The ladies in La Femme are really helpful and they both spent plenty of time with me as I searched…read morefor a mother of the bride outfit for my mum. My mum is a larger lady and while La Femme does stock sizes up to 18/20 they are limited in the 20 sizes whereas other establishments stock right up to size 26. This is a good place to find really formal outfits and the attached shop has dressy more expensive everyday clothing. You can also pick up hats and jewellery in this nice, bright and spacious establishment. I didn't see anything to suit my mum but we will both be back very soon for another look. I drove by recently and there are some gorgeous new pieces in the window.

Again, being a male I have little need to go in here but I am stitching together information from…read moremy friends and family that have shopped here and they all found it a pretty good shopping experience. La Femme has earned a really good reputation for what I'm reliably informed are mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-groom or what somebody explained to me was a 'second wedding outfit'. This is apparently what the bride, or someone formally dressed changes into for the knees up part of the wedding day. From all reports this has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and they pride themselves on keeping up to date with all the latest fashions. This place is well worth checking out if you are planning a wedding and want to spend lots of money.

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.

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.

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.

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!

My wife has taken to upcycling old furniture so was on the look out for a sofa/chair for her next…read moreproject. This furniture shop is tucked away down an alleyway off Elgin Street and is packed full of retro new and used furniture. We found an excellent rocking chair which is sufficiently dilapidated but still has the potential to be a great piece of furniture!

I love clothes, I love quirky labels and I love not wearing exactly the same as 100 other ladeees…read morein Belfast so therefore, I love Lulu Blu. This little gem is loaded up with gorgeousness from St Martins, Desigual, Custo and Almost Famous to name a few. Every piece is quirky and makes you feel you really need it sooo badly it hurts. Every rail has got something which will make you throw a hissy fit to get it. What do you mean that's only me? Doesn't everyone stamp their feet in public? When times are good, I love to go to Lulu Blu and treat myself to something fabulous and although there are some pretty expensive pieces in there like Custo dresses for over £200, there are also some really affordable little gems like summer dresses around £30. Be quick though as those are the bits that are only on the rails for a few days. The more expensive stuff is perfect for special occasions when you don't want to run the risk of wearing the same as someone else. Social suicide darling, no? A word to the recessionista - the sale is fantastic, but again get your pretty little skates on as the bargains don't wait around for snoozers! Ps the jewellery is always fab and always affordable. Who actually needs food?!

A sunny, bright and welcoming shop that suits the quirky patterned dresses, tops and some very…read moregrand coats, that I would regard as best for getting dressed up for going out in the evening, embroidered with a gold and appliqué. I don't normally go for this sort of thing but I am inclined to have a good look once in a while, just in case there is something to change my mind, because it's a pleasant shop to be in and the people are friendly. Though not cheap you could be making a sound investment in buying something from here and if you don't see yourself in the clothes there are some beautiful bags of the same vein which should cheer up any outfit.

Liberty Blue used to be the shop indie boys would go to for their t-shirts and cord trousers. These…read moredays, it's where the hipster teenage girls go to get their fix. Basically, if you're an Urban Outfitters fan, you'll like this place. Hell of a transformation, no? Well, Liberty Blue pulled it off with aplomb, becoming one of Belfast's favourite boutiques. In fact, it's one of the only independent shops in the city centre these days, which is nice. It's a great place to go for a funky dress or a vintage-inspired top and while it is slightly more expensive than its high-street counterparts, sometimes you just have to be prepared to pay for something less ordinary.

I love this shop. It is a treasure trove of all things lovely!…read more It really reminds me of what used to be my favourite clothes shop in Dublin, Sabotage, on Wicklow Street in that it is quirky, fun, individual and stocks some classically stylish clothes. Liberty Blue tends not to follow any trends and instead trusts their customers discerning eyes. When I was at college in the city, I used to come here and browse through the rails of clothes hoping that all the studying would pay off and I would land a top newspaper job so I could buy all these lovely clothes. Seriously, I used to motivate myself to work harder by lusting after clothes I couldn't afford. It works! The window displays are usually very striking and are the thing that draw most punters in off the street. Inside the store is beautifully laid out, it's the kind of place which is a pleasure just to come in and browse around. There are cutesy skirts, cool Edie Sedgwick t-shirts, gorgeous dresses, both casual and fancy, Audrey Hepburn style cardigans and good music to boot. On display in the middle table there are some handmade broaches, rings and jewellery trinkets, funky tights and a battered old suitcase with some vintage belts in every imaginable colour- a snip at £4 each or 3 for £10. The jewellery also deserves a special mention, the necklaces are really cool, chic and very charming. Long gold chains with bird cages or little gold Eiffel towers. These necklaces have done me for many birthday presents this year, they all come moderately priced too. The assistants are really friendly and always make a point of saying hello, which is a really nice touch I think. Check out the sale rail down the back for some bargains. Prices vary and should suit all customers. The more expensive party dresses range from £50-£70 and there are really good quality dresses from about £20. Definitely cheaper than their contemporaries Topshop and Urban Outfitters. I don't mind paying money for something quality that looks unique and it's always an added plus to be supporting such a fabulous and unique local business.

I had never been in nor heard of this fabulous little shop until today…read more I took myself out on a stroll in the glamorous Lisburn Road (I don't remember it being that glamorous many years ago when I was crawling home in the early hours with half a kebab all over my beck and several drunken students singing the the best of Take That!) The housing in this area is expensive and this attracts a well to do lot to the area. With well to do ladies comes lovely expensive clothing that they want to sell. And so Deja Vu was born. The shop works by a client leaving in a high end piece of clothing, shoes or accessories and then the shop sells it for them for 50% of the price. There are loads of beautiful tops, dresses and skirts from really posh designers - gorgeous. It's like a second hand shop with a difference. They also stock mother of the bride/groom outfits that have only been worn once, originally cost hundreds, even thousands and are in perfect condition. I wish I had have had more time to browse but I didn't - the woman who runs this place is the best sales assistant I have come across yet - lovely to chat to, no pressure, takes time, points out bargains and really seems to want to help. I'm sitting here wanting to go back for another look about. Great!

The Lisburn Road can be pretty pricey and sometimes a little conservative for a fashion-savy lady,…read moreand for that reason alone thank goodness for Deja Vu. Selling pre-worn designer (and not so well known, ahem, designer) ladies clothes, this place is a treasure trove of joy, often with quite unusual and rare pieces, perfect for when you don't want to turn up to your posh do with someone else in the same frock! That's what I love about here- the individuality. Super reasonable pricing too for what you get. They do turn around a good lot of clothes here and as they are second hand they may not have a huge variety of sizes, so if you see something you like don't dwell on it, just buy or it will be gone!