While the name doesn't really evoke the most sun safe of clothing,…read moreSunburn has to have one of the best swimwear ranges around. Been in operation for over 30 years, This small store in the myer centre boasts a prodigious collection from Australian designers such as Seafolly, Jets, 2Chillies and Sunseeker (As well as being one of the few to stock Megan Gale's Isola line.) And while I didn't see any Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini's ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxMMXuACDDA&feature=related ) There is something to suit everyones tastes in this store. (My favourite has to be the Anna and Boy's one pieces. droool.) While the prices run a bit too steep for my meager budget (Think $150 for a swimsuit.) There is no better store to suss out new summer looks or to find that perfect piece to hit the beach in style.

The staff communicated the rewards program incorrectly to me which meant that I didn't understand…read morethe expiry and lost $60 rewards credit after a big shop. I was told It would be sent to me after 3 months when it was actually that I had to use it in 3 months. Customer service were not helpful. I won't be shopping again. I expect better service from a shop that is so expensive, and this seems deceptive.

This tiny shop on the corner of James Street caught my eye immediately with all the pretty frocks…read morehanging in the window. I learned upon entering that it's in fact a concept store for Brisbane designer Edwina Sinclair, and what a clever lady she must be! The store boasts some absolutely beautiful pieces at very reasonable prices and have a timeless look about them, something you could wear many times for many different occasions. And I'm a sucker for a cute Peter Pan collar! The swimwear is what really caught my eye though. Interesting fabrics of metallic rope print and high cut neck lines make Soot stand out from the bathers that generally appear in other boutiques. There's also a gorgeous collection of headbands which would be a great present for any young lass who loves a good headpiece or is heading to the races. Soot stocks a few pieces from other labels as well, but it's really the home label that steals the show.

I have a strange obsession with peter pan collars, so spying…read moreone in my vicinity (and without much thought) my legs immediately marched me over to this cute James st store. Lemme tell you, Soot boutique is the definition of sweet. This pop-up store is the brainchild of Edwina Sinclair and is full of quirky charms. (Be sure to check out the lighting and birds skull mural.) The clothes here are effortlessly winsome and cool. (I admit I had trouble leaving without one of the beautiful cosmo dresses) The pieces are pretty reasonably priced considering the quality, and they also stock some enviable velvet headbands and accessories. Perfect for those special occasions (or as a justified and deserving Self-Gift) this store is permanently on my list of go-to places in the valley.

I'm loving the new Kmart store here at level 1. It's much bigger store, bigger entrance and look…read morenicer. I don't go to kmart Toowong anymore since this one is huge and hold more stocks. Kmart is the one stop shopping experience, especially when I need something really quick. They sell everything here from clothing and shoes for all ages, makeup, home decor, some furnitures, DVDs, magazines, stationary, lots of toys, lollies and chips, kitchen stuff and basically everything you can think of. The best thing is their prices are affordable and not too bad quality for what you pay. I've notices that most of their clothing are made in Bangladesh (that's what written in the back of the cloth). I've owned couple of flat shoes from kmart, they are long lasting and more comfortable than Rubi shoes, surprisingly! On spring-summer season, kmart always bring great selection of their swimsuits and bikini collection. They are around $10-20 Love it! On Xmas period, they have lots of Xmas tree decoration including led lights in bargain price! I like to just check them out regularly to just see what they new things they have and I always end up buying something :D

I am so so impressed with the new store! Since moving to the bottom floor of the centre they have…read moretwice as much stock and way better visual merchandising. One of the better Kmart's, and as someone who doesn't want to pay $20 for a laundry basket, I love Kmart.

This would have to be one of the most beautifully preserved arcades in Brisbane. With it's olden…read moreday atmosphere, you'd expect the shopping there to be a little but classier, a cut above the rif-raf out on Queen Street, but I find it a bit pretentious, particularly the upper gallery. Looking in jewelery stores up there recently, I felt very alienated by icy shopkeepers. Also, there's quite a few empty stores up there which makes me think businesses might struggle up there. Down the bottom is more lively, with a lovely tea shop, selling a large range of tea pots; jewelery stores; and bridal shops. With the exception of the cheap and nasty accessory store, Colette, at the Queen Street entrance of the arcade, the shops in here require you to have money to spend (or at least pretend you have money to spend). Best not to rock up in your Havianas--it won't help things with the already snooty shop keepers.

I love this arcade, I wish every arcade in Brisbane was like this…read more The architecture has a renaissance feel about it that makes you feel like you have just stepped into old European hotel lobby or opulent castle foyer. Its the sort of place most people probably go to look and admire rather than shop but in saying that it is home to some of Brisbane's most awarded retailers especially if you are after jewelery or bridal wear. If you are looking for a unique gift or something for the person who has everything this place is your treasure trove. I particularly love looking at all the beautiful time pieces in the Vintage watch shop and pens right next door.

I frequent Winn Lane in Fortitude Valley often enough to notice that from the ashes of where Little…read moreJane Street used to lie, a new store has risen. Ash to Gold is a womenswear boutique selling some of the most unique and beautiful clothing I have seen in a long time. The shop itself is intimate but not claustrophobic and designed beautifully with an upturned glass pyramid as the focal point of the store. The clothing itself, though quite expensive, is all locally designed and made. Chantelle Cox, one of the masterminds behind Ash to Gold, was manning the store while I was browsing. She explained that everything was sown by her and her business partner. There's something so charming about knowing the clothes on the rack in front of you were made by hand and with heart. The skirts and dresses in particular are what caught my eye, not the average designs you would find elsewhere but delicate designs made with interesting fabrics. There's not much stock in the store itself but it's enough to give you an idea of what Ash to Gold is about. If you're interested in fashion and passionate about local design I highly recommend that you pop into Ash to Gold next time you're around the Valley.

I love the decore in this quirky boutique - from the gold painted walls, to the fluffy "clouds" on…read morethe ceiling (made from white tissue paper) to the huge, perspex tray in the middle of the room suspended from the ceiling (which contains all the jewellery) and the green, high-backed cane chair outside the dressing room. And the owner/designers (Samantha and Chantelle) have put just as much care and attention into their clothing too. All handmade in Brisbane, it's a small collection, but with serious attention to detail. My favourite dress was white, with both sleeves made of lots of small triangular pieces of fabric sewn together (the really lovely shop assistant - clearly an enormous fan of the brand - told me there was 72 on each sleeve). I've noticed on their Facebook page that they've entered the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards - they deserve to win. Good luck ladies.

I was losing the will to live when I stumbled upon this store. I was on hour three of traipsing…read morearound the Brisbane CBD for an affordable fancy dress costume for a party I was going to the next night (theme - music stars from the last 40 years). I'd decided to go as Olivia Newton John, in her "Physical" heyday - not expecting it to be so damn hard to find affordable exercise gear. (You can tell I've never set foot inside a gym. My exercise is all done walking around shopping centres in wedges). Chic a Booti is not a fancy dress store, per se, but after my success there, I can now recommend it as one. It's in the same vein as fast fashion stores like Tempt, Ice and SES...but it is, dare I say it, even lower- end. (Most of the clothes there seemed to be on sale for $9.99 or under) Don't for one minute assume that's a bad thing though. After all, I found exactly what I was looking for here didn't I? After 10 minutes, I left happily clutching a white cotton leotard (for a mere $7.99), with a little blue crop top that tied under the bust ($9.99). The only thing missing was the white headband, but I'm sure I'd have found it if I'd kept rifling the racks. I also picked up an 80s Madonna-style corset top for $9.99 too, just in case I changed my mind on the night and decided to go as Her Madgesty instead. (I always like to have a backup look for every social occasion). I'm not sure my thighs would have done Ms Newton John proud on the night (they're, shall we say, a little larger than hers were) but my look was a triumph on the night. And all for under $20! Thanks Chic a Booti - I owe you one.

Awww good ol' Chic-a-booti, even though I find the name of this store to be revolting, I do love…read moregoing into this store to grab some fast fashion items. The one great thing about Chic-a-booti is that it is cheap, and I do not mean Sportsgirl or Dotti cheap, I mean '$5-for-a-tshirt' cheap. You will find some of the most horrendous tacky items of clothing here but amongst this junk are some great seasonal fashion pieces. This store is huge so you will surely find something in here that you will like. The store sells the type of clothes you know will not last long but because they are so cheap, you just do not care. I remember seeing my sister come home with a dress from Mombasa that she paid $60 for thinking she got a good deal only to end up being disappointed when she noticed exact same design at Chic-a-Booti for only $20! I honestly do not know how they do it, but they have some of the best prices in the city. Chic-a-booti really is a great store for any fashion conscious girls on a tight budget. Whenever I feel like following a trend but do not wish to fork out on something I know I will not want to wear in 6 months time, I love coming here to see what they have on offer.

You know how sometimes there's shops you want to visit but you don't dare walk in because you feel…read morelike it is too cool for you? Sunday Social was one of these shops until today. With friends visiting from San Francisco we were exploring Winn Lane and I finally ventured into this small nook known as Sunday Social. Upon walking in I realised it was the exact opposite, there's something for everyone here. Full to the brim with carefully selected vintage clothes and accessories I began searching through the racks with endless pieces catching my attention. I couldn't resist walking out of the store with two tops for $90, which, if you think about your mainstream stores could easily equate to one top that a handful of others will also be wearing. For the same price I've gotten two tops, that I'll be hard pressed to find others wearing. Best of all as an introvert, the sales assistant let us just browse without hovering over our shoulders at every second. Sunday Social feels like discovering a secret world of clothes with great stories. I'm so glad I walked in and know I'll be back to revisit their racks for one of the kinds from this vintage wonderland.

Yay, more vintage! Sunday Social is a really cute little place nestled in the tiny Winn Lane market…read morearea. I had never even heard of the Winn Lane markets until my friend suggested we stop by on one of your shopping trips in the Valley. The lane is lined with drawings on the walls and market stalls, all filled with lovely jewellery pieces and vintage wares. It reminded me a lot of the lanes and alleys you find in Melbourne so I was more than enthused to see what was down there. It's so nice and secluded that you feel a little like Alice going down the rabbit hole. Anyway, enough about the lane itself. Sunday Social is perched at its end like a tidy little cottage. It's a tiny, gorgeous little shop with vintage clothes and pieces, including a very sweet range of shoes. Indie kids would have a field day in Sunday Social, but I also think it has a little something for everyone. Their pieces are just so gorgeous with bags hanging in its middle with accessories dotting the central table. Guys are confined to a rail and a few shoes but girls have their pick. They have clothes from cute peter pan collared dresses through to funky light, fluttery tops. There's also a really random but totally awesome Indian headdress behind the counter the wall too, just for a little bit of flair. I hear this gorgeous little place went from being a market stall along Winn Lane to a now staple store with four walls. It's no wonder, because they have such gorgeous novelty vintage pieces that you'd be crazy to pass by. Sunday Social has no phone number as yet but you can email them! sundaysocialstore@gmail.com