Northbeach is really expensive but they sell the most trendy stuff. They are always coming up to…read moreyou and asking "do you need any help" which is kinda nice but can be annoying sometimes. They are really helpful and smiley and I find there are no problems when I shop here. They really should lower the prices tho. It's really expensive there. And I do find sometimes that they don't have what I went there for. But in all a good shop to get your stuff at

I was pretty excited to hear about North Beach finally being a bit (A LOT) closer to home when it…read moreopened up opposite Sylvia Park. The store is big and spacious and there's a lot to look at. They could probably fit loads more stock on the floor but the flow of the store is great. They've got a wide range of denim here for women, and since I live in jeans, it was a great sight. North Beach is also home to all your favourite surf brands and you're bound to find what you're looking for from wallets and dresses to boardies and watches. My first visit here was pretty good and I made a very nice investment in a new bag. The staff here seem really chilled out to me and are really nice to talk to, not overbearing but always willing to lend a hand, which is how I prefer to be served when I'm out and about. They also stock my favourite New Zealand brand, RPM, and this branch is one of the only two surf stores I go to in Auckland to check them out, because their service is far better. Unless you're after something specific, you could easily spend a good half an hour or so in here just browsing, especially since you's have to walk across the road from the mall, or drive to get there- may as well make the most of your trip! I for one am looking forward to making a trip here in the winter for some Huffer knits and Wrangler jeans- its your perfect all-season store.

This is my favourite store in Dress Smart. Aspect are the outlet for Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph…read moreLauren and Oroton and the prices are very good here. Often the Oroton products are discounted by 50% which is amazing, considering it is such beautiful product and you can pick up a $600 bag for $300, a steal. There was one time they had an additional 20% off in store for the weekend and I got a $400 bag for $160. You will find the full Oroton range here, bags, accessories, lingerie, clothing, sunglasses, jewelry and belts and if you don't mind it being last season then this is the place to come. The Ralph Lauren ranges are for men, women and kids. They always have lots of shirts and polos but I find it really hard to get my size. You need to come in frequently as they are always getting in new stock then that way you have better odds of finding your size. It is like that with all outlet stores and for the discounts it is worth the frequent visits to check out the racks.

Jet is a New Zealand-owned streetwear business and is a fairly new addition to Sylvia Park. They…read morestock a lot of brands that range from reasonably priced to reasonably priced if you have a lot of money. However, a lot of stock they carry used to be available at boutique stores that were on the other side of Auckland, so it's great to have at Sylvia Park. What I like about Jet is that they sell both men's and women's clothes, so it's great store to check out if you're with your boyfriend- you're killing two birds with one stone! I like their womenswear selection- they usually have some stuff on sale but they're pretty on to it when it comes to new trends and styles, so I usually go there to see what's new. I've bought a couple of dresses here before and they're staples in my wardrobe now. Jet is home to Lee and Wrangler, but also smaller and up and coming fashion labels. Definitely gives the store a bit of a homegrown feel and its nice to know they're supporting other local businesses. On top of that a lot of the designs are pretty cool and worth a look.

Some lovely looking clothes are in Vaccinni at very good prices. They are not amazing quality…read morethough, so don't expect too much time to go past before your jeans wear out or the sequins fall off. I'm not sure where these clothes come from, but they are all asian brands (no big brand rip offs, so that's a relief). I enjoy having a squiz and the shop lady is always very friendly and helpful. There's never a time I walk in that she doesn't greet me and offer her help. Find this shop between Michael Hill Jeweller & Shanton at Westfield Manukau. It's great for someone on a budget - their ball dresses are stunning, so I'd pop along here if I'm looking for that special one night gown.

This is a massive Shanton. I can generally only browse about half the shop before I get tired and…read morehave to give up. So come here post-coffee, and not before! It's probably a shame that I conk out before I get down the back of the shop, because that's where they keep all their discounted stuff. I once got a really cute beach bag here with a Japanese style blue and white design on it, and I've picked up a couple of plain skirts and tops for work too. It's worth having a look just because the prices are so low, but if you're looking for beautiful fabrics and timeless tailoring, you'd better look elsewhere in the mall.

This Levis outlet is one of the best stores in Dress Smart. The product is good and the discounts…read morethey offer are very good. Levis don't always advertise their special deals on the Dress Smart website so if you're a jeans addict like I am popping in every once in a while is not a bad idea. The jeans are always cheap but often it is just crazy which is why you often have to push your way through the crowds to find anything here and be prepared to wait for the fitting rooms. I never bother trying them on so this isn't a problem for me thankfully. Last week I came in here while they were running a special that if you bought 2 or more pairs they are only $40 each. This is fantastic. Jeans that were $120 for $40, why not. You can never have too many, so many different colours and washes and the staff are really good at helping you find sizes. Sometimes there is a samples rack in store so you can pick up one offs at really good prices too.

The Levis Outlet shop used to be on Onehunga Mall, not inside Dressmart. It was the first outlet…read moreshop I had ever been to and I remember getting some sweet jeans from here for super cheap. These days it's in Dressmart, so I don't go here often, because I try and avoid Dressmart as much as I can. I've only gone into the Levis outlet a couple of times, and I've never bought anything. Any of the jeans that are cheap enough that they are a bargain are always in some weird as size, or some weird old style, and the other clothes that look sweet and are a sweet size aren't cheap enough to be worthy of a purchase. I don't like the people who work there either, they are not helpful or friendly. Go back out onto the main road, you might become good again.

So you fancy yourself an Audrey Hepburn, but stifled with modern fashion and fluoro colours that…read moreobnoxiously scream at you from nearly every shop window? Well, your search for something that suits is at an end. Forever New is filled with classy outfits with an array of pastels and formal colours. It has fancy jewellery, bags and shoes to suit your budget, but not quite as cheap as your everyday Diva items. I love coming in here and finding some unique items that are good quality. Unfortunately, the clothes are a bit pricey sometimes, so I would recommend heading to the Dressmart Forever New if you can't quite make up the dollars for a must-have item. There you will find even better bargains! This one is great for convenient location, good service and oh so wonderfully colour co-ordinated areas.

I used to be a fan of Forever New but now I just don't have time for their over priced shit. I…read moreremember when the chain first came to New Zealand I was in love, it was finally something that catered to women's fashion, plus the stores were so cute and shiny. After a while I began to study their clothing and came to the realisation that it was just cheap quality clothing that is overpriced. The accessories are those ones you find in the Asian stores, so shit! I say get of your high horse Forever New and start charging $10 for you clothing instead of $80.

Cheap shoes. Cheap dresses. Cheap appliances. Maybe it's…read morebecause we don't have K Mart back home, but I get excited to go here when I'm back in NZ. This is my go to spot when I need some quick supplies visiting my in laws. Forgot my jandals? No problem. $7 at KMart. Need some new swimmies? Cheap ones here that aren't ridiculous. Need new summery dresses for cheap? Yep. Golden. And then grab a cheap kapiti on the way out the door and your life is made.

I absolutely love Kmart for extremely obvious reasons. Not only do they have great bargains here,…read morebut they have almost anything you could want (although let's not get technical) and they are open until midnight- just three reasons there, but isn't that enough? The Botany Downs Kmart is my favourite. It's massive and I love exploring this place (although I do come here at least once a fortnight). The staff are great here, I'm always greeted when I arrive and when I leave and they're always nearby if i need to ask of something. Kmart is great for buying clothes to lounge around the house in at a cheap price and the occasional baking utensil (I just can't resist sometimes). My last visit had me going home with some new lounge trackies for $15 and 6 pairs of socks for $6- a really good bargain if you ask me. This Kmart also has the self-checkout service with handy hanger bins, and I definitely prefer to buy my items this way when I've only got a couple of items. Working in retail, I've seen Kmart sell similar styles they have in malls for a fraction of the cost and usually Kmart has better quality. Just goes to show that it's not always about brands and quality doesn't always have to mean a high price.