There are a few places like this I've come across in Sunnybank. Little boutiques I discovered…read moreaccidentally, hidden among a crowd of less inviting shops, full of less interesting merchandise. Julia has done a great job with her collection; the store is a decent size and it's packed with loads of adorable dresses. Looking at the labels most of them are imported. The prices are average and while the quality of some of the garments strikes me as a little questionable (it's the vibe of the thing), it's a great store and one that I will certainly be returning to.

Gilmour's Comfort Shoes is a specialist shoe store catering for people with foot conditions. This…read moreshoe shop tries to be fun and fashionable but it's hard to combine these elements into orthopaedic footware. I found this shoe store back in the days where I was a waitress and had to stand on my feet nine hours a day. High heels were out of a question but thick soled sandals didn't match my work uniform. Gilmour's were able to provide a pair of strappy, low heeled solution. You may think that just because these shoes aren't very pretty, they'll make up for it by being cheap. On the contrary they're probably more expensive than your average shoe store but then again, you're looking at Birkenstocks, Hush puppies, Scholls and other manufacturers who have a reputation for producing comfort shoes. As a person cursed with hallux valgus whose feet are spreading wider by the year, Gilmour's Comfort Shoes is an indispensible health solution. However, my husband who has no feet issues also enjoys shopping here and has even found a perfect pair of sandals. So if you're in the Mount Gravatt area, this shoe store is definitely worth walking to.

It's a Hong Kong and Korean fusioned little clothing shop hidden between the toilets and the other…read morelittle restaurants in a corner of the ever busy, Market Square. Don't get me wrong... I love this place, it's fancy, pretty, clean and looks very couture. But when I browsed the clothing rack on the left and saw that a printed tee-shirt was $59 I started to do that awkward this store is a rip job thing with my face and body expression. Perfect for when the lady in the store approached me with a 'can I help you with anything?'. Priceless. So I browsed some more... they have nail polish, cute belts, hair clips, a whole bunch of accessories... on the other clothing rack there are cute little long tops or shirt dresses... either way with my first browse clocking up a $175 for a top, the rest was Yelping history. It's overpriced for Market Square... and I hope it does well... I just can't see myself buying anything there, plus they only have petite little size 6-10 outfits... so no go for me.

Finding a nice clothing boutique in Market Square was definitely not something I was expecting. A…read moresurplus of kimchi, chicken feet and adzuki beans yes, but not fashionable clothing. Surprise aside, this shop is pretty cute. They sell casual tees, brightly coloured dressy tops, cute denim and satin dresses and a variety of shoes. Ok, so the sizes are suited to the smaller frame, but are still worth having a browse through. Plus the shop itself is beautifully spaced out, so you don't find yourself jammed in next to fellow shoppers.

The thing that really grabbed me about this place is that they actually have a section where there…read moreare market stalls. Look, honestly, shopping centres really don't come anywhere close to the charm of the main street, but they do have a purpose. Like many of the Westfields, you pretty much know what you are going to get here, though the issue that I had was that sometimes getting out in certain directions (such as a direction that doesn't involve the bus stop) requires you to maneuver your way through a car park, so yes, this place really isn't all that pedestrian friendly.

Garden City's not my local, but every now and then we drive there for a change of scenery. It's big…read moreand busy and has a different feel to some of the other Westfield's in Brisbane. Take the piazza area, for example; Dicey Riley's in the afternoons and evenings is always buzzing with loud and happy people taking in the afternoon sun in the beer garden; Toscani's al fresco dining is doing a roaring trade and the cinema is attracting a crowd. Inside, there are some places we don't see in the other centres, small one-off clothing boutiques and jewellery stores, and big box retailers like Toys R Us, so yep, Garden City's worth a visit every now and then just to keep up and make sure we're not missing out on anything.

Blue Velvet is one of my favourite dress shops. They have the most beautiful range of cocktail…read moredresses for all occasions, from a casual weekend barbeque to a night out in clubbing on a day on the race track. Think sparkles, frills and lots of colours. Everything you need to make you feel like a princess for a special occasion. There is certainly plenty of sparkle, the store even has a chandelier! There are a few full length gowns that are quite pretty but my favourites are the cocktail dresses. They have plenty of small sizes too which can be surprisingly hard to find at small boutique shops. Great to browse through even if you don't have an event coming up. The service is also fantastic. Last time I was there, there was a 'Back in 5 mins' sign on the door however a very nice gentleman advised me that the owner would be back shortly and proceeded to explain the current specials.

I found this shop last week and I am in love! I felt like a kid in a candy shop. There are so many…read morecolours, textures and sparkles. I have a fairly small build and it is surprisingly hard to find small sizes sometimes. The dresses here are in a range of sizes, down to size 6. They have dresses for formals, bridesmaids and brides plus a range of cocktail and more casual dresses. The style is fun evening wear and simple but classy formal wear. The quality of the clothes at first glance is really good. Upon closer inspection, the materials of some of them maybe isn't the highest but then again the prices are fantastic so why not get a couple? In summary, affordable, fashionable and gorgeous dresses.

Pink On White Walls is a lovely little boutique in Graceville. Though, I do not purchase from them…read moreoften, it is a store which attract plenty of ladies of leisure in the Graceville area. It is a charming shop to browse through before or after brunch with the ladies. And sure enough, I often find groups of women chatting and buying up in this little shop. Why wouldn't they? They have gorgeous colourful tops and dresses, perfect for the Summer season. You won't find skimpy dresses for 18 year olds here. This store sells clothing that are fashionable and conservative. They carry rare labels as well as many Australia designer labels. Boo Radley, which is a fave of mine can be found here also! In addition to their lovely clothing options, they have a unique range of accessories. Many funky and vibrant and others rare and extremely unique. This store also sells wonderful things for the home such as beautiful pillows with made of handprinted fabric. This store is truly a delight for ladies who love a little light shopping in between coffees and chats in Graceville.

Louise, the owner has an amazing ability to purchase stylish clothing that actually looks good on…read morefeminine bodies (yes realy women's bodies). She is constantly changing her stock and gives great advice on how to choose the right piece for your body type. The accessories and homeware here also are impeccably chosen and matched. You will be very surprised by this delightful store.

What a popular shop this seems to be, especially for a place that doesn't boast anything too…read moreextraordinary. It's your garden variety, medium quality women's clothing store. They have some stuff I like, plenty that I don't and very eager sales assistants. It's pretty big so if you're bored and have time to do a thorough browse you're likely to find something you like, but don't go out of your way to pay them a visit.