This brand is beautiful! I actually ended up getting married in a Maiocchi dress!…read more I love the fabrics - lots of Asian inspired prints, and fun patterns like babushka dolls. The cut of these dresses is usually very flattering - they are made for women, even with curves and all. There is always a range of 50s style dresses - lots of A-line skirts, full cut skirts and cinched waists. Very feminine and womanly. It's a local Brisbane brand, made in Red Hill. It's not the cheapest brand of clothes, but they are really well-made and the fabric is good quality. The city store also has a range of cute jewellery, bags and shoes.

For me Maiocchi is one of those places where you love to shop,…read morebut have a hard time PRONOUNCING the name to friends. ("It started with May? errm myoki? maykekekoke? I'LL GOOGLE IT OK") Aside from my dyslexia, this is probably one of my favourite stores to take a gander in. I love the friendly staff and serene atmosphere, the products are clearly high quality and the cuts and fabric hark back to a more traditional Japanese aesthetic. The store also displays a lot of local artists ware's as well, from bags and brooches to intricate jewellery. This would make an ideal place for unique and lovely gift's (In particular lookout for the teaset in the shape of a spaceman!)

By far one of my most favourite thrifting events on the calendar…read moreSuitcase rummage is THE place to sell your old wares (or to pick up new ones!) This market is heaving with cheap vintage, bric-a-brac, CD's, DVD's, comics, zines and all manner of art and craft. (I can guarantee you will need to set aside a full day to adequately peruse all that is on display.) If you are thinking of joining as a stallholder be aware that there are some stringent rules in place. For one you can't just mosey on off when you get a bit bored the organisers prowl around and insist you stay put til the 5pm close. NO stands, booths or clothes rails are allowed, everything has to be sold out of a suitcase (preferably vintage, to keep up with the aesthetics.) I've had stalls here a couple of times and can vouch for the friendly, low-hassle vibe about the place. The best aspect about these markets is the range of crafting goods that are available. Ideal for home or to give as unique gifts and all at bargain prices. A definite must-do in brisbane!

It says a lot about a person who can take the drab concrete Reddacliff Place and turn it into a…read morebuzzing bazaar of vintage knick-knacks, home made arts and crafts, second hand clothing and other various trinketry. Yet, on the first Sunday of every month, Suitcase Rummage does just that. From 11am til 5 a steady stream of loyal fans, curious wanderers and first time inspectors wander the markets where not a table is in sight. From the vintage to the modern day - everyone sells from a suitcase. There's a certain buzz at Suitcase Rummage, an atmosphere that I've not experienced anywhere else. With a coffee in hand, friends in tow it is the perfect way to spend a Sunday mid-morning. Prices are ridiculously reasonable (real op-shop prices. For example, $2 for second hand clothing, $5 for jeans at one stall) and there's even tea cup candles hand made by another seller. There's live music and I think if there were a few things like a coffee cart, and a few food stalls it'd be even better. A word to the wise, don't just pass by the stalls thinking you've seen all they have. This is a market where to find the best buys you'll have to get down and dig through the lot to find the good stuff!

If you haven't been to Apartment before, it can be a little task to find. On the first level of a…read morebuilding that looks like it would be filled with, well, apartments, is this men's clothing store. It was recommended to me by a friend when I said I was in a pickle finding something for my partner for Christmas. Although I didn't find anything this time I will definitely be taking him to Apartment to check it out for himself. The long thin store stock designs mostly from Japan, as well as men's shoes, magazines, hair products and cologne. The clothing is functional and funky. Don't be fooled though, they put all the small sizes on the racks but there are more at the back of the store. There's usually only one or two of the same item hung up at the same time. Despite the high prices, these are the kinds of clothes you can't really find anywhere else in Brisbane. If you are a fashion forward young man, or you have one in your life, I definitely suggest giving Apartment a look. Don't be overwhelmed with the prices, because these kinds of clothes are investment pieces that will last a life time if looked after.

Apartment is one of the only decent men's clothing stores left in Brisbane, this store is hidden…read moreaway on Charlotte street (hiding from the fast fashion peasants perhaps), and sells brands that are hard to find outside of Melbourne/in Australia. A lot of their products are imported directly from Japan; Neighborhood, W Taps, Comme des Garcons and Head Porter to name a few brands. Prices reflect the quality and exchange rates of the garments so save up your pennies and buy yourself some premium threads from Apartment.

The Leaf Boutique is a nice ladies fashion store, filled with pretty dresses, blouses, skirts and…read moretrousers. Their clothes are not quite my style, however, there are still plenty of great outfits in here. They cater towards a market of women who are perhaps professionals or mature-aged, as you won't find slinky mini dresses in here. The outfits have a lot of colour and suit all body shapes. You will find plenty of easy-to-wear wrap dresses and most of them supporting Australian designers. It's a lovely boutique and worth a visit if you are shopping for your mother, aunty or grandmother. I'm sure you'll find something suitable for them here.

They say fashion fades but style is eternal. And if that's the case it's not hard to see why a…read morestore like Camargue has been in operation for almost as long as I've been alive. I'd say shopping the collections curated at Camargue might be the closest you can get to buying style. Take a scroll through their Instagram feed if you need some instant proof. This long-standing Brisbane boutique has found its home on the equally fashionable James Street and among the precincts fashion-forward crowd, it sits like a jewel in the crown. Camargue doesn't have to fight for trend-based buyers because they know who they are and what walks off the racks. I must admit that I've, to date, only taken advantage of shopping at Camargue during their sales periods (which aren't as regular as other mainstream store but the discounts are often greater), but as I begin to shift to building a capsule wardrobe of investment pieces I know that Camargue will be somewhere in my little black book for key purchases.

From the owner: Established in 1978, camargue have been dressing Brisbane's most stylish for over 30 years. The…read moreboutique is fulled with eclectic and quirky pieces, and each visit is an experience. camargue is as much about people as it is about frocks! Fashion is like beautiful food, great books, wonderful travel & lovely music. It's just about spoiling ourselves, and camargue is just very happy to be a part of that. Fashion fades but style is eternal....X

Gorman is one of those labels that specialises in frump-chic. You know, ironically patterned midi…read moreskirts, boxy tops and tea-dresses in whimsical, quirky prints. Nothing tight'n'tarty here. The decore is all sandy wooden floors with animal print rugs, and some enormous, sequinned butterfly print drapes at the back of the store. It's a shame I've never been a huge fan of this label - although I possibly might be more tempted if the prices weren't so ridiculous. The only dress I really like in there at the moment is $160 - and that's almost half price. It's nothing special, either, just a cotton, navy blue and white polkadot sundress. But even though Gorman is not my No. 1 fashion hotspot, I totally appreciate the fact that it offers Brissie something other than yet another boutique full of mullet maxis. And I'm grateful as hell for that.

Gorman is gorgeous…read more The hemp looking butterfly drapes that hang from the back wall of Gorman like some Christo conceptual art piece really say a lot more about the design house than you'd think. It's a little known fact that Gorman has an organic range of clothing where all of the raw materials purchased for the clothes come from organic and sustainable farms. Most of us nowadays think often about organic food, but organic clothing- that's something else. I, for one, was thrilled to find out about this organic range. Outside of this, Gorman's collections are beautiful. Lisa Gorman, of Fitzroy, Melbourne is a highly celebrated designer who's made serious waves in the Australian fashion scene. Browsing through her current collection, you instantly see the 'design' element. These are not some run of the mill generic threads meant to clothe millions on the cheap. Her colours are distinctive, the patterns bold and often borrowing from a vintage aesthetic, and the designs are wonderfully fun and unique. What's most striking about Gorman is how she arranges her clothes into unbelievable ensembles. Gorman has the impeccable ability to mish mash the most clashing and confronting pieces together and have the end product look sophisticated in this edgy, fun, almost childlike way. It's brilliant. Gorman also designs shoes, jewellery and accessories, which are all undertakings that are equally as successful as her clothes. To have some Gorman in your wardrobe will cost you a pretty penny (take $500 for 2-3 pieces). However, buying from Gorman means you're choosing to support an Australian designer who gives you the option to wear sustainable and organic clothes (yes!). I also personally guarantee that you'll feel like the most fun girl in town wearing some of her threads.

Zooey Deschanel's quirky style, Camille Belle's girly look, Victoria Beckham's structured dresses,…read moreRachel Bilson's effortless style... If if you admire these celebs for their fashion choices, then you'll love this store! When I need the perfect pretty cocktail dress and not wanting to spend more than $150, I'll most likely find the perfect something here. The clothes are so cute. Most in store are dresses and skirts, a mix of girly, chic and modern styles. The colours are pretty and soft- plenty of white, black, cream, pinks, lilacs, salmon and tangerine. Polka dots or plain or even with pearls, there's plenty of gorgeous pieces to be found. The materials on the dresses and skirts are soft and has a mix of satins, tulle, organza. Some fan out like puffy ballerina skirts. and some just bring out the playfulness in its wearer. This girly boutique also has a variety of coloured ribbons and sashes which you can mix and match with the dresses. So, if you pick out a flowy dress which could use a belt, you can alternatively use a ribbon to give your outfit definition. It's absolutely pretty on and the first time I've seen a shop use it to style outfits. Adorable dresses at affordable prices! Every girly girl needs to know about it!

Along with absolutely loving this beautiful store and all of their gorgeous clothing, their staff…read moreare fantasic! The first time I went into Lulu 62 I was so amazed with their service! I left the store feeling great. And every other time I go into their shop they continue to exeed my expectations. It definately tops any of the others stores I have visited. Great service is hard to come by these days. So it is very much appreciated. How often are you left in the change rooms not being attended to, sadly, very often. There are many other things that these ladies do that makes your shopping experience feel special. These ladies have really got it going on. If you need some assistance looking for a special outfit or just every day outfits that are beautiful, girly, chic, cute, Lulu 62 is the place to come to! Keep up the great work ladies!

I found this shop last week and I am in love! I felt like a kid in a candy shop. There are so many…read morecolours, textures and sparkles. I have a fairly small build and it is surprisingly hard to find small sizes sometimes. The dresses here are in a range of sizes, down to size 6. They have dresses for formals, bridesmaids and brides plus a range of cocktail and more casual dresses. The style is fun evening wear and simple but classy formal wear. The quality of the clothes at first glance is really good. Upon closer inspection, the materials of some of them maybe isn't the highest but then again the prices are fantastic so why not get a couple? In summary, affordable, fashionable and gorgeous dresses.

I think this shop is great, I only wish I had more money to spend in there! It's a bit on the…read morepricey side, but I think it provides a great alternative, particularly for women, to the fashion produced by chains like Sportsgirl and Myer. Scotch and Soda is a little bit boho, a little bit tomboy and a little bit country, meaning delicate florals and plaids in lovely light cotton. I also like their range of chinos for women and their bags made of tan leather and canvas. I didn't know until recently that Scotch and Soda actually have an upstairs component of their Brisbane store selling mostly menswear and some womenswear, a good deal of which is on sale. Access the upstairs part via the escalators in the Brisbane Arcade.

Growing up I'd give anything to emulate that Slick and…read moreclassic cool of our european cousins. Sadly not being born in Amsterdam I've missed out on having cool stores like Scotch and Soda in my vicinity. Being an adult (and with the necessary cash monies) I decided to pop into this store and appease the 14 year old in me. This adelaide st store is well laid out and is brimming with classic woman's and men's fashion. (Think striped shirts, blazers, button-downs and gingham dresses.) Although my style isn't as distinctly preppy, I can still appreciate the quality and timelessness of their designs. (Checkered shirts and leather jackets are forever cool.) And while the prices are a bit too steep for my liking, The friendly sales staff were super cool about my listless perusing and made shopping a bit more enjoyable. Be sure to pop by to suss out their latest collection, (or more easily check out their website.)

Blue Velvet is one of my favourite dress shops. They have the most beautiful range of cocktail…read moredresses for all occasions, from a casual weekend barbeque to a night out in clubbing on a day on the race track. Think sparkles, frills and lots of colours. Everything you need to make you feel like a princess for a special occasion. There is certainly plenty of sparkle, the store even has a chandelier! There are a few full length gowns that are quite pretty but my favourites are the cocktail dresses. They have plenty of small sizes too which can be surprisingly hard to find at small boutique shops. Great to browse through even if you don't have an event coming up. The service is also fantastic. Last time I was there, there was a 'Back in 5 mins' sign on the door however a very nice gentleman advised me that the owner would be back shortly and proceeded to explain the current specials.