This gorgeous boutique is situated in Queen's Arcade, and is a tiny but perfectly formed shop which…read moresells the most beautiful dresses. Every possible colour, shape and style is avaliable, as well as numerous delightfully kitsch gifts, making this an excellent place if you're shopping for a special occasion. It is pricey enough, with the dresses ranging in price from £60-£200, but you would be guaranteed that no-one else would be wearing the same one (such a disaster when that happens!). When my sister and I took a peek at these exquisite dresses, her cries of "oooh" and "ahhh" reflected the level of wonderment at such lovely garments, and for me, this is what really makes Atelier. The girl who was 'on duty', so to speak, was lovely and helpful, and didn't mind us hunting through the rails. Even if you go just to window shop, definitely pay this lovely wee place a visit.

Atelier - (for those who -like me - didn't know, this is defined as 'an artists studio or workroom'…read moreI didn't think much of this name until I discovered this!) Stop press! Wow! Wow! Wow! How have I never known of this shop before? It's so elegant and beautiful. There are three lovely girls who work in the shop and they design all the items they sell. Lizzie makes the dresses, Ursula makes the accessories, handbags and head wear, then the other (I'm so sorry I've forgotten her name, I'll repost it) creates the jewellery. This whole process just makes me smile. I love it! I will definitely be back here. It's such a little gem of a shop hidden away in this arcade. The store is beautifully laid out and they sell some amazing items (see 'The Good Book' a hollowed out book with a mini flask hidden inside!) The dress maker, Lizzie Agnew, is famous by name. Her dresses have featured in Tatler, The Wedding Journal, and The Guardian. She creates beautiful vintage inspired silk gowns designed and made to order. I've seen some of these both in the shop and on her website and OH WOW! If I ever have the funds/occasion/need to get a tailor made dress it will be here. They're simply heavenly! Ladies, get yourself down here now. Don't miss out any longer!

Going to an all girls' school meant that the hysteria of formal dress shopping was heightened to…read morethe absolute max, with every girl hoping that the delightful pink dress they had just purchased wasn't the same as their best friend's choice. Cue delirium. Unfortunately (I think), those mad days are long since gone for me, but it's nearly that time for my little sister, so I do kinda get to relive the dream again. Yippee! I told her (yes, she didn't have a choice) that Posh Frocks should be the first port of call for ideas, and she happily agreed to take a look. Posh Frocks was one of the stores many of the girls ventured to in search of the perfect formal dress, and there were definitely some beauties bought there. The shop had, and still has, a reputation for good-quality, stunning dresses, and is one of very few formal dress shops in Belfast, so it is completely inundated with formal requirements from as far as Magherafelt (I was reliably informed by the extremely helpful sales lady). We were also told that many of the dresses sell out within days of first appearing...so we'd better get our skates on! There isn't a huge range of dresses, but due to the fact that new designs are constantly coming in, this doesn't really prove a problem. The dresses vary in price from about £100 to £300, with the more embellished ones coming in at £295, whereas the plainer ones are around £165, and the cocktail length ones are obviously cheaper. Having had lots of really helpful tips and information, and a good nosey around, the two of left with plenty of food for thought. I think I'm actually more excited that the little sis...

On our never-ending quest to find bridesmaid dresses for my best friends wedding (no, not the…read moremovie) we ended up in here. They have a vast array of gowns and dresses for all sorts of events and occasions, be it a formal, a gala dinner type event, or a wedding as a guest or as a bridesmaid. The woman in charge that day was SO helpful, and really cheerful and pleasant, she seemed happy to help, and genuinely interested, which is what you want in a good shopping experience. They had every colour, shape and style of frock, but not, unfortunately, every size, and my size 18 frame was not really catered for. There were a couple of dresses that sort of fitted, but they weren't proper size 18s, and therefore were NOT flattering. The price tags weren't extortionate, but they weren't cheap either. If you're skinny and have a bit of cash, this is a good place to get a dress that isn't from the high street.

Wow! Do you want beautiful, elegant, fashionable, stylish and well tailored clothing? Then come…read morestraight to Fran & Jane. Oh I could have spent hours in here. I think I would have seemed a little manic running from rail to rail gasping at each exquisite piece of clothing / shoes / accessories I saw. But, oh swoon! If only I had the money (be prepared ... it's not cheap!) It is worth it for the money though (except maybe the shrug I saw for £400 ... a little excessive by my standards?!) Anyway, Fran & Jane are a boutique Irish clothing store, established by a mother and daughter over 35 years ago. The items in their store are so insanely beautiful; they sell everything from jeans to coats to dresses and beautiful formal wear. Ah I could go on for ages about the oh so special items I could have happily taken home with me, what stands out most though was the beautiful black coat with a funky pattern and long wide sleeves and an oversize collar (Oh please Santa please!) as well as the *ohmygoodnessimusthavethemnow* shoes *see picture* that I REALLY wanted to buy (sense dictated me not to) Fran & Jane are another one of those pay day shops where you NEED to treat yourself to something special then take a run up here and I'm sure you won't be stuck for choice. Ah, clothing bliss!

Jourdan is a rather lovely high end fashion store on the Lisburn Road 'style mile'. I called in…read morehere (only for a look mind you) a few days ago and was rather taken with some of the clothes they had on offer. Now I must note that most of it tends towards the more mature ladies style, but some pieces just don't age and could be worn by anyone after a glamorous evening dress or stylish tailored outfit. The lady working that day treated us with warmth and respect (not something I found happened in every shop I visited along this road) and for this I was thankful. Although we were only browsing, she left us alone to our devices to ooh and aah at all the gorgeous outfits. If the occasion ever comes about where I need a glamorous, expensive outfit I'll definitely keep this place in mind. The accessories they stocked were unbelievable; some of the jewellery was worth more than everything I own! Ooh so pretty too! Jourdan stock a number of head turning pieces at a reasonable price when you consider the quality!

Relocated these past few years to the Lisburn Road, Jourdan used to be situated quite comfortably…read morein the city centre, in Queen's Arcade to be exact, and I would have imagined that it benefited from the heavy traffic passing through the city centre, but they may also benefit from being on this stretch of shopping land, because there are many fashionable boutiques along here. Jourdan always has been the epitome of sparkle and style, albeit for the slightly older customer! There is something that vaguely reminds me of the outfits that we used to see on The Golden Girls in here, lots of sequins, lapels and shoulder pads - its very much a place for 45+ women to find outfits for luxury cruises, weddings and the like. It's kind of pricey too, but don't let that put you off if you're that sort and are looking for good tailoring and some 'blingy' style. Not my cup of tea, but my Mum loves it.

I was walking by yesterday and out of interest I popped in for a look - that and the fact the shop…read moreitself smells absolutely delightful. They must spray perfume at the entrance. To me, this store seemed like a Zara outlet - it was much more up market than other competing High Street stores. There was a large selection of clothes and accessories for women and when I popped in it was well staffed. Obviously there wasn't much in there for me but If I was a fashionable lady I would give Stradivarius a go ;)

This is my new favourite clothes store. It's a welcome addition to Belfast, as I had got sick of…read morethe same old clothes across all of the usual high street stores. It has occasional quirky little items. Stradivarius has casual clothes nicely arranged at the front of the store for everyday wear and more dressy towards the back. All of the accessories are arranged around items that they would go particularly well with. The changing rooms are well staffed and run effectively. There are pleasant staff members at the check out too. Reasonable prices.

In my dreams, I own a shop like this. And I show up for work every day looking like Cameron Diaz at…read morethe Oscars and sit all day inside, looking gorgeous and being fabulous. This shop makes you want to be fabulous - I swear even if you were a twenty ton heifer who looks like the back end of a bus and is a firearm enthusiast - you would feel girly and giggly in here. It's NOT cheap, and its got every pretty thing you could imagine, the clothes and accessories are lovely. I've yet to actually purchase anything in here because for one - the clothes don't fit me (story of my life!) and two, I can't justify the money. If you have a credit card that you don't mind splurging on - pop in here to give it a good work out in girly gorgeous glamorous heaven.

I'm very disappointed by treatment received by this high-end boutuque. I visited the shop to return…read morefor exchange unsuitable items but it had already closed up (an hour early based on the closing hours posted in the window) and its now refuse to accept items for exchange. I am not even looking for a refund even though I have my full receipt. I feel this is poor service and mistreatment. I've also had to follow up directly and seem to only get excuses -so far, I have been told that: 1 the hours visible in their window were incorrect; 2 I couldn't have been at the shop at the time I claim as it clashes with the customer advisor's own recollection (I fear they are unable/unwilling to tell the truth); 3 exchanges had to be rejected because of the work their accountant has been undertaking-that in and of itself is a concerning excuse to give any customer; and 4 my call hadn't been return because a customer advisor had been off work. So disappointed in the treatment received and what appears to be an inflexible application of a policy around Christmas returns-Christmas presents had to be dealt with by 31 Dec and I found the shop closed early on that day leaving me high and dry. I have attempted to have this dealt with by the shop directly with a visit, follow up calls and two separate emails (neither of which they have had the courtesy to reply to) and wish to advise others of my experience.

I had never been in nor heard of this fabulous little shop until today…read more I took myself out on a stroll in the glamorous Lisburn Road (I don't remember it being that glamorous many years ago when I was crawling home in the early hours with half a kebab all over my beck and several drunken students singing the the best of Take That!) The housing in this area is expensive and this attracts a well to do lot to the area. With well to do ladies comes lovely expensive clothing that they want to sell. And so Deja Vu was born. The shop works by a client leaving in a high end piece of clothing, shoes or accessories and then the shop sells it for them for 50% of the price. There are loads of beautiful tops, dresses and skirts from really posh designers - gorgeous. It's like a second hand shop with a difference. They also stock mother of the bride/groom outfits that have only been worn once, originally cost hundreds, even thousands and are in perfect condition. I wish I had have had more time to browse but I didn't - the woman who runs this place is the best sales assistant I have come across yet - lovely to chat to, no pressure, takes time, points out bargains and really seems to want to help. I'm sitting here wanting to go back for another look about. Great!

The Lisburn Road can be pretty pricey and sometimes a little conservative for a fashion-savy lady,…read moreand for that reason alone thank goodness for Deja Vu. Selling pre-worn designer (and not so well known, ahem, designer) ladies clothes, this place is a treasure trove of joy, often with quite unusual and rare pieces, perfect for when you don't want to turn up to your posh do with someone else in the same frock! That's what I love about here- the individuality. Super reasonable pricing too for what you get. They do turn around a good lot of clothes here and as they are second hand they may not have a huge variety of sizes, so if you see something you like don't dwell on it, just buy or it will be gone!

When you've ambled past so many boutiques that they all start to merge into one, you know you're on…read morethe Lisburn Road. Peering in through the shop windows, I sadly noted the exorbitant prices and swiftly moved onto the next shop, until I got to Harrison that is. Something immediately captivated me, and I stopped in my tracks. Perhaps it was the fact that many of the beautiful clothes appealed to someone of my age, rather than being specifically for ladies in their 30s, 40s and older. Or perhaps it was the sale posters. Either way, that was me in. No questions. Everything in Harrison is extremely eye-catching. The dresses are particularly striking, with their deep, bold colours and stylish cuts making them perfect for formal dos, weddings and the like. There is also a vast range of denim wear, kitsch tops and eclectic accessories, as well as beautiful shoes...it really is 7th heaven. The store currently has a sale on, which makes this stock very affordable. I came across a gorgeous owl print tunic which was originally £52, and is now £26. The stock that isn't in the sale is obviously pricier, but not quite as expensive as I thought it might be. The gorgeous dresses I was referring to cost around the £100 mark, but they really would be a heck of an investment. Harrison have done a fantastic job of blending designer and high street, and it'll be one boutique I will most likely be heading back to.

A smart navy blue jacket in the window that still could have gone with anything dressing it up or…read moredown made me think that Harrison could be better than first impressions that indicated a very expensive, aloof sort of place. True, it's expensive but trendy and I smugly noted a shirt and jacket combo that sort of aped the look of my much cheaper version. Still, I periodically will invest in a good jacket like that one in the window - it'll last for ages and save the day from time to time. The shirts at £95 were a bit steep but there were little black dresses and such like for much less which are very good buys so altogether thumbs up for Harrison.

Liberty Blue used to be the shop indie boys would go to for their t-shirts and cord trousers. These…read moredays, it's where the hipster teenage girls go to get their fix. Basically, if you're an Urban Outfitters fan, you'll like this place. Hell of a transformation, no? Well, Liberty Blue pulled it off with aplomb, becoming one of Belfast's favourite boutiques. In fact, it's one of the only independent shops in the city centre these days, which is nice. It's a great place to go for a funky dress or a vintage-inspired top and while it is slightly more expensive than its high-street counterparts, sometimes you just have to be prepared to pay for something less ordinary.

I love this shop. It is a treasure trove of all things lovely!…read more It really reminds me of what used to be my favourite clothes shop in Dublin, Sabotage, on Wicklow Street in that it is quirky, fun, individual and stocks some classically stylish clothes. Liberty Blue tends not to follow any trends and instead trusts their customers discerning eyes. When I was at college in the city, I used to come here and browse through the rails of clothes hoping that all the studying would pay off and I would land a top newspaper job so I could buy all these lovely clothes. Seriously, I used to motivate myself to work harder by lusting after clothes I couldn't afford. It works! The window displays are usually very striking and are the thing that draw most punters in off the street. Inside the store is beautifully laid out, it's the kind of place which is a pleasure just to come in and browse around. There are cutesy skirts, cool Edie Sedgwick t-shirts, gorgeous dresses, both casual and fancy, Audrey Hepburn style cardigans and good music to boot. On display in the middle table there are some handmade broaches, rings and jewellery trinkets, funky tights and a battered old suitcase with some vintage belts in every imaginable colour- a snip at £4 each or 3 for £10. The jewellery also deserves a special mention, the necklaces are really cool, chic and very charming. Long gold chains with bird cages or little gold Eiffel towers. These necklaces have done me for many birthday presents this year, they all come moderately priced too. The assistants are really friendly and always make a point of saying hello, which is a really nice touch I think. Check out the sale rail down the back for some bargains. Prices vary and should suit all customers. The more expensive party dresses range from £50-£70 and there are really good quality dresses from about £20. Definitely cheaper than their contemporaries Topshop and Urban Outfitters. I don't mind paying money for something quality that looks unique and it's always an added plus to be supporting such a fabulous and unique local business.