It gets really cold in winter and sometimes you have to forgo appearances for warmth and so I turn…read moreto Peter Alexander for my pajamas. Why pay full price when you don't have to? You will find sleepwear for both men, women and kids, boxers for guys and girls, knickers, slippers and a range of gift items. Perfect for teenagers. The prices here are fantastic and if you like prints and colour then you will find something here for at least 30% off. Most of the time the discounted product has additional discount on it. I once got a $80 pajama set for $25. The prices here are incredible. The sleepwear is good quality and there is a huge range of product in store always. The staff are very helpful and sometimes the manager actually wears pajamas to work. I suppose she can get away with it because these pajamas often border on the line of what is called 'lounge wear' and she is promoting product in store. Either that or can't be bothered getting dressed for work. Her service is exceptional though.

If you're looking for a bargain and a great day of shopping then Dressmart is the place for you!…read more Dressmart is a mall that houses over 100 stores and offers up to 70% off the normal retail price, all year round. No need to wait for end of season sales to be able to spend up large! My last trip to Dressmart I was looking for work clothes and ended up buying three dresses, a blouse, and a singlet top for $60 - a feat that just wouldn't happen anywhere else. However, my real find of the trip was the chunky wedge sandals I found in Glassons. Down from $59.99, I ended up purchasing them for $10, and when I took them to the counter found out accessories were buy one get one free, so ended up walking away with a great black flower hairclip for free as well! Talk about a happy shopper! Though predominantly a clothing outlet, Dressmart also houses eateries, sports shops, shoe shops, health and beauty stores and book stores. The only thing that is missing is a jewellery store, but when you're saving so much money on everything else I guess paying full price for jewellery isn't so bad! Located near Auckland transport stations and with lots of customer parking and a free shuttle service operating Monday-Friday between the mall and Auckland CBD, despite being in Onehunga Dressmart is easily accessible.

You can get some real bargains here I've found. I love my Nike running shoes and shorts which I…read moregot from the Nike shop. The shorts were about $30 and the shoes, I think were not much over $100 and are so comfortable. Since I've had them, I've kept up regular running which is an achievement! My flatmate also got a really good new outfit for a wedding at Working Style and saved a lot of money on good quality clothes. The service here was also excellent. Also Dress smart Onehunga is home to the only outlet shop for Peter Alexander in New Zealand! Dress Mart really is the place to visit if you want to save money on branded items. It gets really busy on weekends though, so either be prepared, or come early. Sometimes I find myself getting a bit disoriented inside trying to find a particular shop, but that might just be me!

Northbeach is really expensive but they sell the most trendy stuff. They are always coming up to…read moreyou and asking "do you need any help" which is kinda nice but can be annoying sometimes. They are really helpful and smiley and I find there are no problems when I shop here. They really should lower the prices tho. It's really expensive there. And I do find sometimes that they don't have what I went there for. But in all a good shop to get your stuff at

I was pretty excited to hear about North Beach finally being a bit (A LOT) closer to home when it…read moreopened up opposite Sylvia Park. The store is big and spacious and there's a lot to look at. They could probably fit loads more stock on the floor but the flow of the store is great. They've got a wide range of denim here for women, and since I live in jeans, it was a great sight. North Beach is also home to all your favourite surf brands and you're bound to find what you're looking for from wallets and dresses to boardies and watches. My first visit here was pretty good and I made a very nice investment in a new bag. The staff here seem really chilled out to me and are really nice to talk to, not overbearing but always willing to lend a hand, which is how I prefer to be served when I'm out and about. They also stock my favourite New Zealand brand, RPM, and this branch is one of the only two surf stores I go to in Auckland to check them out, because their service is far better. Unless you're after something specific, you could easily spend a good half an hour or so in here just browsing, especially since you's have to walk across the road from the mall, or drive to get there- may as well make the most of your trip! I for one am looking forward to making a trip here in the winter for some Huffer knits and Wrangler jeans- its your perfect all-season store.

Great stock, American brands, amazing prices, all discounted below what it would normally cost in…read moreother stores. They have a good loyalty programme and you get discounts on your birthday. The staff are so good- friendly, knowledgeable and so helpful. They have the best priced Dickies I have seen also.They also have American snack food- yummy.

The first time I came to the Cotton On Pop Up I thought that it was temporary. Months later, it…read morestill stands and people go there by the truckload. It's pretty handy to have at the Supa Centre since its only a minute's drive from the Westfield mall. The Cotton On Pop Up sells a combination of clearance clothes from $5 and also has a section of new season clothes in the mainstream stores. I'm not sure why this is, but I suppose its a good option to have for customers spending up large here. It's all the Cotton On brands rolled into one, with a great Typo area filled with discounted canvas prints (the best bargain in there!), Cotton On Body with more clearance bras and undies than you could imagine, and Rubi Shoes' discounted heel, wedges and flats. It takes a bit of a hunt to find the good stuff but the bargains are everywhere. The only downside is that everyone will be wearing the same top the following week. The man's area is filled with $10 long sleeve shirts, a pretty amazing price, and other end of line stuff worth a look, so you don't have to ditch your male halves to check this place out.

What a lovely, quaint shop filled with all kinds of treasures, new and old. During my visit, a…read moregorgeous little girl shows up, and the owner proudly introduces her as her granddaughter, Audrey - the shop is named after her. Such a cute thing! Whether you like an antique tea set, a porcelain ornament, some bunnykins memorabilia, a sweet scarf, a lovely piece of vintage furniture, or a nice chat with some friendly old ladies behind the counter, this is really the place to come. It has a lovely family vibe, rather than a posh, pretentious one often experienced in other antique places. It's a great place to explore next time you have a craving for something a little different.

As far as Hospice Shops so I like to frequent them, I like to donate clothes to them and I like…read morewhere the profits go, to Hospice. More than one family member of my extended family has used the service of Hospice and we appreciate the amazing work this organization does. So as far as Blockhouse Bay Hospice Shop goes, this is a lovely one. Very room inside where the racks aren't too cluttered. I liked the bargain boxes outside and had a good rifle through them on this hot afternoon. Prices are right, cheap, and there is loads of stuff here, clothes, nick nacks, household effects, shoes, pet gear, you name it and the best thing is that there is always a different bargain to find because that's just the ever changing nature of op shops. Thanks to the hard working, really friendly volunteers who man these shops too!

What a beauty little hospice with two areas of home decor stuff, crafty things, a small kids…read moresection, men's women's and kids clothes, frames and pictures and more. Located on the main drag in Blockhouse Bay township it's easy to get to. Parking is out front if you're lucky or nearby. Did I mention the ladies in there are dolls who seem to enjoy volunteering there and are very happy to converse about the weather and life in general. What a wonderful addition to Blockhouse Bay and long it may live. Feel free to donate anytime. :)

If I'm going to visit Country Road, this branch is by far my favourite, and I almost always pop in…read moreif I'm shopping at Botany (which is a great mall, with lots of outdoor spaces). Country Road Botany is a lovely, spacious store that's large without being overwhelming, and with a layout that's easy to navigate. It also has entrances from inside and outside the mall, making it all the more tempting to visit, and is located nearby other women's fashion stores, so you can easily try another one if you don't find what you're looking for in here. The nicest part of this Country Road is the service though - it's a light-touch approach to sales, which is such a relief after you've been harangued with endless "So how's your day going/Having a day shopping are you/What are your plans for the weekend?" in other shops.