I was cutting through Wellington Street on my way to Upper Queens Street yesterday when I stumbled…read moreacross Octopus's Garden. Belfast used to be a wash with Vintage stores but over the years these have slowly become extinct so it's always good to see a new one rise from the bottom of the ocean - much like an Octopus. Octopus's Garden has many strands or arms/tentacles (may as well continue down pun street). It sells vintage clothing for both males and females, old school vinyl and various other retro artifacts. The main thing I liked about Octopus Garden was that their was a varied choice - the rails were jam packed with everything from flannel shirts, band T's to leather jackets and potentially bum cheek exposing denim hot pants. The prices were reasonable too - you often find that vintage stores inflate the prices of their stock but it seems that Octopus Garden have made a concerted effort not to extort their clientele. I was only going in for a browse but I ended up walking out with a loud shirt that has already proved a controversial choice - but that's the beauty of buying vintage items - they always divide opinion and create a talking point. I recommend popping in here for a wee duke round - you never know you might come out with your (not everyone's) new favourite shirt.

If I was trapped in the Garden of The Octo I would never have a time of misery or boredom. This is…read morethe slickest place so far and I would tell anyone who visits this city that loves music and old clothes to begin their journey here. I love this place!

This place was the best!! Definitely one of my favourite vintage/secondhand clothing shops to date…read more We noticed clothes plastered along the upper windows of a building and knew we had to check it out, so we eagerly followed the sign. The place is simply covered in everything you could ever want! I love finding quirky, original pieces, and it couldn't get much better than this. The man (who seemed to be the owner) was perfectly lovely, let us browse in peace and was very cheerful. He informed us that everything was half price- this was amazing considering how low the prices already were. It was overwhelming to look over everything but so much fun. We found great pieces and took our time trying them on in the spacious changing rooms. Dresses, blouses, skirts, jackets, pants, from all the various time periods. All the while, he was playing 60s hits and dancing and singing along! Adorable! He was incredibly helpful and not at all pushy- when a tunic didn't fit, he went into the storeroom to find more options. I ended up getting one of those and a gorgeous jumpsuit for a total of £7.50! He doesn't accept card but there's an ATM right across the street. I'm definitely planning my next trip to Belfast just to come back here!

Ah, Rusty Zip. Anyone reading my reviews (hi Mum), will probably infer correctly that I love shops…read morelike this. Selling all sorts of vintage and outlandish get-you-noticed gear, the shop itself is very well laid out and colourful, with cheerful helpful staff. I love all the scarves wound around the rail to the top floor, and usually unravel and buy at least one when I'm in. Great shoes and bags too, and oh how I love my floor length purple velvet cloak bought here for just £18. I haven't got up the nerve to wear it out beyond the pub yet, but hopefully that day will come soon. As with most vintage clothes, the sizing is a bit off sometimes, especially for trousers. And no, that's not a lard-arsey excuse along the lines of 'That damn dryer shrunk my jeans again'. A 2010 size in a contemporary shop is not the same size in Rusty Zip, so be prepared for a fair bit of trying on and an even higher level of disappointment when those tartan flares, supposedly in your size, won't even make it past one thigh. Still a great shop though, highly recommended.

This place is great if you want to wear the stuff. But how often can a man get away with a disco…read moreshirt that even Travolta himself would have thought "eyy.... no thank you"... The clothes are not entirely appropriate for going to class or having a sandwich, but if you want to wear something thats a bit special and with a chunky price tag, this place is the only shop you need to go to. Some call it vintage. Others say it's old expensive junk. I'm lost somewhere inbetween the groovy 70s and the poor student in 2010. It's definately worth a look.

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!

Describing itself as modern vintage, I think this is more of a sweet shop for grown ups. From the…read moremoment you walk in your senses are overwhelmed by Kidson's trademark flowery designs on everything from lunch boxes to wellington boots. It is a bit twee for some, but for pieces here and there, there is always something for an ideal girly gift or something to perk up your pantry. It isn't cheap for what it is, but for a hint of pretty I'd be glad to take any of it.

My wife has taken to upcycling old furniture so was on the look out for a sofa/chair for her next…read moreproject. This furniture shop is tucked away down an alleyway off Elgin Street and is packed full of retro new and used furniture. We found an excellent rocking chair which is sufficiently dilapidated but still has the potential to be a great piece of furniture!

Here was me thinking that Vintage shops were extinct in Belfast yet I have walked past four in…read morethree day, although I was in the trendy Botanic area of town. Anyway, I love a good vintage shop. My favourite shirt, a controversial plaid number was actually purchased for a tenner from a vintage shop and it's been worth every penny. So now and again I pop in to vintage shops to see if I can grab a bargain and a new talking point I was attracted in to Yellow Submarine by the rails of clothes at the foot of their stairs - they had hundreds of shirts for both men and women carefully colour coordinated making a really pleasent browsing experience. I then decided to pop upstair to the main store. As you walk up the narrow stairway you are presented with loads of cool retro items on the wall that help you get in to the mood for shopping vintage - I suppose those stair can be compared to Delorean. Anyway, once upstairs you can really get looking - there's walls of clothes for you to sift through all neatly arranged. There was the biggest choice of leather jackets I have ever seen in a vintage store and as I browsed the shop assistant busied himself arranging the denim jackets. I noticed there was a load of old records on sale too as well as a good selection of footwear that you don't often get in these shops. Definitely worth visit if you're in to retro clothing - I didn't see any bargains in my visit but who knows, it could be your lucky day.

Actually the window display in this charity shop was originally what caught my eye. Nestled in the…read moremorass of the usual books and clothes was a copy of Fleetwood Macs "Rumors" on vinyl...Judging by the look of it it was old and well thumbed but it piqued my curiosity enough to go in and check out the other stuff. There was a small but good book selection, plenty of contemporary fiction alside the usual celebrity biogs and the like. Trawling through the vinyl I found a nice little pocket of some classic 70's rock some kind soul had passed on. Peter Frampton, Reo Speedwagon even a Kiss album popped up. They were in pretty good nick vinyl-wise and the sleeves were too badly beaten up. They were priced at £2.50 each but the lady kindly gave me 6 of them for £10, maybe she was glad to see the back of them. As with any of these kind of shops, it's always a lucky dip requiring a bit of time and effort. My luck was certainly in that day. Pros: Friendly staff. Potential for hidden treasures. Cons: Cluttered.

Unlike the SVDP shop on the Antrim Road, the one on the Ormeau is small, cluttered and quite poky…read morelooking. Don't let that put you off though - I certainly don't. When charity shops are a bit pokier and messier than the shiny clean Oxfam type places, they're always cheaper too. This shop is a bit hit and miss clothes-wise, but there's a good selection of books and music, and when I was trying to kit out my new house a few months ago I was very pleased to find a massive framed Dali print here for just six quid - the frame alone would have cost at least £40 in a proper frame shop. Certainly worth a look - you might only get something here one time in ten visits, but oh my it will be a bargain.

Belfast gems in Belfast gem run by Belfast gem!!…read more Delightful shop run by the magical Mandy, assisted by her beautiful mother. Had a blast on my visit, picked up some gorgeous jewellery & the kinkiest shoes (which are also somehow tasteful?). Ordinarily I'm not a fan of much chat when browsing places, but the owner of Pretty Vintage is such great company, so helpful & so knowledgeable, you can't help but melt.

Place has more variety then most vintage shops in the area. However, the greatest part was the…read moreexperience with the owner. She was super friendly and helpful in finding the right piece. I love supporting local businesses and this one made my morning. I left when a peice of jewelry that I am treasure for life! Reasonable prices. Cheers!

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!