I first discovered Monster Threads' clothing at their stall at Glebe Markets, a stall which I…read moresought out every weekend to check out their new designs and to see how many shirts/singlets I could afford that week (sadly, it was more often none than some). Discovering the Monster Threads shop in Newtown was fantastic - now I didn't have to refine my Monster shopping days to Saturdays! Their t-shirt, singlet and hoodie designs are intelligent, quirky and artistic, illustrated by artists from Europe, USA, Asia and Australia. Their jewellery is unique, quirky and affordable, my current favourite being a bendy limbed and tarnished Pinocchio hanging like a puppet from a long chain. You can buy Monster Threads products online, but a trip to their Newtown store is much more fun as you can completely immerse yourself in the world of Monster Threads, with pencil cases, wallets, plates, mugs, prints, toys, cards and wallets. Monster Threads now has five stores in Australia and New Zealand, which must mean that my love for them is not as original as their designs, but also that my options extend beyond Glebe markets.

Monster Threads is possibly my favourite clothing shop ever. With exception to the Women's clothes…read moreI seriously want everything in the shop. The style would not be to everyone's taste, but if you want cool, cute, crazy, arty clothes and stuff then Monster Threads is the shop for you. Some of the jackets and pants on sale are truly bizarre. I love them, but don't think I could wear them. I cannot stop buying the t-shirts though, they are fantastic, featuring fantastic designs of elephants, bears, aliens creatures, an array of cute monsters and all kinds of other innovative design. The level of imagination present in the stock at Monster Threads is truly impressive. Other than clothes they sell accessories, which are just as crazy and creative and home-wares like very weird mugs and all kinds of other beyond belief items. I hope Monster Threads is a great success as I will always be their customer.

I always expect Vinnies in Newtown to be already pillaged by the hordes of op-shoppers that come…read moreespecially to Newtown for the shabby chic. But I am always surprised, because there is always loads of cool stuff in there, if you have the capacity and heart to sift through. It's open relatively late so if you have nothing to do after a dinner out and need some amusement, then go and find something shiny and spandex from another decade in Vinnies and get a giggle from your mates. I found an awesome beaded necklace here that people comment on... I don't tell them it was from Vinnies! Okay, actually I do after a while because I think it's pretty cool. When I'm in there I often think, okay, when I need a particular item of clothing for a particular one use occasion I am going to come here and find it for next to nix. Somehow I always forget though. Anyway, if you are on a budget, then get to vinnies to get some rad clothes and support a charity.

I normally don't leave reviews like this, but this really needed to be said. Monday afternoon, I…read morewas shopping with a friend since I was in serious need of some retail therapy. I love to thrift shop since I'm only a casual on a budget and there's some really good finds in the Vinnies that I've visited before. While that still stands true, the customer service was a mess. To put it bluntly, my friend and I were racially profiled. I was in line with my purchases when a girl at the counter looked at me up and down and rudely told me to go to the girl next to her instead. I didn't want to cause a scene, so I said nothing and moved along even though I was already insulted. And the thing is, it didn't end there. My friend is a little darker than me, and she was purchasing something to. We were both in the line at the other girl's aisle, and my friend was only looking at something on the display when the first girl had the audacity to accuse her of stealing something. When we were in line. With our money at hand. Really? The lady serving us apologised for her coworker and my friend overheard a conversation between her and the manager about how it was that girl's second day. Still, that was utterly unacceptable. Good products. But maybe Vinnies should screen their volunteers better.

Need some new undies? While target and K-mart do cheap Bonds gear and other brands of underwear,…read morethis place has a bigger range, and the prices are cheap. Not drastically cheap, but cheaper than Myer. Depending on what you are after, sale stock will be quite reasonably priced. There is also a big range of bra's which is something that definitely don't come cheap anywhere else but here. I was lucky and found the exact type that I wear on sale here. I went back a few months later and they had a whole different range in, I suppose that's the way it goes with factory outlets. There is a full range of women's, men's and kid's underwear and some pyjamas, as well as sports clothes and tracksuits. Brands include Bonds, Berlei, Jockey, Holeproof, Slazenger and Everlast.

Nu+ Nan is a clothing retailer in Newtown which predominantly caters to women so there is not a…read moregreat deal I can write as due to the fact that I am not a football player (see the footy show for more detail) I do not wear women's clothing. However they do offer a very limited range of Men's clothes, but if you are seeking for a trendy look they are worth checking out. Their window display features a pair of man tights (Mights?), which are cut above the ankle and have a low baggy crutch. I don't think I could wear these in public, however they don't look bad on the mannequin. I did like a purple t-shirt they had on sale, which features a series of white sewn on patches with a chairman Mao theme. I didn't buy anything today but I would call in again. It would be nicer to see them expand on their menswear range.

This store ripped me off. I paid $100 for a pair of pants that fell apart at the seams, they would…read morenot refund my money or give a store credit even though the product was faulty. Do not go here they rip consumers off.

The staff at Newtown Dangerfield are as cool as the clothes. Apparently for some, a range of their…read moreclothes qualifies as dress-up costumes. On my most recent trip here a lady was asking the staff for Halloween dress up ideas. Where some might take incredible insult to someone coming and asking to borrow their wardrobe for a laugh, the staff were only too happy to help, offering up suggestions as to what could work the best. Their celebrity inspired shirts are cute and you can usually find a few nice dresses/skirts in here. It's my first stop for duffel coats/jackets and you can usually find a pretty nice selection of them on the sale rack. They have great accessories too, with hats, scarves, tights, beanies and kitsch jewellery going at pretty cheap prices.

Very nice staff, very cool clothes. Wish it was a bit cheaper, but heading there during a sale is a…read moregreat way to get a hold of some nice alternative clothes. I particularly recommend their denim overalls - very nice quality. If you're anything like me though, you won't buy much if it's at full price. Hold out for a sale, or head to Clear It! up the road for old stock at a discounted price.

I like Nina and Risa because it's full of things you haven't seen at every other clone shop in…read moreSydney. They have patchwork loose fitting pants and skirts that are very Janis Joplin, but in a newer, Thai'er way. Yep, this shop is full of Thai handicraft imports. That means there's a good balance of figurines and toys that are both cute and atrociously tacky at the same time. There are a lot of cat sculptures with long, skinny pins for necks. I enjoyed the kid's cotton t-shirts with animals that pop out e.g. a printed elephant with floppy ears. If you're in the market for some silver jewelry, the designs are intricate and the prices are low. Come to think of it, the prices are low on everything. Much of the clothing was 15% off on the day I stopped in.

Stocking a range of Thai Handicrafts from the tacky to the elegant, Nina and Risa is a bit of a…read morelovable hodgpodge. There's some gorgeous silver Muco jewellery - earrings of tiny handmade flowers balanced on long, thin wires - and some horrible ceramic animal-headed things. No, no idea. The clothes are the same, from dreadful hippy-reject stuff to simple cotton pieces. I did spy a lovely Hmong-fabric bag, there were toys and a rack of $10 silk scarves at the front. The staff were all smiles and so was I, despite the appalling Barbara-Streisand-terminally-ill warbling on the stereo.

I had a look at Premonition in Newtown today, I don't mind their clothes and and one of their T…read moreshirts, which has a really cool and unusual design. I find their clothes a bit hit and miss, but that's ok, because at least they are willing to sometimes push the envelope in what they sell and when you do this you're walking a fine line of what people will and won't like and what will suit different people's tastes. These days Premonition's clothes are leaning towards chic and for the most part it works, it's a bit of a shame though that the designs aren't as funkily experimental as they once were. Their clothes are on the expensive side, but they also do really good sales so I suppose it all balances out.

This is an ethical, sustainability conscious, handmade brand/store located in the heart of Newtown…read more Okay... many stores in Newtown have similar concept, what is so special about this store? Well, they print their own exclusive silks in collaboration with artists and designers and work with donated fabrics. Moreover, the products are made on-site by staff and students from refugee and new-migrant communities. Good quality, great cause, unique products!