabras. When Mothers Day is upon you, come here. You could pretty much by anything in here, the store buyers have made the gift selection edit, all you need to do is pay for it. To make things easy, they do have gift wrap and cards too so it is a one stop, Mother pleasing gift shop. Either that or good for female friends.

When it's my mum's birthday, this is the first place I'm going to come to look for a gift to send…read moreback to the UK for her. The store specialises in inoffensive jewellery, nice smelling soaps and body lotions--Mum Mecca. They've got a great selection of Kiwiana- so perfect for gifts to send abroad- and they have a really good selection of jewellery from popular NZ brands such as Kagi and Karen Walker, so it's nice to know that what you're buying is locally sourced. It's not a place you're going to find the most fashion-forward or out of the ordinary gifts, but what they do sell is of great quality and reasonably priced. The store is clearly aware that it is a "gift" shop and that they are selling things for people to buy for other people. The staff are attentive and clearly know what they're talking about, which I imagine must be a godsend to men looking to buy gifts for the women in their life!

Paco Design Store is run by the charming and vibrant Gilberto Navas-Cotte, who has handpicked the…read morelocal New Zealand and international brands that fill his store by hand. He manages to create great looks from the combination of pieces from as far afield as his native Columbia with items he's seen on local runways and will happily fit his customers with a fresh, new look. My favourite brand at Paco is Cyclus - bags and accessories made from cycle inner tubes and tyres. This is upmarket upcycling at its best; check it out.

From the owner: Recycled and sustainable bags and accessories from South America. Also stocking local designed…read moremenswear brands, Gus and Woody Nicholson.

Gifts Galore is crammed with fun and one of those shops where you don't know where to look first…read more There's everything in here from soft toys of all sizes (even those excellent giant Hello Kittys that I'm really not allowed to buy because it's silly), to stationery, hair accessories, socks, mugs, posters, and make up. And everything has that awesome Korean twist to it, so if you need stickers of your favourite K-pop artists, here's where you head. The staff don't speak heaps of English but they are really sweet and approachable, and I'm sure their Korean is top-notch! When I had trouble figuring out if the alarm clock I bought there would play music or not (I really can't stand that end-of-the-world beep beep beep of doom), they unpacked the clock, put batteries in, and demonstrated it for me. Now that's good service.

I have been coming here for over a decade, just because you get older doesn't mean you have to grow…read moreup. Gifts Galore has just that, a lot of gifts, packed from wall to wall with cuteness. There are two sides to the store, one mostly stuffed toys and the other is stationary. Everything from pens and notebooks to mini staplers and writing paper, you will find it with Winnie the Pooh, Hello Kitty of Miffy the Rabbit all over it. The fun doesn't stop there, umbrellas, earphones, bento sets and flasks, absolutely everything. Gifts Galore also boast an impressive range of scented pens. If you haven't written with ink that smells of oranges, you're missing out. Such a fun shop, great for the young and young at heart.