Fallow is hidden in Cameron House, one level about the street on Brunswick Street in the Valley. On…read morewalking in, it feels like you are walking into some sort of secret society with its dark decor and taxidermy at the door. If wearing black is your thing, then Fallow is the place to shop. There was literally no colour, aside from a few white items, in the whole store. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though. Fallow isn't like a General Pants experience. The clothes are beautifully designed and made and quite unique to most other things on the market. I am particularly a fan of the men's leather wallets and the unisex jewelry in cases in the middle of the store. On Fallow's website is states to "never compromise quality for price" and I completely agree. However it's only fair that I let you all know that you aren't going to fin a bargain here. Most womenswear items range between $250-$500 so be prepared to drop a penny or two when you shop here. An amazing space full of great local and international fashion.

Only store of its kind in Queensland, Fallow is a haven for Avant Garde clothing. Carefully…read moreselected garments are showcased in their amazing store. They stock a few more well known brands such as Song For The Mute and Silent Damir Doma and a many lesser known ones. If I had the cash to burn and wanted to look like an urban ninja then I would be in this store daily.

Gold Coast's Trash Monkey have recently opened up a store in Brisbane's China Town Mall. Perfectly…read moresuited to the mish-mash of colour and style of the Valley, Trash Monkey stocks an array of vintage and alternative clothing. The store has been nicely renovated and is a pleasure to browse. There is plenty to look at and the range is worth looking at regardless of your personal style. As a bonus, the store is open until 7pm Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and open until 9pm Thursday to Saturday.

There is something alluring about vintage clothes and accessories. It seems to me that the 50s and…read moreearly 60s had the perfect blend of classy feminine clothing, that makes me want to go all Mad Men or Grace Kelly around town. Some of the clothing at Trash Monkeys oozes this classy sophistication that I yearn for. They stock a whole range of clothing and accessories from your 50s vintage inspired dresses that I was just talking about to 80s glam rock outfits. They pride themselves in stocking rockabiliy, pin-up, burlesque, punk, steampunk, victorian, lolita and queer gear as well. The store is chocablock full of bits and pieces and you can easily spend your time sifting through it all. Everything here is quite unique and definitely different from your average fashion store. The staff are funky and great for giving real and unbiased advice. They won't let you out of the store in something that looks bad and they are totally happy to have a chat or let you just browse your hours away. The store is also open late so it is easy to go and check it out after work or before a dinner out in the Valley. It is hard to really describe everything on offer here so my best suggestion is just to check it out!

This is quite an odd store that I found while searching in vain for a Christmas present for the men…read morein my family. Really, why must they be so difficult? I suppose this is not the appropriate place for my tantrum, so let's move on. This store comes across as a little of a disorganised jumble, but once you get past that you realise that it actually stocks a lot of well-known brands. Basically any form of men's clothing you are after, you can find here. There is work wear, formal wear and casual wear, along with lots of the most popular surfing brands. When I was there it was busy, full of men of different ages attempting to withhold the right to choose their entire wardrobe from their wives. Even though I didn't particularly like the setup, the staff were courteous and helpful, and there's no denying there was a lot of good stuff to choose from.

I first went to David's Mensland years ago, because it was near my then work. I'm a bit on the…read morecheap side and don't usually wander into shops unless there's a sale on and I have to say I've picked up some great bargains for my Dad and partner there at times - like a couple of Italian dress shirts at about 75 percent off for under $30 each; golf shirts, jeans... there's always something on the racks outside. That's the grown up side of the shop. then there's Cylinder Surf Cleveland, a more recent addition to the store. They are adjoined, so you walk from one section to the other internally, but what a difference. Cylinder Surf is for guys and girls, and is on the corner of Bloomfield Arcade, so long windows on two sides are filled with cool surf gear. I like the summer and winter sales, when I've picked up some great Roxy gear, boots, bags, jumpers, tops, at really good prices. The range of stock is good for a relatively small store.