Going to an all girls' school meant that the hysteria of formal dress shopping was heightened to…read morethe absolute max, with every girl hoping that the delightful pink dress they had just purchased wasn't the same as their best friend's choice. Cue delirium. Unfortunately (I think), those mad days are long since gone for me, but it's nearly that time for my little sister, so I do kinda get to relive the dream again. Yippee! I told her (yes, she didn't have a choice) that Posh Frocks should be the first port of call for ideas, and she happily agreed to take a look. Posh Frocks was one of the stores many of the girls ventured to in search of the perfect formal dress, and there were definitely some beauties bought there. The shop had, and still has, a reputation for good-quality, stunning dresses, and is one of very few formal dress shops in Belfast, so it is completely inundated with formal requirements from as far as Magherafelt (I was reliably informed by the extremely helpful sales lady). We were also told that many of the dresses sell out within days of first appearing...so we'd better get our skates on! There isn't a huge range of dresses, but due to the fact that new designs are constantly coming in, this doesn't really prove a problem. The dresses vary in price from about £100 to £300, with the more embellished ones coming in at £295, whereas the plainer ones are around £165, and the cocktail length ones are obviously cheaper. Having had lots of really helpful tips and information, and a good nosey around, the two of left with plenty of food for thought. I think I'm actually more excited that the little sis...

On our never-ending quest to find bridesmaid dresses for my best friends wedding (no, not the…read moremovie) we ended up in here. They have a vast array of gowns and dresses for all sorts of events and occasions, be it a formal, a gala dinner type event, or a wedding as a guest or as a bridesmaid. The woman in charge that day was SO helpful, and really cheerful and pleasant, she seemed happy to help, and genuinely interested, which is what you want in a good shopping experience. They had every colour, shape and style of frock, but not, unfortunately, every size, and my size 18 frame was not really catered for. There were a couple of dresses that sort of fitted, but they weren't proper size 18s, and therefore were NOT flattering. The price tags weren't extortionate, but they weren't cheap either. If you're skinny and have a bit of cash, this is a good place to get a dress that isn't from the high street.

Wow! Do you want beautiful, elegant, fashionable, stylish and well tailored clothing? Then come…read morestraight to Fran & Jane. Oh I could have spent hours in here. I think I would have seemed a little manic running from rail to rail gasping at each exquisite piece of clothing / shoes / accessories I saw. But, oh swoon! If only I had the money (be prepared ... it's not cheap!) It is worth it for the money though (except maybe the shrug I saw for £400 ... a little excessive by my standards?!) Anyway, Fran & Jane are a boutique Irish clothing store, established by a mother and daughter over 35 years ago. The items in their store are so insanely beautiful; they sell everything from jeans to coats to dresses and beautiful formal wear. Ah I could go on for ages about the oh so special items I could have happily taken home with me, what stands out most though was the beautiful black coat with a funky pattern and long wide sleeves and an oversize collar (Oh please Santa please!) as well as the *ohmygoodnessimusthavethemnow* shoes *see picture* that I REALLY wanted to buy (sense dictated me not to) Fran & Jane are another one of those pay day shops where you NEED to treat yourself to something special then take a run up here and I'm sure you won't be stuck for choice. Ah, clothing bliss!

Jourdan is a rather lovely high end fashion store on the Lisburn Road 'style mile'. I called in…read morehere (only for a look mind you) a few days ago and was rather taken with some of the clothes they had on offer. Now I must note that most of it tends towards the more mature ladies style, but some pieces just don't age and could be worn by anyone after a glamorous evening dress or stylish tailored outfit. The lady working that day treated us with warmth and respect (not something I found happened in every shop I visited along this road) and for this I was thankful. Although we were only browsing, she left us alone to our devices to ooh and aah at all the gorgeous outfits. If the occasion ever comes about where I need a glamorous, expensive outfit I'll definitely keep this place in mind. The accessories they stocked were unbelievable; some of the jewellery was worth more than everything I own! Ooh so pretty too! Jourdan stock a number of head turning pieces at a reasonable price when you consider the quality!

Relocated these past few years to the Lisburn Road, Jourdan used to be situated quite comfortably…read morein the city centre, in Queen's Arcade to be exact, and I would have imagined that it benefited from the heavy traffic passing through the city centre, but they may also benefit from being on this stretch of shopping land, because there are many fashionable boutiques along here. Jourdan always has been the epitome of sparkle and style, albeit for the slightly older customer! There is something that vaguely reminds me of the outfits that we used to see on The Golden Girls in here, lots of sequins, lapels and shoulder pads - its very much a place for 45+ women to find outfits for luxury cruises, weddings and the like. It's kind of pricey too, but don't let that put you off if you're that sort and are looking for good tailoring and some 'blingy' style. Not my cup of tea, but my Mum loves it.

I never usually venture into stores like this. And not without reason, as I recently discovered…read morewhen visiting Rojo. The most stunning designer shoes line the walls of this sleek footwear boutique, in every shape, size, colour and style you could possibly imagine. And we're talking big names here - Chanel, DKNY, Gucci - the real deal as it were. Yet, despite the designer names, the price tags weren't quite so bad as I thought they would be. Fair enough, £129 isn't exactly what I would spend on a pair of shoes, but it's all about the label, dahling. A few awe-inspired moments were spent gazing at the multitude of beautiful, and well-reduced due to the sale, shoes. It was at this point that I felt completely out of place, and I think everyone else realised this fact too. Despite my best efforts to fit in (I was wearing my £55 heeled brogues), it was never going to happen. Perhaps it was the Primark jeans that gave me away, or the fact that I looked like a small child in a toy shop, but either way, I was determined to make a swift exit (via the UGG section of course...they have the most gorgeous blue boots for ladies, and turquoise ones for girls). As long as you put your best foot forward, or ensure that the shoe's on the other foot, you'll be fine. Or something like that...

The onset of autumn is unfortuate in some ways but the good thing is all the latest boots that…read morestart appearing in the shops, because that's how I prefer to encase my feet in the winter. In Rojo they're somewhat beyond range at £180+ on average but there was a pair of black suede ones for less. They'd last for 10 years with fair treatment without looking out of place, so compare that to what you might fritter over the same period on cheap stuff and you've got a case for some serious purchasing...Ok, maybe not yet. Anyway - there are also the shoes and the clothes section but as far as I am concerned Rojo is about the boots.

Appalling service…read more Recently purchased a jacket to match a dress I had bought there on their recommendation. The jacket did not match and they refused a refund. Biggest waste of £ 370 ever. Shop on line, prices are more competitive and service better.

When you've ambled past so many boutiques that they all start to merge into one, you know you're on…read morethe Lisburn Road. Peering in through the shop windows, I sadly noted the exorbitant prices and swiftly moved onto the next shop, until I got to Harrison that is. Something immediately captivated me, and I stopped in my tracks. Perhaps it was the fact that many of the beautiful clothes appealed to someone of my age, rather than being specifically for ladies in their 30s, 40s and older. Or perhaps it was the sale posters. Either way, that was me in. No questions. Everything in Harrison is extremely eye-catching. The dresses are particularly striking, with their deep, bold colours and stylish cuts making them perfect for formal dos, weddings and the like. There is also a vast range of denim wear, kitsch tops and eclectic accessories, as well as beautiful shoes...it really is 7th heaven. The store currently has a sale on, which makes this stock very affordable. I came across a gorgeous owl print tunic which was originally £52, and is now £26. The stock that isn't in the sale is obviously pricier, but not quite as expensive as I thought it might be. The gorgeous dresses I was referring to cost around the £100 mark, but they really would be a heck of an investment. Harrison have done a fantastic job of blending designer and high street, and it'll be one boutique I will most likely be heading back to.

A smart navy blue jacket in the window that still could have gone with anything dressing it up or…read moredown made me think that Harrison could be better than first impressions that indicated a very expensive, aloof sort of place. True, it's expensive but trendy and I smugly noted a shirt and jacket combo that sort of aped the look of my much cheaper version. Still, I periodically will invest in a good jacket like that one in the window - it'll last for ages and save the day from time to time. The shirts at £95 were a bit steep but there were little black dresses and such like for much less which are very good buys so altogether thumbs up for Harrison.

In my dreams, I own a shop like this. And I show up for work every day looking like Cameron Diaz at…read morethe Oscars and sit all day inside, looking gorgeous and being fabulous. This shop makes you want to be fabulous - I swear even if you were a twenty ton heifer who looks like the back end of a bus and is a firearm enthusiast - you would feel girly and giggly in here. It's NOT cheap, and its got every pretty thing you could imagine, the clothes and accessories are lovely. I've yet to actually purchase anything in here because for one - the clothes don't fit me (story of my life!) and two, I can't justify the money. If you have a credit card that you don't mind splurging on - pop in here to give it a good work out in girly gorgeous glamorous heaven.

I'm very disappointed by treatment received by this high-end boutuque. I visited the shop to return…read morefor exchange unsuitable items but it had already closed up (an hour early based on the closing hours posted in the window) and its now refuse to accept items for exchange. I am not even looking for a refund even though I have my full receipt. I feel this is poor service and mistreatment. I've also had to follow up directly and seem to only get excuses -so far, I have been told that: 1 the hours visible in their window were incorrect; 2 I couldn't have been at the shop at the time I claim as it clashes with the customer advisor's own recollection (I fear they are unable/unwilling to tell the truth); 3 exchanges had to be rejected because of the work their accountant has been undertaking-that in and of itself is a concerning excuse to give any customer; and 4 my call hadn't been return because a customer advisor had been off work. So disappointed in the treatment received and what appears to be an inflexible application of a policy around Christmas returns-Christmas presents had to be dealt with by 31 Dec and I found the shop closed early on that day leaving me high and dry. I have attempted to have this dealt with by the shop directly with a visit, follow up calls and two separate emails (neither of which they have had the courtesy to reply to) and wish to advise others of my experience.

Something has happened to Warnocks since I used to be dragged there by my mum for new school…read moreuniform. Of course that was quite a while ago. OK, a very long while ago. Upstairs is still the land of the school uniform, with everything your offspring could need for all the main Belfast grammar schools. The bill quickly adds up when you're buying uniforms so take advantage of the 10% off during July. You'll miss the August rush too and anything which is too small by September can be exchanged. I can still feel the pain of paying £40 for a leather satchel. Downstairs is where the transformation has taken place. Sadly they only do men's clothes but what they do for men is really good. There's a large range of Barbour coats, hats and scarves and every fashionista knows that Barbour is having a revival this year. They also have some lovely Lacoste knit wear which is what the husband goes for, Canali shirts and a casual label which I haven't seen anywhere else - Paul and Shark. Warnocks delivers old fashioned customer service where the staff will wan to see the garments on, advise on fit and maybe even take measurements. This can be a bit of a culture shock after the kind of service you get in most shops today where the staff studiously ignore you. Once you get used to it, you realise that they really will help you but what's right for you.

As a member of that harried legion of stressed out parents who must fork out for the expensive…read moreuniforms that schools usually require I have been to Warnocks a few times over the years. It can get pretty hectic upstairs here in the school uniform department at the peak time towards the end of the summer holidays but I have never found the staff anything other than highly organised, efficient and unflappable with sensible advice to offer on kitting out a grumpy teenager for school. Sometimes the young assistants have been at the schools in question themselves which is all good because there is no way that the delightful offspring will listen to mother! There is also a selection of school shoes, albeit unpopular with the nearest and dearest, and a men's clothing department of downstairs.

This place looks like it's been caught in a time warp, its amazing. Walking through its doors is…read morelike travelling back through time. I'm not sure why anyone would like to travel back in time to a hardware shop but there ya go. It stocks all the dedicated D.I.Yer would need to help them in their quest to ruin their living room by trying to mount their own shelves or flat screen tv. The staff know everything their is to know about the contents of the shop and will help you no end, if it's required.

This is a great little pokey shop on the Lisburn road. With so many new outlets on the Lisburn road…read morecatering for everything from Estate Agents to interior design, its nice to see an old well maintained premises. But lets be honest, for most of us hardware is hardware and I for one like the thought that I can buy my garden spade form a place my grandfather bought his garden spade from. The guys that work look like they have fun, they stock just about anything that a DIY quiz would mention but don't plan any of your weekly hammer purchasing trips on a Wednesday. As they will be having a wee afternoon off!!! Visiting Mr Guinness i gather