I used to walk past Couples without even looking in as I thought it somehow gave off a 'middle age'…read morevibe. How wrong was I? Yes, there are some clothes that only ladies of a certain age should consider, but Couples is also jammed with lovelies from St Martins, Desigual and lots of little independent labels. You can spend as much or as little as your budget allows as some of the ranges are very affordable while others are for special occasions only. Even the cheaper ranges look more expensive than they actually are as they're unusual and not what you'll see in chain stores. Couples also has some funky shoes and if you've got a wedding to go to, they have fascinators and wraps too. Definitely worth a visit if you want something just a little bit different to all the other fashion dollies on the high street.

I love this shop................i particularily like the way the assistants suggest things to try…read moreon, but then leave you to it. They are not at all pushy, and also very honest. I have worn everything I ever bought here, and I cant wait to see what has come in for winter 2011.Going up North coast for weekend, and a definite trip into couples

Moores is a traditional kind of small department store which has successfully managed to move with…read morethe times. It still retains the genteel air of an older department store, with plenty of clothes that only men and women of a certain age would wear. However, there is also lots of fashion and homewares which young and young at heart shoppers will love. There's everything from make up - Clarins and Clinique - to Canterbury rugby gear; funky costume jewellery to beautiful scented candles. Moores also has an Accessorise and Monsoon concession, a toy shop and a lovely café. The café sells only home made food that tastes how it should do and is always very busy so you might find a bit of a queue. On the top floor are kids clothes and also a toy shop which is well stocked with lego, dolls, games and jigsaws. So you can always bribe the kids with a pocket money price toy if they behave while you browse on the other two floors. They have also recently opened a Bear Factory where you can create your own bear. You can see the stuffing being churned around inside a big machine, which I find a little freaky but the kids love it.

I love Moore's. The quality of their clothing is great. They also do lovely shoes especially Jane…read moreShilton range. They have a monsoon section as well as some french connection and esprit. There are also perfumes and accessories downstairs in the mens department. Overall a great store.

If like me you never have a huge amount of time to shop for clothes and shoes, then Tempest is your…read morefriend. It's a great concept of putting lots of fashion labels under one roof. You've got: Miss Selfridge Exhibit Warehouse La Senza Faith Oasis Quiz Fuse So, a last minute invitation and nothing to wear but not a lot of time? Get yourself into Tempest. Of course, each shop is small so you won't find the same ranges as you will in full size branches but there is always plenty of choice. Any little niggles? Just that you have to pay for pieces from each label at their own separate till. So if you happen to make up an outfit of a top from Warehouse, jacket from Oasis and trousers from Miss Selfridge, you have to pay in three separate places. It's only a little niggle. I still love Tempest.

What a great find this little shop is. Despite my advancing years, I prefer to spend my money on…read morefashion rather than practical clothes so when I am forced to buy something outdoorsy, I go here and grab a bargain. A combination of the Northern Ireland weather and spending much of the summer on the north coast have forced me to buy a waterproof coat (eek) and waterproof boots (double eek). Both of these unfashionable but necessary additions to my wardrobe came from here and cost the princely sum of £5 and £7. There are loads of fleeces, waterproofs, hats, socks, boots and sturdy trainers, all for men, women and kids. The kid's fleeces and waterproofs are great value at £3 and up and are ideal for anyone who spends a few weeks on our beautiful but wet and windy north coast. The shop can get very busy during the summer and the front half of it is very narrow so be prepared for a little bit of stress for a whole lot of bargains.

Paid £14 for them to send me clothing which was at least a size bigger than those directly from the…read moremanufacturer. I then spent a week chasing them for a refund. They refused to refund me for the items sent back which were not as described (seconds?), which as far as I am awre is illegal, but I can't be bothered chasing them for that amount. Lesson learned. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!

Heatons is a small department store which sells a staggeringly wide range of goods, from toys to…read moretrousers and shoes to sugar bowls. Some of the stuff falls into the category of things you didn't even know you needed until you see them. Students will love the household section, with its brilliantly priced cutlery and crockery, bins, door mats and duvet covers. You really will find it hard to beat these prices. Some of the ranges are really quite worthy of even the most fussy home owners (that would be me), like the funky mugs, bowls and teapots with chickens on and the opulent fabric flowers which cost a fortune in other shops. The towels and bed linen are also pretty good quality for the rock bottom prices being charged. I have scored quite a few bargains in the toy and book sections and in summer they have great inflatables and ball games for the beach. The only department which doesn't float my boat is the clothes section. Frumpy, unfashionable and with far too much man made fibre going on. Buying clothes on a small budget doesn't have to mean a style bypass people.

Great for kids clothes at cheap prices, they wear well and wash well. They also have a good…read moreselection of homewares all at great prices. They have a great selection of toys and christmas decorations from august time onwads. Although staff can be a little hard to find on the shopfloor they are very helpful.

Although quite small department within Moores of Coleraine they stock a good range of fashions in…read moreall sizes. I like the fact that they generally have clothes in all sizes not just size 8 or 10. When they hold their sale it is a real sale and you can pick up some great bargains. In the summer sale I picked up three pairs of trousers for £34, individually the trousers were originally more expensive than this. The staff are also very helpful about looking for sizes etc.