Sophie Albou (formerly a designer for Le Garage) designs this funky cute label. If you're looking…read morefor a bright single co loured dress or neat pair of slacks that you'll own for as long as they'll last Paul & Joe are worth a look. If the price tags say anything you would hope they would last a while too. Paul & Joe are a luxury French label so expect to pay Parisian chic prices. You won't get much change from $300 for any one item and up to $1000. This is a fairly small store but they do have a decent range and discounted items at the right time of year. The range only includes women's clothing. No kiddies or men's clothing in this store - you'll only find that online. The thing (albeit it small) that I loved about this store were the cute butterfly hangers in the change rooms. Oh the details. But that's what boutique fashion stores are all about. You expect a few unique trimmings when you're paying a couple of hundred for a wee singlet. Opening times: Monday - Wednesday: 9.30am - 6.30pm Thursday: 9.30am - 9.00pm Friday - Saturday: 9.30am - 6.30pm Sunday: 10.00am - 6.00pm

Like many clothing stores in Manly, Attik is not a chain, but a little one-off. Unlike many of…read morethese boutique-y type places, shopping at Attik will not cost you a month's rent. The shop is filled with funky and reasonably priced threads - I'm personally a big fan of most of their dresses. Beware though - a lot that I've tried on haven't fitted as well as a size 8 normally does on me, or look a bit different to what I'd expect. Definitely try before you buy! I'm not the only fan on the Northern Beaches, that's for sure - Attik is always heaving with women looking for a cute dress for lunch on Saturday, a funky tee for a festival or that perfect pair of denim shorts. The service is smiley and friendly, but not overly attentive. The store itself is packed with clothes from an impressive range of brands, with a range often coming in a heap of different colours - I love that! Don't fancy it in pink? Go yellow! The quality isn't fantastic, but for less than $60 for a dress and less than $40 for a top, it's not exactly shocking. If you're after an outfit for a particular event - I'm talking one-off occasions here - then Attik is a great choice for you.

Live Uniqlo. Great quality items. Can't go past all the coloured socks and great air tech t shirts…read morefashionable clothing well made with excellent materials.

Having visited numerous Uniqlo stores overseas i was interested to see how the Australian version…read morestacked up. The range was comparable to overseas however the pricing was a little higher (to be expected). The store in mid city centre is quite large and spacious. Buyer beware, they must have numerous suppliers as the sizing and cuts varies quite drastically so make sure you tey before buying.

So we can't all be dancers, but it doesn't hurt to look the part, right? Bloch has long been my go…read moreto store for dance-inspired sportswear, but this city edition of their shops stocks the best range. You'll find all the requisite gear for jazz, ballet and the like - classic leotards as well as a few garish patterned lycra styles, wraparound stretchy cover-ups and opaque nude tights. Their range of sports gear changes with the seasons, but you'll always find stylish, easy to wear track pants, hoodies, leggings and exercise tops that don't have that bulky look of mainstream brands. But what this place boasts that most of the others don't have is a dedicated footwear section located at the rear of the store, where anyone after jiffies, pointe shoes or jazz sneakers will be given extra attention, just like in a regular shoe shop.

Remember growing up wanting to be a ballerina? Only if it was that easy - this had to be every…read morelittle girls fantasy if only for a fleeting moment. But at least you can still share the best of being a dancer at Bloch. Every item stocked within these walls are designed for active wear. But the cuts and lines are very effeminate and designed to flatter your body and encourage good posture. I love the leotards with flirty skirts and the jumpers have beautiful necklines. If you are looking for ballet flats for every-day wear you might just find some here with a bit of flair. Also leggings and well cut track pants are available too. I'd highly encourage someone who was looking for active wear to come in here especially if you've just caught onto to Glee or Hellcats on T.V as you can live out your fantasy of being a dancer even if only by dressing like one.

The Flannel store in Mosman is nothing short of inspiring - I am inspired by the beauty, the…read moreromance and the bohemian spirit of this store. That sounds very higher order for a clothing and homewears store but it's true. The clothes are for the most part effortless, simple and chic but then there is that piece that have a certain eclectic flair. The homewares are similar - cashmere chocolate blankets are mixed with Sally Campbell textiles that are made in India. Price wise, the pieces are not cheap but surprisingly well priced for the quality - I picked up a beautiful summer jumper for $150. This shop is a must visit for anybody in Sydney.

Belinda is all-designer, all-the-time, and the store is designed in mind for pretty people who are…read moreslim who have money to spend and then money to waste (the last in the foreseeable case that they regret their purchase later). The clothes are all ready-to-wear and are attached with labels like Isabel Marant and Marc Jacobs and nothing is really bad but I can honestly say that in all my time coming here (I have a look-in most times when I am in the Paddington area) I have never found anything there to buy. It seems to me that this store is a haven mostly for that buyer who relishes owning designer clothes for their own merit more than the one who is guided on what to buy by her own style. These guys have shoes as well but this is mostly a women's clothes store.

It is unfortunate that my perchant for beautiful clothes (at designer prices) doesn't align with my…read morepay packet. If it did, then I would be shopping at Belinda, and often. This is the big sister of casual designer store The Corner Shop, and has more grown up designer labels such as Marc Jacobs (as opposed to Marc by Marc Jacobs), Lanvin, Dries Van Noten, Vanessa Bruno and Helmut Lang, to name a few. What you get in return for handing over your credit card (and soul) is a collection of beautiful pieces that will ensure you don't look like anyone else in Sydney. And people can tell the difference. I love this store for the grown up in me, but as long as the world economy stays in this state of disarray, unfortunately I'll be shopping online at www.net-a-porter.com as I can get the same pieces, much cheaper...

For a shop that merits itself on stocking 'bargains' and 'clearouts,' there are a miraculous number…read moreof nice pieces in here, just be prepared to work those shopping muscles (and those jabbing elbows) as there is just SO much stuff. I found that the specialty in here was party dresses, namely those short strapless ones. There were variations of this model in every colour and fabric imaginable, I was impressed. There's also a whole load of casual gear, so if you're looking for just some laidback, cheap wear, this place is ideal. Of course, no big bargain store would be complete without the odd horror, but hey, who said you needed to get fancy dress outfits solely from fancy dress shops?!

Yet another "disposable fashion" Bargain Store, Big Bargain clearance store is HUGE with an…read moreeclectic range. Sprawling across two shops on Oxford St, you can find anything here from feathered crotchless panties and Australian flag bikinis to cheap and seriously nasty jewellery and sunglasses, to half-finished sample clothing for $10. In the manner of SES though you can always find something nice in the store for around ten bucks, and they have some great genuine-vinyl biker-style jackets for around the forty dollar mark. Don't be alarmed though, most of the stuff on the racks is nice- the horrors I mentioned above are the exception not the rule!

I personally love Japanese culture, so I am really glad to have this store open up near us…read morerecently. Their art & craft supplies definitely come in handy for journalling/school work/work in general, and their stuff is much cheaper to get than the stationary/art supplies that can be found in Kmart. They have other things as well that aren't related to stationary/art. They also have imported Japanese food, homeware etc. You will definitely find something in this store that will cater to your needs/wants.

Can't - keep - away!! I'm so lured by Daiso and love immersing my self in the colors, products and…read moredifferent items for sale. Almost everything is $2.80. With so many aisles and categories from homeware and kitchenware to stationary, personal care and snacks, it's like a treasure hunt for the bargain hunter and a gold mine for the value lover. Worth a visit ... Hands down you'll buy something, will you ever use it? Probably not, but for $2.80 ... who cares!