Cowbridge high street is filled with little boutique clothing shops that tend to cater for the over…read more30s 'ladies who lunch' type that makes up the population so it's refreshing to see an outsider like 'Blushbaby' in its midst. Blushbaby is the shop equivalent of a rebellious younger sister with the tongue piercing and a vodka stash in her wardrobe. It stocks Christian Audigier, Victoria Beckham jeans and a whole host of other rhinestone embellished goodies. In general it boarders on the 'chavy chic' so it's perfect for orange faced WAGs in training. Not exactly my cup of tea, though I really like some of the evening dresses and find it's great for letting my inner footballers wife run riot for a bit.

Blushbaby may be pitching to the younger generation, something that is unusual for clothing shops…read morein Cowbridge, but it most definitely has limited appeal! Instead of the cool and affordable urban street-wear that you find at Amici, here you will find the kind of designer gear that the wanabes want to wear, regardless of the silly price tags. It's all glitz and kitsch dangling off the rails at Blushbaby! It makes me wonder sometimes where we are heading when shops like this survive the recession and other, more commendable shops like Halcyon Daze, (The Little Shop of Calm), look set to close their doors forever in a month or so... Why? The Little Shop of Calm stocks dresses that are about a quarter of the price and have a load more class... so why aren't people buying their gear from there? We seem to be over-awed by the designer label these days, and are somehow seemingly rendered unable to distinguish between a tag and taste! Perhaps Blushbaby would be more appropriately entitled Bamboozled!?! I don't get it!

Hippy havens is what I so lovingly call shops like these - I feel I can say that because I…read moreabsolutely love this store and any like it (I believe in another life I abstained from wearing shoes, lived in a commune and wove baskets for a living). I guess I also adore shops like these because I hate pretentious shopping experiences with blaring dance music and blank-faced shop assistants (I guess I'm getting older?). Little Shop of Calm is indeed is an oasis in the surrounding bustle of Cowbridge High Street. With so much in this boutique to catch your attention, I could easily spend an hour in here, browsing the clothing, jewellery, bags, as well as the ranges of oils, knick knacks, crystals, and crafts from around the globe. If you're interested in attending concerts or poetry readings or taking yoga, Tai Chi, or other classes, check out their website for more information.

Halcyon Daze Little Shop Of Calm has changed its name, but I can't remember whether this is the new…read morename or old... I always simply refer to it as Halcyon Daze. I've never been very good at remembering names and so it's a wonder that I remember this bit! I wish I could remember the name of the manager that runs this shop, because she's very lovely and deserves to be referred to by name. But I can't! This is the second Halcyon Daze, opened after the success of the Cardiff branch. The owners still man the one in Cardiff, hence the need to employ a manager for the Cowbridge outlet. I'm glad they do. This shop is much smaller in size, but still manages to pack things in. They stock a range of bohemian clothing and accessories, and the usual ornaments and healing artifacts. They also possess a wealth of information. They've got a great notice board as well as a business card table, where it's possible to find out about all of the local alternative therapists. If there isn't a card for what you want, then it's worth asking the staff, as they are incredibly knowledgeable.

Once voted 'best clothes shop in Wales' by the Western Mail, Havana Boutique is yet Jewel in the…read morecrown of Cowbridge. Knowing they stock Fenn Wright Mason I headed there to buy a gift for my mum's birthday just after Christmas. The sale was spectacular, I picked up a gorgeous printed dress for under £50 (reduced from over £150) and as a treat for being such a good daughter a Betty Jackson dress for £45. I had to be physically removed from a Nicole Farhi cardigan reduced all the way down to a quarter of it's RRP. One of my favourite shops for miles, the prices are just far too good for designer bargain hunters and the quality isn't compromised. I almost feel a pang of sadness recommending it to you in case you take all the bargains for yourself...

You know what? I've been thinking - it's great that Cowbridge offers a more mature league of female…read moreshoppers the opportunity to buy exquisite clothing in a beautiful setting. Although the boutiques aren't generally aimed at women of my age and social standing (a broke-a*s 28-year-old girl with no disposable income to speak of), I am glad they're around. And so it brings me to Beckis - a designer clothing shop nestled in the high street that boasts ranges from Frank Walder, Basler, and Nicole Farhi, among others. Although the decor reminds me of a 1970's South Beach hotel room, with its pink carpet and wicker furniture, it strangely makes for a soothing shopping experience. If you hit when the sales are ripe, you can grab items like a Nicole Fahri top for less than £55. Bargain! And don't forget to have a look upstairs, as that's where all the shoes are displayed.

There are a lot of female clothing stores in Cowbridge, most of which are very much aimed at the…read more'mature women', with very few exceptions. Thankfully Becki's is one fo the few shops that carries labels that twenty somethings would consider buying, although they would have to be rather well heeled twenty somethings if they are going to be able to afford to shop here! This isn't usually so much of an issue in this extremely affluent area, but a recent visit to Cowbridge revealed that retail sales are down considerably at the moment. (I am gutted to hear for instance that The Little Shop of Calm won't be renewing its lease in November... and they are one of the very few shops that stocks realyy good affordable clothing for people under thirty!) All boutiques tend to have good sales. Becki's is no exception. You can expect to find up to 70% off the reatail price, and perhaps even more of a reduction towards the closing stages of the sale... I love Cowbridge in sale season!

Despite the fact that Cowbridge has a number of charity shops, none of them are particularly good…read morefor books. This would have made life pretty darned difficult if it weren't for the fact that Cowbridge Book Shop is a brilliant little book shop, and more than made up for other deficits when I lived in the area just over a year ago! This place is a gem. They try to keep a good stock of new fiction releases in store, but will order you anything you want, phoning you the moment it arrives. They will email you if you prefer. A great service from a great shop. The people in here are lovely. Pay them a visit next time you are in this neck of the woods!

Cowbridge is one of those places I escape to for a quiet date away from the madness of city life. I…read morelike going for a good meal, and pottering about the shops. John and Kyrie MacLean run this traditional Bookshop in the ancient rural market town of Cowbridge. It is a really lovely little shop, and not just because it sells my favourite thing: BOOKS! The shop has all the intimate benefits of smaller bookshops, sells new books across topic areas from fiction and biography to history and languages. They also have new electronic technology on hand to help you find that special book. Magic.

What an amazing place, how come i'm only just found it. Its a day trip to Cowbridge all by itself…read moreand affordable. Best furniture i've seen for a long time, and the customer is made to feel very special. You Must go there

Fantastic place to visit. It has new quirky craft items, toys, fresh eggs and plants as well as…read morefurniture and vintage crockery etc. It's also a lovely place to have a coffee, a bowl of soup or even a cream tea.

Sigh. Why do I go in shops like these? It's only a tease, I tell you, and I love every insufferable…read moreminute of it. Shoe fetishists beware: Jon Ian will seduce your senses and satisfy your urges, as well as clear your purse of any available funds. With designer shoes from Moschino, Lulu Guinness, Ugg and Anya Hindmarch, there's something for every gal here: studded heels (yes, please), cowboy boots (sure, why not?), leather flats (oh, go on then!) - if you're here with your partner, just tell him to leave and come back in two hours. That should be enough time, I reckon. They don't just carry shoes, either. Jon Ian also carries umbrellas, bags, belts and purses so you can get spoil other parts of your body besides your feet. If you're in Cowbridge and have an urge to spend some money, come here first. You won't regret it.

Jon Ian is like mecca for shoe lovers. A good, well stocked boutique shoe shop, choc a block with…read moredesigner names like Lulu Guiness and Armani. They also stock genuine proper lovely Uggs .(I know most men hate seeing these on their girlfriends but they're here to stay boys so get used to it) I fell in love with a polka dot pair of Italian leather kitten heels that came in at just under £170. They fitted my awkward size 5 1/2 feet like a glove. Sadly, when I returned with ample funds to buy them someone with excellent taste had snapped them right up. Don't go before payday, it'll be torture.

I love you Vivienne Westwood. And I love that there's a shop in Cowbridge that carries your line of…read morehandbags. Stemming from a teenage fixation and that has yet to wane, my love of bags draws deep. Apart from the Vivienne Westwood range, I have to admit this isn't really my kind of store - the Rococo-style black beaded chandeliers, matching feathers, along with an abundance of mirrors smacks of tawdriness, but if you're after expensive bags from Radly, Lulu Guinness, Mulberry, as well as matching purses and umbrellas, Et Cetera is definitely worth a stop. This boutique on Cowbridge High Street is evidently geared toward an older generation of ladies who are loaded (like many of the other shops on this fair market town), but if you're a handbag aficionado, I'm sure you'll find a new favourite here.

They know what they are doing at the curiously named Gibson & Bond (Men & Ladies Casual…read moreContemporary Clothing). They have some great stock that you'd be hard pushed to find elsewhere in the area, but with a price tag to match! I really like the look of the place and appreciate what they are trying to achieve, but I do think that they give off a little bit of a whiff of trying too hard, and of not always pulling it off altogether... if you know what I mean!? Perhaps the tag line; 'Gibson & Bond - A shop that strives to be different" gives the game away a little? I have a feeling that if they did a little less striving and a bit more relaxing into their mode they would be a touch more classy and a little less... well... obvious! Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile shop which carries some eminently desirable things of beauty. If you have a big fat bank balance I highly recommend that you pay them a visit!

Bought a wonderful grey dress for xmas ,yes expensive £200 but will never go out of fashion and…read morevery unusual have not seen it anywhere else..Excellent service not pressured to buy ,fab leather coats will go back soon.Visit if you want to buy something different.