Always lovely service, with decent prices and a wide selection of different types of bags and…read morepurses to choose from.

'A handbag?' Oscar…read moreWilde knew the dramatic potential of handbags, bless him. I can't leave the house without one, I'm snail-like dragging my life around with me - I'd love to be like my friend Clare who just takes a credit card and her phone, maybe her house keys and chucks them all in my big over the shoulder satchel but I'm not. I like to know I have pens and a notebook and a novel or poetry collection and my make up and my phone and wallet and keys and charger and more hair bands than anyone could ever possibly need, just-in-case. Naturally bag theft leaves me wailing, a long mourning period ensues. I voodoo doll the thief a bad end. Anyway I digress. Hennessy's sell handbags. And wallets and purses and shoppers and wheelie granny trolleys and rucksacks. I don't like any of them, I'll be honest, but you might.

I used to be handbag obsessed, but I've calmed down a bit since I've realised I need money for more…read moreimportant things like food and rent. But naturally I still flock to any store like Harding's that showcases a bit of leather arm candy. Before I even had a chance to look around, I warmed to this store once I heard Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" wafting through the shop floor. My shopping experiences are inexplicably influenced by the kind of background music shop owners choose to play. Harding's offers a selection of handbags, luggage and travel accessories to customers with a range of tastes and budgets. Most of the handbags were on sale when I went in there, some priced as low as £15. Suitcase, coats, purses and travel kits were also on display, from brands like Antler and Revelation. The cheerful shop assistant greeted me when I walked in and allowed me a no-hassle browsing opportunity, to which I'm always grateful.

Luggage is one of those items that, upon discovering that I had accidentally become an adult, I…read morefound I didn't have a clue where to get it from. I went through my childhood considering luggage to be just one of those things that appears when you need it, and goes away when you don't, much like spatulas. I could never have conceived of a world where there was such a high and constant demand for luggage to necessitate dedicated shops. It seemed insane to me. However, after the shock of adulthood had passed and I realised I did actually need to purchase luggage, I was eternally grateful for this shop. Before discovering this place, I was faced with the terrifying prospect of maybe, just maybe, having to go to Argos and using their infernal system to purchase my suitcases. I object to Argos on two grounds; firstly, you usually can't see what you're buying before you buy it, and secondly, it just seems so uncouth to get your goods brought to you by number,. So, just before I headed off to Argos, I had a fateful chat with my dad. I mentioned my destination and the reason for it, and he called me an idiot and told me to go to Harding's, where you can actually see the suitcase before you buy it so you have a proper idea of the size. So God bless you, Harding's. I didn't know you existed until I needed you, and when I did, there you were.

Radley bags aren't really to my taste, but despite this I really can't deny how impressive their…read morenew Cardiff store is. If unlike me you are a fan of Radley bags you will be in absolute heaven in this store! They have such a wide selection of bags, wallets, and small leather goods in this store that I'm pretty certain that they've probably got the entire collection, or at least nearly all of it. However despite this large variety of choice, the bags are well presented, and do not appear squished in together. My Mum recently purchased a bag from here, and the staff were all very helpful and patient whilst she spent what felt like hours choosing a bag (perhaps there is a downside to so much choice). I do wonder how much of a market there is in Cardiff for a shop selling just one brand of luxury handbags. I have noticed that they often seem to have sales and promotional offers on, so it will be interesting to see if this store lasts.

I was recently drawn into this shop due to the giant jars of flying saucers (the sweets, I might…read moreclarify) in the window. Once I was inside, I felt more like I really was in a sweet store than anything else: A place full of pretty things designed to tempt you, but in the long run aren't really all that good for you. Am I the only one who just doesn't get this brand? I've never really understood the designer handbag thing anyway; they're usually all so vile I can see why the celebrities took to keeping their dogs in them. Fortunately Radley doesn't just provide handbags, but wallets and other little leather goods as well. Although I will happily admit that they look like they are made to very high standard, Radley products just aren't to my personal taste. They tend to be bright or pastel colours with a type of 'bubblegum' feeling to them. And all those little stitched leather dogs? I just don't get it. Good quality, but expensive.

As quite a few members of my family actual live in Italy I was unimpressed by the handbags that…read moreDomo had to offer. Whilst there is a very big selection of handbags available nothing particularly caught my eye. The prices are cheap, but the problem is that the products look cheap also. Plus I found the store sign featuring a Roman monument to be rather tacky.

Going on holiday? Need new suitcases? Then look no further! This should be your first stop…read more Rather than hunting through department stores for a limited range of overpriced bags, Departures is an easy one-stop shop for all your luggage needs. Here they have a variety of different bags and suitcases for whatever you're looking for, whether that's a set of 3 matching suitcases in different sizes or just an overnight bag. They have the fantastic expandable cases and the ones that can be flattened right down for easy storage, as well as various options when it comes to wheels and how you carry and move your luggage. Most of the bags come in bright colours and patterns, but there are plenty available for businessmen and others who require something a little more sensible. They also sell straps and tags and the occasional umbrella.

I like shops that make it simple and this is what Departures does. It's simple, if you want a bag…read moreor suitcase to take on holiday, then you go here. They might do the odd random accessory but mainly they just sell bags. They do a wide range of bags including sets of suitcases, some that expand so that you can ram a lot more stuff into that carrier or just your small overnight bag. All the bags come in varying patterns and colours so you can style that airport visit to the max, who knows who might mistake you as Julia Roberts with that swish leather suitcase. Lots and lots of bag, all your baggy needs, there really is no reason to go elsewhere if this is what you need.

There are not many button shops left in the world. This is sad…read more Claire Grove has been open for over 25 years as has become one of those well loved local establishments that has a stream of people goggling in the window. I would urge you to go inside. There are buttons from all over the world. Big, small, dull, colourful, fabric, glass... You name, you can buy it and sew it on to your jumper. They're a great idea for sprucing up tired items of clothing. There's also a wide variety of beads on offer. This is a fascinating shop which will throw something new at you every time you have a look around. Certainly worth 5 minutes of you time.

Unfortunately I'm not the most of artistic of people, nor do I have the patience to make my own…read morejewellery, my best mate on the other hand is obsessed and is constantly dragging me into this shop. As Tanya mentioned there really are buttons galore here, which you really just can't help looking at. When it comes to the beads available, they're rather traditional (think wooden), but I think it's rather nice that this place can still survive in this day and age. As Tanya said, you should really check this place out for yourselves, and who knows when the buttons on my Karren Millen coat fall off for the umpteenth time (inevitably causing me to loose them), I might be brave enough to buy some buttons from here and sew them on myself.

From the outside this shop is slightly unforgiving. The mood is certainly dark and gothic, with a…read morewall of old fashioned sewing machines right inside the window that stretched from floor to ceiling. You can't even see any of the clothes through the window, and have to go inside to see what they actually sell. Above the door is a skull and antlers in a strange pagan kind of welcome. Once inside, it's all a little bit confusing, because this shop really isn't anything like anything else on the high street. Think Topshop meets Blue Banana and you might almost be there. The outside theme of the brooding continues in the clothes, and you imagine that their target audience are people who write late-night poetry and really like Twilight. An extremely interesting shop from the outside, but sadly the products inside do not quite live up to the hype.

Love all saints clothing. Wanted to buy a leather jacket. Went to sale rack bc closest to stairs…read moreand had leather jackets. Multiple sales folks kept telling me to follow them to other leather jackets area. Brought me other ones and i explained i liked a style they brought others from full price rack. "But i like this one do you have in large?" "No follow me over here" (I didn't because was still looking) "How about this brown one we have more follow me over here" . (Still looking) Ok fine. "I think i like this one." Salesperson "Follow me over here" I get it if i liked. Just felt so upsold and high pressure sales force rather than enjoying browsing. I guess one could argue "being helpful" or "just showing you others" but it was oddly too quick to pull me from one rack. "These are too tight" "no they stretch" "i like the style no collar over here" "no these will have your size". I guess i didnt feel like pushing back. I guess a mgr would say "thats what i want, upsell them " But I went and looked at ones i wanted and got out to buy online. Oddly friend shopping downstairs in woman's said same and she left earlier. "They were too pushy" "I thought it was just me" I say bc mgr of shop should tell sales force to dial back the high pressure sales. Its too obvious. Make someone happy to browse vs high pressure sell and ill return for more sakes vs one hard sell. But hey you folks know your business. In fairness, maybe clear im a tourist here or maybe I'm not the target audience. Ill just buy online though so they lost a sale of leather jacket 200-350 and shirt i wanted (99). So tried them on, got my size and left bc i didn't want to have to feel passive aggressive upsell. Writing bc i like your stuff.

This is a shop inside the historic Cardiff Market. An old Victorian building that offers products…read moreand services from local traders. But poor, old Yan & Sons. I say this because if you enter the Cardiff Market from the St Mary's Street end then you'll go past a big Timpson branch who offer shoe repairs and key cutting and various other services. If you walk a little further and into the main market you'll see Yan & Sons perched on the left hand side offering much the same service. They're just smaller. OK, a lot smaller. But there's an up side to their size and flow of custom - a quicker, more personal service for you. They offer a while-you-wait service for their key cutting and shoe repairs and various other bits and bobs they do, which isn't really an issue seen as you're in the Cardiff Market, one of my favourite place to wander around. As with all the traders in the market, they are long-time experts in their field, so they will offer advice and guidance that you can trust.

You don't have to be Carrie Bradshaw to know the pains of broken heels. The love you feel for…read moreinanimate objects can be as strong whether you choose brand-spanking-new Manolo Blahniks or car boot sale treasure. Come to think of it, that could be a metaphor for life. This heel bar is owned and run by a friendly pair of brothers Andrew and John. They can fix up your favourite shoes and cut you a spare pair of house keys while you wait, or you can do your grocery shopping or grab a cuppa in the market's many cafes and then nip back for them. Amazing. I've also got a strange fascination with the noises that key cutting machines make too, not sure why, I just do.