Another Lewes 'dress agency,' (I.e. second hand clothes shop) the graffiti style sign really…read moredoesn't sum up the content/style of this shop. I'm guessing it's called rehab because you are 'rehabilitating' second hand clothes by wearing them again? Having been into Reload, another 'dress agency' where they were selling old Topshop cardies for upwards of £20, I was suspicious of the Rehab stock. Most of the items seemed to be priced between £40 and £60. I would feel a bit put off about paying that amount of money for second hand clothing, however my mum assured me that the labels they were selling were worth a lot more than that. There was a Betty Jackson dress for £60, and a lovely Ciel flower print dress with capped sleeves in the window. The lady in the shop was also very friendly and helpful. Rehab has gone some way towards 'rehabilitating' my opinion of dress agency shops.

According to the window, Roudabout is a 'dress agency.' It's basically much like a charity shop,…read moreexcept the clothes are expensive, and I suspect that people sell them to the owner rather than donate them, and the money doesn't go to a charity. But the haphazard rails of second-hand clothing are just like a charity shop. The problem with this place is that the clothes are just too much, considering they are second hand. There was a pleasant enough little cardigan in there, priced at £25, but it was originally from Topshop, where it probably cost £25 in the first place. I'm not going to pay the same amount of money for a worn item that I would pay for a new one, unless it was special or vintage or something. Especially not when there are several well-stocked charity shops in town where the clothes are a quarter of the price and the money is going to a good cause. There wasn't even any effort put in to making the stock look attractive, it was just all loaded onto the rails.

The best thing about this little shop is that it offers more choice than just what is in fashion,…read moreboth in colours and styles. The items cost more than the charity shops because the donors get a percentage of the sale price. Usually they are the things that you wouldn't donate to a charity shop because they may have cost a lot, so its nice to get something back on them.

This is a very bespoke and custom men's formal and evening wear shop, offering clothes to a high…read moreend gentlemen's market. While I found the service to be a little bit dismissive at times, I couldn't argue with the quality of the clothes on offer. Unsurprisingly, such quality does bring with it a very hefty price tag, befitting the designs available. As I sought to become a real man with the purchase of a suit, I was put off by the £200 price tag attached. I'm not saying it isn't worth it, I am sure it is. However, such prices are just too rich for my blood.

Paul Clark sells all the necessary items for a gentleman's outfitting and toilet. To your right as…read moreyou come in is an attractive display of Geo. F. Trumper products, including all the necessary shaving creams, brushes, razors, props, colognes, hair pomades, and so forth. The wall is decorated with hand mirrors, and natural sponges sit in a jar. Over by the counter there is a cabinet with vintage and new men's jewellery, such as gilt and mother-of-peal cufflinks. The rear of the shop is largely dedicated to clothing, millinery and other accessories. It's lovely stuff, the shop is put together very nicely, with a good eye and a coherent general aesthetic, which is traditional but still cool. The shop keeper likes to chat, and in such a small space if you aren't happy with that you might feel uncomfortable, but I would definitely recommend checking Paul Clark out. If you have a bit of cash this is a great place to find some swish goodies for yourself or the man in your life.

Gossypium is a fabric and cotton shop, specialising in cotton throws, clothes and the like…read more Ethically made, sourced and fairtrade, this is a great place to pick anything you need in terms of cotton. It seems a strange thing to focus on: I'm never sure what to look for when going in. However, it is a great place if you know what they stock. I had a quick look in when looking for some new clothes, and found Gossypium's stuff very nice. It looks very good on, although it is a bit stiff (100% cotton isn't very stretchy), and is a bit on the expensive side. Nevertheless, it is nicely made, often with quirky designs and the like, and a great addition to any wardrobe. I can't quite recommend Gossypium as much as I'd like to: the fairtrade and ethical sourcing here is commendable, but it also means you can push the price up. This is actually one of my bigger niggles: why do have to pay so much more for ethically sourced, fairtrade and organic stuff? I can't cost £2-3 each time to do all of that! Anyway, I like the sentiments, and the stuff on offer is great, if a little out of price range.

Selling organic, fair trade cotton yoga wear, bed lined and kids clothes, Gossypium is the kind of…read moreplace that attracts and reviles me at the same time. Obviously fair trade and organic = good. You can imagine that the people that shop there regularly have lovely, ethical, happy family lives. But something about the fact that they specialise in yoga wear, and that in my fantasy of the clientèle everyone is shiny and ethical and liberal, and probably bakes organic cookies with their happy healthy kiddies at the weekend, after picking them up from their bassoon lesson and taking them for a walk in the woods just makes me feel a bit sick. It's just a bit too smug. But then this negative reaction is probably just a manifestation of my unresolved middle-class guilt issues. That's one of the problems of being liberal and having a humanities degree from an era where everything is post-modern and 'meta' - you develop liberal sensibilities, but alongside it you develop a self-critical, self-reflexive awareness which means that you simultaneously feel smug and hate yourself for it. And then you analyse it in circular thought processes like these. It's very dull, and going into shops like Gossypium just dredges it all up when I could have been happy enough watching Gossip Girl and thinking about nothing. Er... anyway, back to Gossypium. The other thing about the target market is that they generally have a bit of money to spend, and, as part of their ethical lifestyles are more likely to splash out on a yoga top that will last them longer and therefore be less wasteful. As a result you are looking at about £20 for a plain tee, £40 for a patterned top, and so on. Plus they have started doing these boxer shorts which they dye after making them, rather than dying the fabric then putting them together - something about a less wasteful process, but the end result is, they look second hand. A bit gross for underwear items.

Richard is very creative. I love visiting. You can find very unique items. It is not genetic so…read morebrings back the magic of Narnia and beyond. Love live Lewes.

This place is a gold mine for people who like vintage clothing and ephemera. They stock all sorts…read moreof old odds and sods: vintage clothing; an impressive selection of old kids' books, such as Enid Blyton novels and complete Ladybird series; old pin badges; leather travelling cases; vintage crockery, and so on and so on. There was a copy of 'The Chap' magazine (produced in Lewes) on display in the menswear section, which set the tone for the rest of the shop. The guy that runs it is sweet, and obviously an enthusiastic collector. I'd recommend this place for an interesting present, or just a place to pass a bit of time!

What a great shop- a really nice combination of bright and stylish women's clothes and accessories…read morewith a second room filled with lovely kid's clothes and toys. There are items pilled everywhere yet it's easy to navigate and find things- a difficult balance to achieve. And, the owner has found that balance between cutesy and chic. You don't always notice it but those little balancing acts are hard to do- so credit to this shop! The women's section stocks Marimmeko dresses in fabulous prints, Orla Kiely clothing and accessories in more great prints, Cath Kidston accessories in more great prints! Cath Kidston extends into the kid's section with her polka dots and cowboy prints. They have camper shoes for mother's and soft flannel toys for the kid's and Linum fabrics for the house. Very nice.

The Laurels sells women's wear and accessories, homewares and kids clothes, as well as a few other…read moregifty bits and pieces, cards and fabric. They person who does the buying for the Laurels is obviously into patterns, as they stock a lot of Orla Kiely stuff, Cath Kidson homeware and Marimekko clothing. Personally I find Orla Kiely patterns a bit blobby, and Cath Kidson a bit too twee, but if you like that look then this place is great. It is certainly a stark contrast to shops like Flint who go in for the 'any colour as long as it is a variation of off white' look. The stock, being branded, isn't particularly cheap (the Marimekko dresses were around £150, despite being very simple designs), but the fact that they sell lots of little bits and pieces means this would probably be a good place to look for presents for mums/kids, etc.

I must be a huge phillistine, because as I was taking notes of this Marston Barrett, one of my main…read morepoints, was that it is an "upmarket H. Samuels" Well to back myself up. It is to an extent. I mean they sell watches, and jewellery, and lots of them. There you go, just like H. Samuel...O.K. I am a phillistine. But more than that, this shop is a really great place to get some actually nice, fancy jewellery for your loved one's and I would say the style is more mother/grandmother than contemporary/girlfriend kinda thing. As well as the delicate necklaces and broaches, they also have a selection of silver trays and other family airloom type items, or just everyday cutlery for some (depends on how posh you are!).

This is a really pretty jewellers. I love the muddy green painted front and lovely stained glass…read moretrim on the windows. They sell a mix of contemporary, vintage and antique jewellery in all its enchanting forms- rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets. I particularly like their art deco jewellery- they always have stunning brooches, earrings, pendants and bracelets all in the classic deco shapes in diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald. Very lovely to press my nose up to! I have been in to ask about their pearl necklaces (my mum was hankering after one for Christmas) and they were very friendly. Considering the chic factor in Lewes, the prices are reasonable.

Tucked away down a quiet side street, just yards from the Lewes Arms, the Vintage Shirt Company…read moresells period men's clothing. I was enticed in by an unbleached cotton bag in the window reading 'I [heart] Mr Darcy'. It's not typical of what the shop sells but it got me through the door. If you've ever fancied the young fogey look, this is the perfect place to kit yourself out. They have collarless shirts, baggy corduroy trousers with a waistline half way up your chest and braces to match. They also sell loose white flounced shirts as worn by Colin Firth to go diving into ponds in Pride and Prejudice and striped flannelette night-shirts and night caps that might grace a Dickensian Scrooge. Classic accessories include top hats and boaters, monocles, sock suspenders and maroon silk scarves with small white polka dots that were sported by ex-RAF types back in my 1950s childhood. The shop is an off-shoot of a theatrical costumier, not a fancy dress shop, so these are real clothes, made to authentic patterns in cotton, linen, wool and silk with prices to match. The Vintage Shirt Company is a unique shop doing what it does extremely well.

Nice double-fronted shop which stocks a good range of clothing. Lighting's a little doubtful. Easy…read moreaccess from car park at rear of buildings.