I find this shop to be incredibly tacky and cheap, and the products just fall apart. The store is…read moreincredibly cramped and they appear to have tried to get as many products as possible squished in. The last time I came in here many of the jewellery was on the floor (would you really want to put earrings in that had been trampled on? Surely far from hygienic). On the topic of earrings, I can never understand why so many people decide to have their ears pierced here, it's incredibly busy, and on top of that a staff member does it in the shop window (each to their own I suppose). If you're under 14 you may like this place (pocket money would cover the price of most products), if not head to Accessorize (trust me you'll thank me for it.

A larger branch of the ever popular Clairs Accessories which is great for all your accessories…read more From hair clips and handbags to makeup and rings there is a style to match every outfit. Also offers a ear piercing service but I must say I dont like how its done in the window for all to watch. Staff here are always helpful and offer great styling advice.

I wish this shop stocked men's clothes! Now I don't know if…read moremore mirrors are being manufactured or if it's the result of a subtle advertising campaign but I'm sure more men nowadays are taking more pride in their appearance. It would be a godsend, essentially, if places like RagTrade could be of service to us. The idea is spot on. A shop that gathers, in their own terms, pre-loved designer women's wear. Another delightful name they call themselves is The Recycle Boutique. Think modern feminine Dickensian, with a kind of sexy urban twist. The website, the flyers and of course the shop are all very poetic and friendly, offering services to customers of all age, budget and occasion. With regular discounts and sales they must be, I am sure, popular with the local student market. Indeed it is shops like this, and thus the writing of reviews about, that I sometimes feel I'd have made a pretty good woman. A shopaholic, but woman nonetheless. Roll on the man's Rag Trade!

Rag Trade is simply a lovely, and functional idea. From the outside it looks like yet another…read moreboutique, but their concept is just great. Basically they are a dress agency, who you bring your unwanted designer clothes to, and they price it and put it in their shop for sale. Hence, anyone wanting to find some unique price slashed designer pieces, try here! The clothes stay on the racks only for 7 weeks, in which they get lower in price as the weeks go, if the clothing doesn't sell. After that 7 weeks, they go to charity. So if you are a seller, and if your item does sell in the shop, you either get 40% of the sale price in cash, or 50% of the sale price, in store credit. Ideal for label lovers, or those who are just looking for something non high street. The 7 week rule ensures the stock changes regularly, and I'm really glad that a shop like this seems to be sustaining itself through the more difficult economic times. It's quite inspiring.

Small branch of the accessories store. It has pretty much everything you could possibly want or…read moreneed although it doesn't have the same range as larger stores. The staff are polite and friendly. There isn't much room inside though so getting a pushchair around is fairly problematic.

A bewildering (to me at least!) array of brightly coloured accessories for teenage girls. I went in…read morethere yesterday to buy some Christmas presents and was spoilt for choice. Fortunately the staff are very helpful and ready to advise on the best gifts to buy for particular age groups. The shop is crammed full of jewellery, make up, socks, scarves, hair slides, brushes and hair pieces, bags of all kinds and so much more! It can get very busy and crowded - I actually went back half an hour later as I couldn't get near to what I was trying to look at; the second time was easier.

This outlet branch of Claires accessories is located in the easy to find Mcarther Glen shopping…read morecentre just off the M4. It has plenty of close free parking. If you have a daughter who loves Claires then this one is worth a visit. It follows the same style as most of the others, It is very small in size which can make it cramped, it sells all the same bits and bobs and has all the same price tags. However when you get to the till you will find a huge 30% off everything you have bought. Dont get me wrong some of the stuff works out expensive even with the 30% off but if you are going to have to buy these things anyway you might as well make the saving.

Beauty Queen Cosmetics is an expansive store for people of Afro-Caribbean descent on Stapleton…read moreRoad. It is nevertheless patronised by people of all nationalities and ethnicity, and stocks a phenomenal range of products. Shelf after shelf of beauty products and toiletries stretch from the floor to the ceiling, with everything crammed in so tightly that there's barely room for the aisles. What I like about this store is that if I can't buy something elsewhere, then I can pretty much guarantee that these guys will have it. I also love the fact that I don't recognise over 50% of the products. There are brands here that I've never heard of, and all sorts of stuff that I never even knew existed. Beauty Queen Cosmetics offers the shopper with an anthropological experience as well as the opportunity to indulge in a vanity induced bout of consumerism.

Beauty Queen Cosmetics stocks an amazing variety of hair care commodities and specialises in…read moreAfro-Caribbean hair products. Along with the shampoos and conditioners, you can find a massive selection of styling and moisturising products all at very reasonable prices. They also have a wig boutique and an enormous range of hair extensions. Scarves, scrunchies, dyes, combs and brushes complete the range of just about every conceivable hair product you can imagine. Service is very helpful and friendly.

Imagine a fairy tale like world all placed within one shop. Well this shop is almost just that…read more Pretty handbags; jewellery, accessories, ballerina children's outfits, loads of fairy gifts and accessories, scarves, boxes, and a wonderful wardrobe that I so want! But unfortunately I think that is just for display in the shop. Based in small area near Cardiff called; Llantrisant where it has a fair few shops, cafe's, Llantrisant Parish church, Dr William Price stands in the middle of this town as a statue and apparently he used to live in the Butchers Arms Coffee and Gallery place, Llantrisant Castle, The Common, The Model House and Craft design centre, and a female, clothing shop called Pink Zebra. I love this shop as soon as I entered the upstairs area I felt like it was a haven to die for! I recommend it to all women and young females. It would great to spoil your daughter or grandchild in, she'll love it!

I'm not sure what exactly inspired this name (historical reasons perhaps), as this place is…read moreanything but a dairy. Down stairs is full of jewellery, which is similar to accessorize in price but rather more sparkly in style. Additionally they have a range of handbags, which whilst slightly unique, appeared rather expensive (£50-80) for what they were, which was very WAGish in my opinion. Upstairs is a whole different kettle of fish, it practically turns into a fairy kingdom, which is surely any little girls fantasy.

i Claudius is a vintage clothing and fancy dress shop, so you can go there to pick up a pair of…read morebell-bottomed flares, a full body bee costume, or accessories such as masks and wigs. When I last walked past the shop, the mannequin outside appeared to be a cross between a terrorist and a clown, with a sign strung around its neck saying 'Make peace not war'. Inside the window the mannequins were modelling a range of the shop's animal costumes. The staff are on the ball, and offer an alterations service if items on display don't fit you - but they can be a bit pushy at times. The shop's emphasis definitely seems to be on fancy dress over vintage, nowadays, whereas in the past (I think) it was the other way around.

Fantastic. First of all; a good fancy dress shop is hard to come by these days, and secondly; this…read moreis a brilliant one. I must offer a warning to start with; the models outside are terrifying. Honestly. They change from time to time, depending on the mood of the shop owner, but were sinister, nasty, horrifying models the last time I went. A peculiar, pale butler holding a tray with a model of a heart on it stood on the right hand side. On the left there was a freakish monster, all guts and entrails, that looked like a cross between Frankenstein's monster and Predator. I found it worrying that kids weren't at all bothered by these terrifying objects while I needed medical attention. If you do make it inside, the shop is brilliant. Not going for such a mainstream audience, the costumes are original and novel here. The Wolf costume particularly impressed me. This is what costume shops should be, quirky and original with a dose of the weird.

I really like their clothing and they often have new items in, which is nice as there's always…read moresomething good! They have a nice selection of seasonal handbags and accessories and I got a lovely belt from here too. I definitely recommend looking at their sale rack as I've seen items I've bought for under half price (which is a great deal)!

Butterfly Fabrics claims to be 'unique in all aspects', and this is in the most part true.... They…read moreare a pretty special little shop that stocks some really gorgeous fabrics. This is hardly surprising considering how long they have been in business; established in 1989, they have been around for over twenty years, and it shows. What's interesting about this is that they opened up shop just before the previous global recession, and having weathered this, they possess the foresight and experience to get through the current one. Butterfly Fabrics is a more upmarket material shop and stocks designer fabrics such as Liberty and John Kaldor, quality silks from India and China, as well as stocking a wide range of craft fabrics for patchworking and quilting. Inevitably the sell all of the associated items to go with this, including patterns for clothes as well as patchworking, along with threads, needles, buttons etc etc... They also stock sewing machines, fabrics for fancy dress and a range of fashion accessories. This is a delightful little shop, (that actually isn't that little), and if you are looking to buy some special material I highly recommend it.

Butterfly is the most expensive fabric shop on city road. My general choice would be Terry's…read morefabrics for the range and lower prices. If you're a textile design student or a seam person you will appreciate the more ordered sorting and layout to Butterfly fabrics, the sorting starts at the books of patterns and continues to the wheels of fabrics. If your need a fancy dress or starting tailoring and fashion this is a must see store. Satin, Silk, cotton and various other materials in a multitude of patterns are available and in stock. They also sell all the craft accessories you could ever need with roles of thread and sewing equipment and supplies. The materials here are more stylised and meant for serious tailors and dressmakers, art people and design students. Invariably the shop is generally quite so you will have all the expert advice at hand from the staff.