If you aren't interested in female fashion in any way, please look away now: this review is going…read moreto get super girlie/ style geeky. As much as I love cute fashion (hint: it's a lot), I am also a lazy, lazy person and love shopping for fashion whilst in my pj's in bed even more. The inevitable result is that I actually physically visit fewer and fewer boutiques and stores in real life. The Birdcage is one of the few boutiques I will actually get out of bed for. And here's why (oooh, I feel a list coming on...) 1. It's around the corner from where I live. So while I *do* have to change out my pyjamas, I don't have to put in too much effort to get there. 2. The act of browsing there is enjoyable. The smallish space has personality, with vintage trinkets and boudoir styling to offset the racks and racks of fashion, as well as spacious change rooms. The visual merchandising works really well - they even organise product by hue which I really dig. 3. The sale rack is ever present out the front. What girl doesn't love a bargain? 4. The prices. Falling somewhere in between fast fashion prices and higher end boutiques, you can easily walk in with $50 and walk out with a gorgeous little summer top, or spend $450 on a splurge piece. I'd say median prices are around the $150 mark and the quality in my experience has been really good (but of course that will depend on label). 5. The labels. It's a well curated selection of both local and national labels, from SA locals to Australoid bigwigs, it's an aesthetically cohesive range that fits somewhere between out and out girlie and on trend. Cameo, Finders Keepers, Keepsake are all stocked here, to name a few. Lots of whimsy going on with short skater skirts and shades that gently meander from cream to pale blue, with the occasional party piece thrown in. 6. Lover. This cult Aussie label is A BIG DEAL to stock. While Lover pieces stocked at the Birdcage are few and far between, it is one of the only places in Adelaide (I think Whistles also stock select pieces but I could be wrong...) to nab yourself a piece or simply ogle it in real life. As a HUGE Lover fan this is a massive selling point for me.

Birdcage has been one of my go-to places to shop for a while now. It's more affordable than Sooki,…read moreand has a broader range than Kitschy. The staff at Birdcage are really friendly, despite being oh-so-purdy and always impeccably dressed. They also don't mind having a bit of a chat and take the time to guide you through new stock, which I always appreciate - I'm a big shopper! If I don't have time to stop by and actually browse, I just check out the sales rack out the front - how handy is it to have a sales rack just sitting there. Sometimes I just want to discreetly carry it away with me as I walk past...

I came here on recommendation from a friend when I was frustrated with looking for a 60's outfit…read morethat wasn't Austin Powers. Oriana was so helpful and obviously really enjoys her job as we worked together mixing and matching to find 'the look'. I can honestly say, as a boy who grew up with two older sisters, I have never enjoyed playing dressup so much. Hire or buy, prices are very reasonable.

Head down George Street just off of the Parade at Norwood and you'll discover a teensy little…read moreop-shop ready for a rummage! Sally's Seconds is attached to the Salvation Army next door (get it... "Sally's"?) and is jam-packed with all manner of clothing, toys and bric a brac. Because it's kind of tucked away and unassuming looking, Sally's can often be overlooked by bargain hunters and thrift lovers, but don't make the same mistake! I've found some amazing (and super cheap) stuff in here. On my last visit I scored a brand new kookai top for $5, an amazing retro set of '70s tumblers for $8, a lovely tin with geometric designs for $2 and I was tempted to take home "The Bill" board game for $2 but somehow resisted. Being in Norwood, the stock is generally of high quality and good brands, and I find it's rotated quite quickly as well, so you can come in for a weekly browse and find something new. The lovely ladies behind the counter are always a pleasure too!

Oh dang, what a shame. This should be so much bigger than what it is…read more I was actually quite surprised with this store. Right in the middle of Norwood you would think that there would be a bunch of stock and some really good finds. I would say that Norwood is more of the upper-middle class area, so generally thrift stores in these areas have great gear to get your hands on. But, this one is just lacking in a lot of areas. This thrift store is small and separated into three rooms. I could see a large storage area at the back, maybe this is a staff area? Shame they do not use the space to expand the store. There was minimal clothing, books, crockery, etc... The staff also did not welcome me in the store like they do in the other Salvos stores. Such a let down and something that I like about their stores. Good customer services and generally helpful in most of them. Oh well... maybe I caught the staff on a bad day. But, I probably will not be back.

Ivy League sells preppy Australian male clothes. There was a lot of hype surrounding it's opening,…read morebut it has quieted down in recent months. I love the inside of the shop. It looks classy, fresh and modern. It is spacious and the clothes are spread out, making them easier to look at. There is also a massive mirror along the back wall. In the middle of the room there is an old-school car, used to put clothes on. This makes the shop just that bit cooler. The clothes are ok. I have purchased a few shirts for family and friends from there, but I wouldn't go racing back again. It is all slightly over-priced, but you are paying for the brand. The clothes are different and a nice change from the mass-produced shirts other male clothes shop sell. I do love their shoes, also expensive, but if I was a guy I would of bought many of them by now. The service is nothing to rave about, no one jumps up to greet you when you enter the shop, but they do yell hello from the other side of the room. I don't know if it's just me, but customer service never seems to be great in any of the new 'hip' retail shops around.

They have a car inside the store…read more And a pool table. And various well groomed gents flitting about the general area. Ivy League is ok for what it is - it definitely lives up to its name, which suggests a slightly elitist, collegiate selectivity. Think Wes Anderson. A bit preppy and a bit pretentious. This is some people's thing. I don't bag it at all. For the most part I'm a Wes fangirl. They have some great slim cut suits and I also spotted a few rad backpacks, but the more athletic Abercrombie stuff I could give a miss.

Aqua boutique sells a range of womens' clothing, mainly high-end beachwear…read more They sell a lot of loose, flowy dresses and tops. They are mostly colourful and bright, good for colour-blocking and summer days. A lot of their stock are floral, kaftan, and cotton. I've found a number of cute items but none that I would buy at the drop of a hat. They are a high-end boutique, so prices aren't cheap. The accessories, however, are very nice. Bright big necklaces, beads, bracelets, and the trending accessories you would find in fashion magazines nowadays. I liked that they had a lot of nautical stripes, including on maxi skirts which I've tried to find everywhere but couldn't get in my size (mini-human size), so I was really happy when I found one at Aqua that I didn't have to wear on my neck for it to fit. If I'm not mistaken, the owners are Italian and take regular trips to Italy to survey the fashion trends over there and bring back to Adelaide. It's really a very nice boutique, a bit pricey, but nice.

This store was a pleasant surprise! I stumbled in here still reeling from my stroll through One…read moreRundle down the road and expected more sky high prices and mouth pursing glamour. Not so! The clothes here are not only beautiful but they're totally affordable. Considering Stuart Street Dulwich is a bit of an exxy spot the prices here are really very low. They had a sale rack out front with lovely pieces from Finders Keepers and Mink Pink and the prices started from ten dollars! Swoon! The staff are very nice here and they have a second area next door with lots of lovely Wish and Paper Heart clothes where you can try things on and hang out on the comfy couch and feel a bit special. Let there be Lace. I will be back.

Alexandra & Lace is located in the delightful cluster of shops in Dulwich. This area holds such…read morecharm, mostly as it feels quite hidden away which gives it an exclusive vibe. Alexandra & Lace is, in my opinion the best of the few clothing shops in the group. It is geared for the most part towards women in their 20s and 30s with an outstanding selection of brands such as mink pink, ladakh, wish and tigerlilly, amongst others. It's a great place to pick up a tasteful frock that is at the cutting edge of fashion. Most of them are quite affordable also, with an average price being around $79.95. For those ladies who enjoy Rundle st and Norwood Parade boutiques, this store will provide you with a Miss Gladys/Tu Yu/Birdcage style shopping experience minus the crowds. You may just nab the store all to yourself. If you can't make it during opening hours, they may even open the boutique for you by special arrangement. The number is on the door!

I just recently became an avid thrift store shopper, and visited this place last week to find a…read morenumber of cute things inside. I bought a floral top and two bags. Not bad. The staff are really friendly and helpful, and there's nothing like raising money or donating for a good cause. Amongst the pretension that Rundle St often portrays, this humble yet funky store's convenient location and great value make it a pleasant shopping experience.

Possibly the best store ever; you can get a vintage treasure AND make a donation to charity at the…read moresame time. You are basically getting a free dress with your donation. Can I get a WIN-WIN! The Red Cross 'Two 8 Four' store is situated in the heart of Adelaide's Rundle fashion strip, amongst high-end fashion labels and cafes. Taking a unique approach to charity and fashion, this store has scouted a prime location to boost sales and interest. New on the scene, this shop is filled with vintage treasures scouted from thrift stores for charity. They have dresses, skirts, pants, shorts, jackets, men's clothing, shoes, hats, gloves, books, glasses, jewelry, and knick-knacks to please a vintage treasure hunter. Even if you aren't a general op-shopping fan, this place is worth a look. They scout stylish vintage that is very much in fashion right now and even a dress that goes to the floor can easily be turned into a craft project with a bit of hemming tape.

I absolutely love this store. I've been a member of Whistles since before I was old enough to shop…read morewithout my mum. They stock a great collection of Aussie and global fashion, latest trends, pieces inspired by, or straight from, the national and international catwalks. So yes it's high-end clothing galore, but what I really like is to touch up the House of Harlow accessories. This is Nicole Ritchie's retro inspired jewellery collection that has a cool edge to it (fun fact: I had a passer by moment in LA with the lass when she was knocked up with her first kiddy). It's ridiculously expensive for non-precious metal, but considering it's modern vintage it's not really going out of fashion anytime soon, see it as an investment. In a nutshell - exclusive brands!

A small shop with a delightful selection of designers. From big names of Oz fashion like Alice…read moreMcCall to majorly covetable (and hard to find in Adelaide) labels like Acne, Whistles is so on top of it it's almost ridic... and I love it. They have a couple of different stores around Adelaide, and this is their smallest, and as well as the usual pieces from higher end labels, this one seems to have a slightly larger selection of local and lower priced pieces than the other stores. Oh, and lots of sass + bide jeans! I'm picky when it comes to clothes but pretty much every time I come in here I see something I want to take home and wear (...and sometimes I can even afford to!)

Most days you'll find me hanging out in this "mall"…read more I add parentheses because it's not a) lit with fluorescent bulbs b) full of teenagers or c) packed with chain stores. In fact, it's a lovely open air thoroughfare lined with quaint / useful / delicious stuff. First there's the ALL DAY BREAKFAST at Uncle Albert's Cafe (I stand by the all caps excitement); then there's the local Coles, which I actually like and they know us there; then there's coffee and baked goods; gifts; magazines and books; and a travel agent if you want to book an impromptu trip to Paris while on a sugar high. Ahem. Yeah. Nice!

Norwood Mall is located just opposite Cibo's on the parade, right next to Dillon's. First of all,…read moreif you don't find a parking space on the side of the road, there's heaps at the back of Norwood Mall. There's a rather small Coles in here and a random mix of other shops like souvenir and gift shops, chocolate shops, a newsagents, a dry cleaner etc. My favourite place is the greengrocer right at the entrance (when you come to the Parade). They often have great deals and better prices than supermarkets, plus all their fruit and veggies are really fresh. If you continue walking you'll find a great fresh pasta shop on your left, followed by a nice little gift shop that sells things like candles, soaps, cards etc. Another tip is the newsagents in the middle of Norwood Mall; they usually have a large table outside with heaps of books that are hugely discounted. Worth having a look at!

Located in posh Norwood, expect to fork out more mullah when you shop at this Vinnies branch…read more Bearing an almost boutique look, the clothes are magnificently beautiful and often in pristine condition. Yes, they are preloved but seeing the demographic of customer donations come from high income family backgrounds, most of the clothing and items here are in excellent condition. Faux fur ( still not a fan of fur!) coats are aplenty here and you will find stunning pant suits, which almost reminded me of Krystal Carrington of Dynasty fame. For those who appreciate vintage accessories and bric a brac, they have some beautiful pieces here. I managed to scoop a winter boots for $10, it looked almost as new and I couldn't be more happier with it. There is also a gorgeous kids dress up section, with fairy wings, batman costumes and a clown suit, just to name a few. If you are a collector, I would recommend this place to you, if not, do drop in for a little bit of window shopping fun.

This place used to be the bees knees, with vintage and pristine pre-loved pieces from well known…read morelabels as well as a quality trinket or two. I pretty much walked out with a tweet-worthy bargain every time I went in. What happened? Everyone discovered the place, that's what happened. When the sales staff started to get young and cute, I knew it was doomed. They'd find that size 6 velvet blazer before me. They'd have dibs on the choicest vintage pieces. The competition is definitely tougher. The range remains more upmarket than other Vinnies, and there are still fashionable finds to be uncovered, so it's definitely worth a visit. The whole back area is devoted to dress ups and costumes - which is a great use of the more outrageous retro clothing that comes through and kids pieces. Don't get me wrong, I still come in for a rummage, and as my local op shop I donate my old stuff too, but it isn't what it used to be *sigh*.