There are a few places like this I've come across in Sunnybank. Little boutiques I discovered…read moreaccidentally, hidden among a crowd of less inviting shops, full of less interesting merchandise. Julia has done a great job with her collection; the store is a decent size and it's packed with loads of adorable dresses. Looking at the labels most of them are imported. The prices are average and while the quality of some of the garments strikes me as a little questionable (it's the vibe of the thing), it's a great store and one that I will certainly be returning to.

Once upon a time Bardot was a pretty funky shop. Nowadays the store's merchandise seems stale. I've…read morebeen back and visited the Indooroopilly Bardot months apart and seen the same items still hanging in the store, something that would have been very unlikely five years ago. We can probably blame the retail sector slump for Bardot's disappointing offering. There is now even a "sale" section of the store (previously unthinkable in a hip, slightly upmarket store of its type). Certainly enough people visit the broader shopping centre. The shop aims to sell a hip take on all types of women's fashion - casual clothing, office wear, party dresses and accessories. A handful of cami tops seem to fall in the perpetually "OK" range here. Bardot has a wide range of camis, but even the tops I'm now drawn to fall slightly short of the mark. I generally walk out thinking, "I might get that top if I don't find something better elsewhere" and then I find that 'something better'. I'd love Bardot to find its feet again and haven't given up hope that the next time I show up, there might be some new stuff of interest.

For an awful minute, I thought I wasn't going to be allowed inside this shop. I tried the door but…read moreit wouldn't open, then realised that I had to actually ring a bell to gain entry. I am not sure if this is so they can scrutinise your attire before they deem you acceptable to enter ((thank God I was wearing a lovely vintage leather midi-skirt), but I did find it very off-putting. And, to be honest, totally unnecessary. C'mon folks, it's a suburban Brisbane boutique, not Karl Lagerfeld's headquarters! Once inside the luxe environs (and yes, it is beautiful - and you can tell that they did base the opulent decore on the old-style French couture salons) I was told by the slightly superior shop assistant that you can find everything to dress you from the inside out. There's lingerie, high end hosiery, jewellery (I spied pieces by Ericson Beamon - I'm not sure anywhere else in Brisbane stocks that), bags, and of course an achingly expensive range of Little Black Dresses. When I was there they'd just received some newbies by Valentino). They only stock European designers - although one Aussie label did make the cut (Aurelio Costarella). Needless to say, the prices are not for the faint hearted. Nor for the really young and funky. Whilst the collections are carefully chosen and there are some beautiful pieces, I can imagine it would mainly appeal to the ladies-who-lunch set and the older members of Paddington's "society" crowd. I've given it 3 stars purely because of the quality of the clothes - if you're after a little slice of European chic, you'll get it here. But if I were you, I wouldn't turn up in flip flops and denim shorts...

For a taste of imported designer fashion in Brisbane this is the place to go. I visited to purchase…read moresome lingerie as they are one of the few retailers in Brisbane stocking french brands. If I had endless time and funds I would have found many special pieces to buy that I would not get anywhere else in Brisbane. The staff we're knowledgeable and I felt like they really wanted to help me find the perfect fit for me. A wonderful shopping experience.

This is the first time that I have shopped at a H&M store, and as a guy who likes for clothes…read moreshopping to be as simple (and quickly over) as possible, I quite liked the store. The different clothes sections (Women's, Men's and Children) are separate to one another in a very deliberate way, the change rooms are managed efficiently and there is a good variety of clothes without it being too overwhelming. I found the staff to be reasonably nice, though the person at the door may not let you in if you are holding a drink. The main issue that I had with the store was that XL sized stock was either non existent or hard to find, when going through the different sizes. I am not sure whether they stock less larger sizes, or whether it was simply a popular size for men. I would definitely recommend giving H&M a visit at least once, and seeing whether it is your cup of tea.

Love this store so much! Really good quality clothes for teens, young adult, gents, kids and…read morebabies. It loses a star for me because the baby boy section is not very big. When you are a mum on a budget, you want to be able to dress your family affordably and while H&M does that, more selection for boys is needed. Overall a great shopping experience, very friendly staff and great prices.

Avoid online shopping! I use online shopping for almost everything and very very rarely need to…read morereturn anything, but this was a disaster in every aspect. The delivery was delayed, information was not accurate and no visibility to taxes and fares exceeded the original reported by over 50%! And the shop doesn't even allow international returns. Never ever again! And the dress unfortunately wasn't as good quality as described, which was the reason I wanted to return the item. Avoid this brand, not worth it!

Capsule wardrobe warriors lend me your ear. Samantha Ogilvie should be one of your handful of…read moreplaces to bring your wardrobe to life. Yes, price tags are more than your average Portmans top, but they're also pieces unlikely to be found on the masses and will last you a lot longer. Think: cost per wear. Cost per wear. Until recently, I'd been stupid and too intimidated to go into this stunning boutique. Stupid because the staff in here are friendly as pie and on the occasions I've now been in, I've felt welcome and never helicopter'd by a sales member. If you're looking for something that makes you feel a million dollars, without the price tag, and without the chances of seeing it on ever Thumbalina, Deidre and Harriet, then this is where I'd send you to shop.

I swear this boutique was transplanted directly from Noosa; it reminds me so strongly of many of…read morethe shops up there, and, less flatteringly, many women's clothing stores you find in shopping centres. It's definitely better quality than the shopping centre chain stores, but the styles are quite similar. A lot of horrendously bright colours and not especially nice patterns, with many of the items made of that semi-satin like material that so many resort holidaying mothers seem to wear. The shop itself is nice, unfortunately it's just not for me.

Unique to Toowong, PINK Fashion Gifts and Accessories is a small, basic-looking store hidden down…read morean alleyway just off Toowong Village. What it lacks in decor and character it makes up for in affordable, fashionable outfits. Looking for a dress, heels and a clutch for a big night out? Then you're more than likely to be able to find it here, and at a ridiculously good price. PINK stocks items from the likes of Cooper St and Mink Pink, with lower price tags than you'd generally expect. The prices range from $15-$300 (they sell formal dresses as well), but have very limited stock, size-wise. But definitely worth a visit to grab yourself a sweet bargain.