There was once upon when a time when a Ballyclare lass, looking an outfit for that special occasion…read morecould be guaranteed The Wardrobe would be able to provide her whatever she had in mind. They sold something for everyone (if you could afford it, as it can be rather expensive) but alas, gone are those days and the shop now seems to stock fashions for the older lady that I'm not even sure my Granny would wear. I will admit that they do sell a fabulous range of handbags and shoes, but their clothing seems to have gone well down hill. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this, my mums side of the family are from Ballyclare (nine kids altogether - five of which were girls and they all loved a pay day treat in this store) they all agree that it just isn't what it used to be. Sadly so, the other fashion stores in the town seem to have cornered the fashionable market stakes and The Wardrobe are left with the high end price tag, and some rather gaudy, 'wouldn't be caught dead in' trends. Now I will give them their dues, they're known for being a great stockist of 'Mother of the bride' outfits and the accessories I spied were fantastically beautiful. (See pictures) maybe I'm too young or my style is too alternative to appreciate the clothes here ... (I really don't think so though) but The Wardrobe just isn't what it used to be. Sadly it would appear the likes of Joli (- Fab! See review) or One have garnered the niche area of the market and left The Wardrobe lagging sadly behind.

My favourite one stop shop for wedding outfits, nights out & a little bit of glamour!…read moreGreat customer service, new stock all the time & a super Facebook page showing latest pieces! Have bought all my recent formal dresses here too!

This stunning little boutique is just what Carrick needed! In the current trend of high street…read moreshops closing their doors, this fab little shop has breathed new life into West Street, and Carrickfergus town centre as a whole. They offer a wide range of gorgeous dresses, shoes and bags, with some sale items too. The shop itself is beautifully decorated and it's a lovely place to spend some time (and money!)

DO NOT SHOP HERE!!!!!! I would give this shop zero stars if…read moretheir was an option. I purchased a dress here on 12th April 2019, however I did not like it on and returned it within the 7 day full refund period and was told the amount was too large to put straight back onto my card so would be done by Lisa herself that evening, its now the 29th May 2019 and I have still not received a refund as promised and they will not answer my calls or messages and have blocked me from Facebook. Totally unprofessional and Hannah one of their staff members was down right rude and ignorant and should not be allowed to speak to customers the way she did. On another note they have a really lovely girl called Bethany that works in store and I would like to thank her for all her help.

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.

I called in here basically because I wanted to have a nosy at the stock. I have no gala events or…read morepremiers coming up so I didn't need to hire a dress or a bag or a hat but it was nice to look at what was on offer in case I ever do. The outfits are very revealing and very glitzy - the kind of thing young girls wear to their formals now-a-days - there really wasn't much that I would choose to wear myself as a lot are very low cut at the front. The lady who works there is very nice and she told me that they will be getting new stock in in a few weeks and that I could try anything I wanted. The hire prices range from about £35 to £55 depending on whether you choose a ball gown or a formal dress. I fell sorry for the owners as I don't think this shop will do well purely because of its location - it is at the back of the arcade mall which is a very old office block part of Newtownards and I don't think it would get much passing trade. Dress hire is a good idea but it might do better in a busier, younger town or in Belfast itself.

No. 20 Frances Street has changed hands a great deal the past couple of years, and has a nice new…read morepaint job each time to go with it. Black, white, and now a lovely zingy blue. No prizes for guessing why that is... Lulu Blu is not my kinda shop, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. The clothes are electic, quirky and, well, interesting. Not the kind of thing I could carry off whatsoever. That, however, is not to its detriment, and these kinds of clothes shop are growing ever popular. You never know, maybe one day I'll deck that flowery coat with the colourful, yet random, buttons. Well, maybe not. With distinctive garments from the likes of Desigual and Custo, you know you'll be dishing out the dosh, but these designs are certainly unique. Plus, there's a fab sale on at the moment, up to 70% off! One final comment, this time on the customer service. The sales assistant was happily conversing with a customer (who was really into the clothes, might I add), when she noticed my sister and I making for the door, empty handed. She abruptly stopped mid convo with this other enthused customer, and dashed towards us, asking "Are you girls ok there?". Bless her cotton socks. Four stars for the lovely sales assistant alone.

Yeah, not really my kind of shop. It looks good from the outside and that is what always gets me in…read morethrough the doors. They have a sale on so I wanted to look and see if I could pick up some bargain jeans - as it turns out the sizes in jeans are all very small - something to do with the designer brand names. They sell a big range of Desigual clothing - mostly coats, skirts and tops - this is a brand I have never liked and actually find hard to wear. My friend got her now ex boyfriend to buy her one for a few hundred pounds and while it is nice on her retro body i would just look like I was trying to hard. The mismatch of colours and designs is not my thing at all and the price tag is phenomenal - £300+ for a coat! I've been to a shop in Italy stocking this brand for way way cheaper but I still didn't buy anything. Go buy something if you want something different looking and expensive. The staff are nice but the sale wasn't great and the sizes are smaller and the clothes are too expensive. Not for me.

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!

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.

Despite all the good reviews I've read about Joli, I was slightly disappointed by my experience…read more One article I recently read about it highlighted the proprietor's desire to provide a high level of customer service. Well I don't know if the sales assistant was having an off day, but I wasn't greeted, spoken to, or even smiled at, and I did feel slightly let down. There were only two other women in the shop at the time, so it wasn't as though I was asking a too much of her. Anyways, on a more positive note, the clothing is pretty stunning...the colours are gorgeous, and the prices are perhaps not as high as you might think. I didn't spot anything I particularly needed, but I did see a few key pieces for A/W 10...cute cardies, printed skirts, chunky knits and streamline dresses. The garments truly live up to their name, with 'Joli' meaning pretty in French. The entire upstairs was dedicated to sale stock, with up to 70% off summer wear. Kids clothing, menswear and womenswear are all incredibly discounted. Again, nothing particularly caught my eye, but it's definitely worth a look nonetheless. I can only hope that if I was to pay Joli a visit again, I would be greeted with a slightly better level of customer service. However, those clothes really are beaut, and if you're into your eclectic fashion, you'll find Joli pretty hard to beat, especially around these parts...

Designer fashion in Ballyclare? Who'd a thunk it? I *heart* *heart*…read more*heart* this shop. Ok, some of the stuff I wouldn't pay the money for in a zillion years (I'm a vintage lovin' girl) but some of the clothes in this lovely store are far too good to miss! Especially if you make down while there's a sale on - win! As I entered my eyes darted here and there spying goodies I couldn't wait to look at properly, some of the items were just screaming cool! Alongside the inevitable range of trendy jeans and gladiator sandals there were some very original pieces especially the SkunkFunk range. I'd say most people wouldn't be caught dead in some of it, but I loved it! Joli is worth the visit even if it is just of ogle over these amazing, well tailored clothes. I trooped upstairs to the sale section *woohoo!* and noticed the brilliant Quicksilver canvas trolley/school bag ...What? Do my eyes deceive me? £10! Yes please! It'll be brilliant for travelling, especially in airports etc. It's the perfect size for hand luggage and has straps attached which you can swap to when it's not convenient to pull it by the handle. I'm impressed. Wish I'd found this before I went to Romania and spent £30 in TK Maxx on a bog standard school bag to carry my camera! But anyway, bag mentally bought I continued on to their sale where everything is divided in to sections by colour coded price labels and by size. Perfect! I tried a different few things on, aided by the nice shop assistant, and although I didn't buy anything I certainly wanted to splurge my cash! I'll be back here when the shopping fund is topped up and can take some damage! So bag in hand I depart leaving all the lovely clothes behind *sad face* they can eagerly await my return with Victor Visa!