Rohan is a specialist in highly functional clothing for all climates and weather. The clothing has…read morea simple, under-stated style and doesn't shout about its careful design and technical prowess. Rohan also sells plenty of travel accessories from medical packs and luggage to insect repellent and water purifiers. This is the kind of shop you might imagine Ray Mears would visit to prepare for an expedition. Prices aren't low but this reflects the careful design and technically high-performance fabrics that are used in their products. The products at Rohan aren't fashionable or beautiful, but that's not the point... the point is that they are highly functional and durable and their simplistic design means that they will not end up looking dated, thus increasing their lifespan. From Rohan's website they seem to take environmental and social responsibility seriously. They are members of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which, though not a gold standard for ethics, at least means that their progress on implementing improvements in their factories is being monitored and they are ensuring a basic level of acceptable working conditions - more peace of mind for customers than is provided by the majority of the high street.

It's silly I know but whenever I think of this place, or walk past and see the name, it conjures up…read moreimages for me of the Riders of Rohan. It also reminded me of the game a friend and I used to play, imaginatively dubbed "The Riders of Rohan", which involved simply trotting home at full speed when drunk. Warning: this may cause broken little fingers, especially when icy. Play with caution! Anyway. I mostly think of Lord of the Rings when I see the name. Being transported away to a magical, exciting place would always make the reality seem a little less exciting, but in my opinion this isn't the only reason I found Rohan dull. I wandered in on the ever more difficult Christmas shopping expedition, tasked with trying to out do last year's gifts. A nice jumper? No. Rohan is filled with, I suppose, nice jumpers, and other outdoorsy style clothings but here is the problem. Not only are the clothes pretty grey - colour wise and excitement level wise, but they are very expensive. I can't justify buying a simple jumper, with no real oomph about it, if it costs in excess of £60. According to their website they are award winning outdoors clothes specialists. Perhaps it is my lazy-bum way of life that deprives me of the special understanding of what makes their clothes worth the buy, but I just can't see it. For now we could blame my ignorance, and say, 3 stars as the chap was particularly friendly to me. But that was it really. Good for high end outdoors style (perhaps more style over hardwearing?) clothes and shoes.

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.

I was introduced to this place recently and I think it's going to solve a lot of problems for me…read more Outwardly, it's a gorgeous little stall in the market that hosts a number of beautifully tailored items. Hand made dresses in a number of prom styles, gorgeous fabric, beautiful detailing and wonderful beading. The stall is reasonably large, so there's plenty of lovely girly items to browse, and my magpie eyes are always open to such temptation, and there's no end to the sparkle in this lovely space. But, the interesting detail for me is that the lady who runs the stall apparently has a lot of tailoring talent. I mean, that's evident from the items on display alone. But my friend, who showed me the stall, mentioned that someone she knew had given the stall owner a dress that she wanted to save and the stall owner managed to craft a perfect replica! Now, this is obviously not something I've yet to test out myself, but being one with a plethora of unfinished projects, I intend to try this out. I've so many items that need taking in, old clothes that are too far gone to save but could be made using the original as a blueprint, that I will be back... And hopefully with a whole new wardrobe!

Okay, this place is just not for me. The idea is that these guys source unique, designer, high end,…read morestand out dresses -- items that I guess appear to either be in the style of, or maybe worn by, celebrities. I can say they're stand out, for sure. My opinion would be that they're so stand out, that rather than looking expensive and high end, some of the cuts actually look a little (I hate to say this) tacky. Considering nothing in here appeared to cost less than £100, I felt as though the same -- or similar -- look could be achieved in a few shops that would be much cheaper. That said, this would only be for some of the selection. A lot of the dresses were very showy, very voluptuous, and perhaps just not to my taste. (I would feel a little on show in a all in one lace trouser suit.) There are plenty of well-matched accessories to go with the dresses, so you'll certainly pull off the whole look! And the staff were working away helping folks find the right thing, so customer service is no issue here. I could tell, from closer look, that the clothes were all really well made and of good quality too. If you give some of the dresses a feel, you can tell you'd be paying for something that would last, rather than buying something to look amazing that falls apart after a few wears. All in all, I'd say definitely give them a look -- especially if you know you want to pay for something a little different, a little unique, and a little dressy. It just happens to be not to my taste!

My $200 dress never arrived and House of CB refuses to issue me a refund or send a replacement. Do…read morenot order from here!!!!

Aras is a peculiar shop. It sells a little bit of most fashion styles: a little bit rock chick, a…read morelittle high street, some alternative, and a little bit of scally clobber, none of it at a particularly cheap price but most of it on the slightly unusual side. Have a rummage through the rails of random odds and ends, I've found some amazing leggings that I pulled out at festival time. Some of their jumpers are a nice addition to winter wardrobes too. When I've visited there's always a very warm welcome and it is nice to have such a unique shop so close to the big guns of Briggate.

I'm actually quite a fan of this quirky little fashion shop. At first glance you'd be forgiven for…read moreassuming it's one of those cheap-o fashion shops, but you'd be wrong not to step inside and give it a second chance. There are a number of hits amongst the misses and you'll never find them unless you go on in. In amongst some of the less enticing items, which is more indicative of what caters to my taste than anything else, you'll find a few elegant pieces at pretty damn reasonable prices. I spotted a gorgeous nude tartan patterned shawl (you know the ones, the triangle shaped garments) that was gorgeously soft to touch and would look fabulous on any lady. Add to that a seriously cool pair of tapered black high waist trousers and I was already getting excited. Yes, there were a few duds that I wasn't so keen on, but just before leaving (since I'd have to wait till payday for that shawl) I noticed the knitted hats. Oh. My. Gosh. Knitted animal hats, no less. This mightn't be something you'd get excited about, but it was definitely something I was positively applauding. I grabbed the raccoon version and asked how much this ridiculously cute and warm headwear must-have would be. Oh, really? Twelve pounds you say? Done. And now you know how to spot me. I'm the numpty with the awesome raccoon hat and I wear it with pride. Give Aras a chance, if you're anything like me you won't regret it!

I stumbled across Pop Boutique after visiting the haberdashery right next to it. I was surprised to…read moresay the least. Cute little woollen skirts and check shirts seemed to be the running trend. Along with lots of lurex and sparkles! A lot of the clothes here are recycled, hence their motto - recyclable fashion! The fitting rooms are plastered with cool band photos and pin ups advertising burlesque evenings. I bought a shirt and a skirt from here and can't wait to wear them. Different and affordable with lovely, polite staff. 5 stars from me!

Pop Boutique is one of that strange breed of shop that seems to market itself as a 'vintage' yet…read morestocks entirely new clothing, cut from new textiles in designs vaguely inspired by vintage clothing. There are a few genuine vintage finds in here, but they seem to be getting fewer and farther between as the stock leans more and more towards the new. Put aside any qualms over the label 'vintage', however, and you'll find that Pop Boutique is a fine addition to the pile of central Leeds clothes shops, and while its cute tea dresses and floral skirts may not be originals from the 1950s they're still different - and cheaper - than anything you might find on the high street.

Bags & Baggage have two stalls in the market. The one with a more central position in the upper…read moremarket hall sells mainly handbags and purses. If you like your handbags with large sprinklings of kitsch garishness then you will love this shop! There are plenty of brightly coloured gleaming quilted PVC bags with gold fastenings. Some have a shimmering leopard print and are embellished with bows and lace. There are also some rather cute classic-style purses with snap fastenings and some slightly more reserved brown and cream bags in a more unassuming style. They also sell umbrellas and have a make-your-own charm bracelet thing where you can choose different letters and charms to add to a chain. Prices are probably about high street level or cheaper. 30 seconds walk away, the Bags & Baggage on the south side of the upper market hall sells a similar range of handbags but also sells luggage bags of a variety of sizes and some unisex shoulder bags. Together the two Bags & Baggage shops cater for a range of tastes and uses at a decent price.

This little shop sells all types of bags from handbags to suitcases, sports bags to school…read morerucksacks. The handbags dominate the small shop and nearly put me off my lunch. They are quite tacky and all seemed to have a gold crown symbol on. Perhaps the proprietors are royalists? If you long for the designer handbag but like most of the population cannot justify spending hundreds then you will be able to find an equally sparkly, glitzy replacement here for a fraction of the price. If you can see beyond the handbags then there are some good deals on suitcases which are strangely expensive outside of market-world. There were a few sets decorated in different patterns in varying sizes. A decent sized one is about £25.

I have got literally no idea why this stall is called 'Around A Pound', as nothing is any nearer to…read morea pound in price than you'd expect it to be in a shop with a variety of different products at a variety of prices! Bizarre! But despite the illogical and clumsy name which may lead to disappointment when spying a bargainous ring only to find that it is £4.99 I think this shop manages to redeem itself! It is quite large for a shop in the market and sells a vast range of jewellery and trinkets at a reasonable if not pound-proximate price. The jewellery here is very much magpie-material with endless, jewel encrusted twinkling rings and 'statement' necklaces on display. They also sell some extremely blinging fancy dress style 'ice' with pendants including dollar signs covered in plastic gems. On top of the array of jewellery they sell cute home decorations such as Chinese lanterns and wall hangings and large butterflies made from feathers. Other wares include charming little wicker baskets and a selection of scarves in a range of colours and designs. Around A Pound is a great place to come for an affordable gift for any friends or girlfriends partial to a bit of glitz, or to find pretty bits and pieces to pimp a dull-looking room!

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.

I love this shop! The hand painted sign describes its wares as 'African and European designs'. It…read moresells a small range of clothing with a loud and colourful style. Long dresses, tops and skirts have striking prints and are embellished with lacy edges or embroidery. They also sell amazing fabrics with vibrant African prints at £20 for about 6 metres. And they have a range of rather flamboyant shoes - brightly coloured heels with long sharply-pointed toes and men's shoes which include blue snakeskin effect brogues also with long pointed toes. They also sell bags, scarves and other bits and bobs. The woman running the shop, presumably Rita, was very friendly and helpful, making me feel welcome to have a browse and answering any queries I had. This is the kind of shop that makes the market such an amazing, vibrant place full of so many different cultures and unexpected treasures!

Finding this kind of speciality store really makes me happy, especially when it's tucked out of the…read moreway, down one of the passages in the market. Unlike many of the stores, Rita's has a market and sells something you would not be able to find anywhere else in the market: African clothing and fabrics. they also sell shoes and other items of clothing, but without a doubt, my favourite part was looking at the bright colours and patterns on the african fabrics. At reasonable prices, Rita also seems lovely and helpful.