The Hip Store is one of those Leeds stalwarts that has been around for ages -- first in the…read moreThorntons Arcade, and now in Trinity. I've always been a fan of the cool style and interesting brands that they stock. It's all men's clothing, but I'd definitely consider shopping for gifts here for blokes, since the range is great. (Hello Christmas gift-solving!) They always seem on trend, without trying too hard -- I prefer their gear to Urban Outfitters and the like. It's kind of sporty, but not in the way you'll actually do sports in the outfit. I liked winter coats in the window! They even stock Fjallraven -- a brand I'm sure I spotted in Iceland (even though Swedish) which I think always looks ace. Think proper Nordic-fur-rustic-woollen type hats, bags, and so on. Basically, it does exactly what it says on the tin -- The Hip Store is hip and if I was a dude I'd shop there.

Usual problem, ordered item over the internet and also phoned too check was in stock. Took money…read moreand then received email to say no longer available. Poor service over phone.

This is a large shop catering well for men with a thing for labels. They have a wide range…read moreincluding Replay, Lyle & Scott, G Star and Belstaff. T-shirts are mainly simple and branded across the chest but a few unusual prints can be found. Accent appeals to blokes who like to spend a bit of dosh on their clothes, with jeans priced between £80 and £350, with a few unusual cuts and detailing. There are quite a few vintage-style checked shirts and polo shirts but personally I'd go for real vintage every time...and it's about a third of the price. The kids' clothing pushes the prices from pretty steep to completely unjustifiable! Who the heck would spend £150 on an Armani zip up top for an 8 year old boy??? Wrong wrong wrong! Or for that matter £70 for an Armani baby grow for a 6 month old? Clearly not many people as it is now half price! Phew!

Grand little shop secreted in the Queens Arcade just off Briggate. I first noticed this little…read morejewel of a place when I went hunting for some G-Star jeans I'd seen about 3 or 4 years ago before they took off in UK, when I spotted them in the Accent shop window, it was the first place I'd ever seen them in the high street. It's all very smooth and chic when you walk in, the staff will ask you if they can help, you'll decline until you spot some denims on the very extensive jeans wall, and then you'll need their help as you aren't Stretch Armstrong. Moving further back into the shop and there's a selection of top half wear, in the form of t shirts, polo shirts, hooded tops and jackets, in a variety of brands from Lyle and Scott, Replay, Nixon, Barbour, Ringspun and many more. This particular shop is menswear and kids clothing, upstairs is the more tailored area for those who like to be suited and booted at places that aren't Burtons or Marks and Spencer. Back left of the ground floor, which has some of the cutest baby/kids clothes, but also some of the more expensive I've seen; Armani baby grow @ £60. Oh and for novelty value, I once saw a jacket in there made entirely from paper. Check it out if you want a pick of designer clothes expanding beyond the usual.

Popped in the shop because it looked fairly cool. Turned out to be a great experience…read more The service was brilliant. I had three staff members tending to me and both my girlfriend and I were offered a complementary cappuccino! We were given a tour of all of the new items and the items were catered to what he (I didn't catch the employee's name) thought I liked based on what I was wearing. He was super friendly and helpful. We were really treated while trying out different pieces of clothing. It worked! I ended up purchasing a black hoodie (which fits me perfectly, is extremely comfortable and looks awesome), some new jeans (Razor type, I believe) and a super soft green pullover jumped. Two thumbs up to this designer. Note: This is the first Denham store in the UK! The designer is supposedly very highly regarded in the industry.

Quality items and fantastic staff. I'm not much of a shopper but I was in need of a few key pieces…read moreand looking for quality not quantity. Charlie helped me find a fit that worked best for me and I walked out with two tops and two jeans and a new friend in Leeds.

Are you looking for an affordable and high-quality suit? Look no further! Slater Menswear Leeds…read moreprovides everything you need, from design, professional advice to fitting. We were served by Richard S, who is a friendly and experience staff. The service that we received was the finest! He found a suit that fits me perfectly (finally). He also provided advice on what shirt and tie go well with the colour of my suit. On top of that, Slater provides a free alteration service. What more do you want? I highly recommended Slater Menswear Leeds whether you are looking for a suit for official events, graduation, work, wedding, etc.

Slaters is absolutely huuuge! It has a massive range of formal attire for men including a well…read morestocked shoe section, kilts and endless suits, shirts and ties. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable and clearly take pride in their job - brilliant customer service! Price-wise they claim not to be beaten and even state that if you find the same garment cheaper elsewhere they will give you it for free! The selection for men is vast and should meet the needs of any formal wear shopping man...unless he wants something really unusual. There is also a section for women which is rather small...or microscopic by comparison to the men's section, though they do have a catalogue that you can order women's wear from with a bit more range but quite basic designs. If you're a man looking for formal wear I would definitely recommend trying Slaters.

I think this was perhaps one of my more embarrassing shop visits, to be perfectly honest, and so it…read morewasn't exactly a positive experience. Certainly nothing untoward happened but I don't think I came off in the best light particularly. I was having a bit of a mooch around town and I ended up along Vicar Lane, which isn't my usual area of browsing I must say. Having always walked past Flannels, and not really thought much of it, I saw a divine dress in their window and so decided to nip in. For a start I nearly accosted a guy walking into him as I tried to enter their doors, which was enough of a scene to attract the attention of the two store guys, so head hung in shame I apologised and briskly walked over to my beacon of fashion - the dress. I noticed then that although it was on display in the window it was pretty much the only women's item on show down here and so became really aware that it appeared that I was shopping in the men's section! Irk. Not the case. I quickly glanced at the price tag, feeling the laser beam eyes in my back still watching me from my prior clumsiness, and saw the fee for my beautiful garment. £900 odd pounds. Yeah. I left pretty instantly after that. And they totally knew why. I can almost hear their thoughts now, in my head. "She's too poor to shop here." Gah, how embarrassing! Beautiful clothes, I am sure. But not, in my humble pauper's opinion, worth a third of an MA degree, not worth a third of a good car, not worth a MacBook Pro. God no. Not for a mere dress!

I had never been into Flannels until recently. I don't think the name really reflects the shop - it…read moresounds odd and clumsy and well, makes you think of flannels. It is a vast minimalist space and very sleek and classy in appearance. Men's formal wear is downstairs. They have a bespoke tailoring service, which makes me shudder to think of the price as most of the ready to wear clothing here is way out of most people's price range. I saw a coat for over £700. Seven hundred pounds. There is womenswear in the adjacent room, full of high end designer pieces. There are some very pretty pieces, though in the sale a top was still over £100. Upstairs there's loads more womenswear including shoes and accessories. Again the design of the shop is vary spacious and minimalist with hangers set at fixed points on the rails to make everything have a streamlined, ordered appearance. It's a pleasure to browse, though if you're skint like me the enjoyment is somewhat stifled by the inability to bring yourself to even try anything on! Men's casual wear is also upstairs with a general feel of understated classic chic. This is a shop for people with cash to splash - I imagine wealthy businessmen nipping in on their lunch break to pick up a 'little something' to impress their love interest, for whom only the best will do. And if she likes high end designer fashion and classy, understated glamour he'll definitely be in her good books.

This is a great store! We managed to find a new bag for my mum and it's perfect! They have a…read morereally super selection of everything and their prices are amazing! Staff had the line moving efficiently and quickly! Very happy the purchase!

TK Maxx is both a blessing and a curse. The store is humungous, which bodes well in terms of…read morechoice. You can literally get lost in a sea of clothing, and there is such a vast range that they are sure to have what you are looking for. The handbag section alone is about 6 aisles, with all the colours of the rainbow covered. My favourite items to look for are their dresses. They have so many quirky pieces that you will almost certainly find something unique. All of their stock is marked down designer clothing so that is another bonus - bargains galore! On the flip side, the vast array of choice can often be overwhelming. If you aren't in the mood/tired/in a rush, then this place can be as hellish as Primark to sift through. Too much choice and too many people. The other dark side to TK Maxx is once again, the designer clothing element. Whilst in a lot of cases it means that the unique brands are more affordable, it also means that the one item that you might fall in love with is something like £300 marked down from £500. Whilst a £200 saving is great, it's not so much if you only meant to spend £40 in the first place! So I have a love-hate relationship with TK Maxx. On so many occasions I have walked away with some really lovely, quirky and well made frocks. But then on a few occasions I have run out screaming (or, at least, briskly walked out tutting) with nothing.

With half of their eight stores located in Yorkshire, I associate Ark with the region and am keen…read moreto support it. As a former inhabitant of the Corn Exchange, I was relieved to discover that it had survived the inevitable financial upheaval of the move. Situated on The Headrow, it faces out of The Light and is difficult to miss. Ark caters for both men and women, and I am constantly impressed with their range. When I first noticed the shop, some evil preconception fairies whispered falsities in my ear in regards to their supposed exclusivity. The reality is the inverse of this, there are a variety of dainty dresses and cardigans lined up next to stylish jeans and power jackets, all at very affordable prices. The labels that are stocked at this store are amongst my favourites, namely Vila, Motel Rocks and Layers. Recently I became the proud owner of a black dress with white polka dots, costing £20. Although it is rather conservative for my personal style, there is a gold thread running through it, and teamed with brightly coloured tights, the cut of the dress flatters the figure. I also became fond of a sheer body with a dramatic floral pattern, I have a niggling feeling that we may be having an imminent reunion. The male population are also supplied with choice in abundance. Plenty of Gio-Goi and Franklin and Marshall jumpers sit alongside Carhartt jackets and Supreme Being garb, to name but a few of the labels on offer. I noticed that there were a particularly large amount of checked shirts for men in store recently. Every colour, and every check size was on offer. A great place to pick up some interesting clothing at reasonable prices.

I went in here with my friend when he was looking for a new casual jacket. The store is kind of…read morecool, there's plenty of nice shirts and tees for guys to choose from in a variety of colours and styles. The price is good - there's also quite a few brands in here ranging from Superdry to Carhartt. Cool place for your guy friends to check out if they're in need of a few need wardrobe accessories.

Aspecto is a 'nice' shop. Slapped next to Harvey Nics, it must be a requirement. It looks nice from…read morethe outside, it looks nice on the inside, the people who work in there look and are nice. Nice nice nice. Sorry, I'll get my thesaurus out shall I? Right, here goes. Aspecto is an agreeable shop. It looks amiable from the outside. And really is delightful on the inside. The people are approachable and look well-mannered, which is always, um, nice. Sorry. It was here where I first found a pair of Nudie Jeans. Back then, a fresh new label producing what are now by far and away my favourite denim producers and available next door, at Harvey Nics. They've got their fingers on the pulse, then. As well as having the latest lines from Adidas, Nike, Penguin and a catalogue full-worthy list of others. Again, probably because the rent for what is a spacious, airy, bright shop means they have to. Go here for a new pair of trainers when there's a sale on.

With a bright lime green Aspecto sign it's kind of hard to miss this store even though it's pretty…read moredark and small. The Y-3 Yamamoto range is also what drew me to this store as I haven't seen it available in many areas around Leeds despite seeing lots of people wearing Y-3 items! The staff are polite, the shop has some nice items and there are many sales.

An exciting new addition to the independent label scene in Leeds, Each To their Own have opened a…read morebranch on Duncan Street, following their success of their Sheffield based flagship store. A better job could not have been done in creating an attractive decor. Exposed brickwork, boldly patterned wallpaper and dramatic baroque mirrors suggests an underlying confidence in the quality of their clothes. Catering for both men and women, the garments are mainly designed by Alex, the owner of the shop. He speaks animatedly about his passion for fashion, the love and attention he puts into making the clothes is evident. They have a funky style. There are some lovely dresses with gathered hems next to dressy racer back t-shirts; some sheer, floral camis for bed, next to some knee-skimming low crouched trousers. Originality created by independent designers does slightly increase the price of the garments, but that is an inevitable consequence. Let us unite to support local talent such as this, against the constant onslaught of chain shop mediocrity.

This little boutiquey shop is probably in a slightly unfortunate place as I have a feeling not many…read morepeople frequent that side of Duncan Street (opposite the big Oxfam). I noticed it pop up relatively recently...probably less than a year ago (though I have a poor sense of time!). It is uber fashioney and would appeal to people who like to dress in unusual and striking clothing with a unique look. It's a small shop selling both women's and men's clobber. Men's stuff seems to specialise in giant collars and unusual fastenings as well as low-crotch trousers with long ties knotted around the ankles. Women's wear features similar trousers, some in vintage-style hound's tooth and cheques (which I love) and I like this slightly unisex edge to their offering. There are also quirky little waistcoats for women featuring leather buckle fastening as well as cute freeform tartan dresses and long confusing tops that you'd have to try on to figure out. Prices are understandably higher than average high street as the shop features underground labels and fashion-forward pieces...with trousers around £80. There is a lot of attention to detail in Each To Their Own as well as a love of unusual design and eccentricity, which unfortunately is often lacking in the often brand-name centric offering of many Leeds' clothing shops.

Irene's manages to cover the exterior of the shop with its wares while still keeping the sign…read morevisible - plenty of other stalls in the market should take note! It sells mainly baby clothes, and some very adorable ones at that (though I am a little biased as I am one of those (probably rather irritating) people who practically squeals in adoration at the mere clatter of a pram so I find anything approximating a baby-grow pretty adorable!) Some of the baby grows are padded to the max with detachable mittens to keep little baba toasty and warm even in our recently snowy climate...I actually rather wish they sold them in my size! They also have other baby grows of standard thickness and some rather more grown-up baby clothes...I actually find it rather creepy when a six month old baby boy wears a nicely ironed checked shirt and jeans and has his 3 hairs gelled in a side parting like a terrifying little man...but these clothes also go up to toddler sizes. There is also a tiny hoodie with the word 'skate' emblazoned across the chest...personally I think trying to make your baby look cool is most certainly not cool! Other clothing includes princess-style dresses for tiny baby dolls ...sorry... 'girls', hmm...also not particularly cool. It would make some sense maybe if she's a baby bridesmaid...I remember my little sister aged 10 months looking decidedly spherical and bored in a pink satin dress and matching headband at my aunt's wedding. Haha! The clothes here are very cheap at 2 or 3 pounds for tops or trousers and £9 for an amazing padded baby grow. Great for parents struggling to cope with the financial burden of a new child, though charity shops also often cater well for little ones.