The Swarovski Boutique is as stunning as always and does not disappoint with the choice of fine…read morecrystals available to dazzle everybody around you! The shop is light and sparkly (two of my favourite things) and has masses of cabinets full of elegant and unusual pieces of jewellery, figurines and charms. I don't think it would be very fair to class the shop as being expensive for the goods that you get, but for an average budget it is over the normal price range. I bought a beautiful crystal ring from here for my 21st birthday and it still sparkles as it did when I first got it. Everybody comments on it, the quality really does show. For a special gift or treat, i'd recommend Swarovski.

This Swarovski store is sumptuously decorated with rich red walls and a splash of blue across the…read moreceiling, covered in glittering crystals. This illustrates perfectly the atmosphere of the shop - luxurious and flashy. The jewellery on display is a mixture of blinging, glistening rings, tiaras and necklaces in abstract shapes and more playful bows, hearts and fairies. The designs are quite varied but all with a recognisable stylised aesthetic. For all my general tendency to dismiss expensive glittering gems for their OTT frivolity there are a few pieces in Swarovski that are undeniably pretty. And the prices, though clearly not to be found in the likes of Claire's Accessories, are not through the roof for a jeweller's in the Victoria Quarter. The kind of thing a real actual person might splash out on for a special gift for a loved one. OK there are some pretty naff little trinkets among all the glamour but I think most people could find something that appeals to them...if not their wallet!

What a gorgeous shop! Situated in one of the more run down arcades in Leeds, Upstaged Vintage is a…read morewelcome addition to the thriving vintage scene. The thing that makes this one distinctive for me, is I could tell that the owners are very selective when buying stock. In many vintage shops, it seems evident that a large order has been delivered from wholesalers, and it doesn't always seem completely genuine. There is an old-fashioned, celebratory feel on entering the family run local business. With bunting and fairy lights decorating the place, and an iconic washing line hanging from the ceiling displaying 50's style lingerie, it feels special. I can't speak highly enough of the pieces on sale. The faux fur coats and numerous jackets are absolutely stunning. I tried on a classic pilots waistcoat and jacket. Complete with gold buttons and a stripe on the cuffs, it was beautifully tailored to fit a women. Collections of tea dresses and evening gowns from the 1930's to the 1980's adorn the interior. There is an interesting shoe section of the shop, with some truly unique pairs on show. Upstairs, there are further delights in store. It is a burlesque pin-up boutique; filled with a wide range of corsets, gloves, burlesque accessories and pin-up style lingerie. Dita Von Teese would be in her element. The woman running the shop was absolutely lovely, she was patient and attentive whilst I dithered over what to try on. There is a men's section of the shop and they also sell goods online. Although Upstaged Vintage is not in an obvious location, the treasure you uncover when discovering it, is reward in itself.

Who would have thought that tucked away in the Grand Arcade was a shop that is some kind of vintage…read moreheaven? No, not me, and so imagine my surprise to nip in the other day and discover it?! According to the guys in there people often say that they had no idea that it existed, which is really quite shameful, since it has been here for over a year! Imagine that. And all the delights that I have missed. The ground level shop space has two changing rooms, which you will need, and all the glorious vintage items that you could possibly wish for. There are beautiful eighties puffed sleeved dresses, glorious gorgeous full length coats - one in particular which was absolutely divine but sadly a size wrong for me. They also have some beautiful classy hats, gloves, scarves, shirts - you name it. It's hard to actually describe the amount of beauty within, you really must go and see it for yourself. The people in there are lovely, friendly and vintage fans themselves so you won't be short on advice either! Prices are ranging, but considering they are selling high end clothing for a fraction of the original price I would call it bargainous - investment pieces. The upstairs section also deserves a special mention in its own right. Set out as a burlesque boutique it has a number of beautiful items especially collected for ladies who perform burlesque acts. There are fitted corsets galore, of the finest quality, in a range of sizes. I couldn't sing louder about such a cool and exciting place to shop. It's beyond fancy dress in every sense of the word 'fancy', it is divine! You absolutely must visit, if only for a browse.

This shop radiates style. Already in the chic atmosphere of the Corn Exchange, The Hidden…read moreWardrobe's sophistication and originality more than matches its surroundings. The clothes seem to mainly consist of neutrals with splashes of colour throughout the shop. They seem to really experiment with textures of colour and varying hemlines. It is the perfect place to discover an outfit which will set you apart from a crowd. Although they aren't show stopping, the garments are all really interesting pieces, the Monkey & ELF label is particularly intriguing. Dresses flaunting cowl and ruffle necks, and beautiful sweater dresses with batwing sleeves fill the space. There is also a range of bags, belts and various other accessories. The decor is understated, but elegant, just like the clothes. The woman who ran the shop was very pleasant, eager to answer any questions. If you've never visited The Hidden Wardrobe before, I would advise you to go and discover its creative, sumptuous contents immediately.

The Hidden Wardrobe showcases the collections of independent designers in this minimalistic…read moreboutique. Most of the clothes are GORGEOUS, really inventive, quirky, and cool. Think draping, unusual shapes, cool prints, assymmetry...but not too pretentious! Most pieces are completely unique and would make a great gift. Prices are reasonable, expecially considering these are small up-and-coming designers and you would be buying something unique that you wouldn't find in a high street chain store. I saw a skirt I absolutely LOVE priced at £50, a top for £45 and a coat for £95. They also have regular sale items so you could find a bargain! If you have unusual taste and shudder at the thought or another high street chain store you may well love this place! Check out the website for more info and products.

Sometimes I like the story to be all about me. That may happen more often than it should. So it is…read moreme I'm looking after again and I feel the need of some shopping and jewellery splurging. You better be ready Share. Share is a jewellery and giftware boutique run by two brothers. They claim to have over 50 years of jewellery experience between them so all that time must count for something. And it does. It's a lovely unit on Street Lane and my purse is itching to be opened. Now I'm a sucker for charm bracelets and they do some real alternative options to places like Links. The Molly Brown ones are irresistible and are just undercutting the prices of some of the other places. I mean who doesn't want a jelly bean on a bracelet? Okay maybe it's just me then. So the jewellery is done now to fancy pants my house up and with the array of clocks and furnishings it is easy to do that. They've even got fancy ashtrays! I know! Perfect stop off for gift ideas as long as the budget will stretch.

Having seen the large glass windows and doors I could tell in an instant that this place held shiny…read moregoodies within. My magpie instincts drew me in and I made a beeline for their front door, only to practically walk into it as you have to ring the bell to enter. Nearly having left a face-smudge on the glass I almost didn't go in, for shame, but wanted to check it out having gotten this far! Inside there are hoards of shiny high-end ultra expensive jewellery and ceramics items. It was a bit of a duplicitous visit, in terms of my enjoyment, since I really had fun looking at the quirky and beautiful items but simultaneously didn't enjoy the slight feeling of being monitored - perhaps it was my cumbersome rucksack which put the fear of breakages within the staff? Nevertheless I felt a little ill at ease with my reception. Things got better later however, since I got a nice smile as I was leaving! My favourite piece of crockery was this sort of ergonomic cup, teaspoon and saucer set by Villeroy Boch - the teaspoon balances/hooks on the cup with a specific divet in its stem. Pretty cool, though I didn't dare look at the price. They also had a really sweet cupcake stand and tea set which I'd have absolutely no use for but I liked the idea of having one day! In terms of jewellery there were many exquisite contemporary silver items on offer, a cabinet dedicated to those very fashionable charms, many many shiny watches for him and some very expensive jewellery specifically for young girls - pearls and such. So there was rather a large range to choose from! However, the essential theme here is pack your wallet, we're not talking monopoly money. Should you wish to purchase this place is way more of an investment buy than an impulse buy, unless of course, you're loaded!

it was a lovely shopping experience we phoned in and Elle was helping us and she was very kind a…read morepatient and the had tones of stock of the tings I want very good

The Queen of the catwalk has not failed to amuse and bewilder shoppers yet again with her eclectic…read moremix of clothing available in her store. I LOVE visting this shop to see what crazy designs are new to the rails (and to check out what the staff are wearing). I don't think a lot of the things are very wearable or expensive but odd bits and pieces are really unusual and quirky. The shop is really quite small but has a lovely assortment of garments and a sparkling jewellery counter. I must admit, I was quite disappointed when i visited and couldn't get hold of the Silver Globe earrings that I really had to have for a wedding the following weekend. The lovely staff called around a few London stores and managed to get me a pair that was paid for over the telephone and posted out within a few days. I was really upset to find that the earrings soon became discoloured and started to leave a green tinge on my ears after wearing them. The shop said there was nothing they could do, even with a receipt. This really upset me as I'd paid over £70 for them. Since then, I haven't purchased anything but I still love looking at the designs. It's worth popping in for the bewilderment!

On a brief trip in town the other day I popped back into Memphis Belle, drawn in beyond temptation…read moreby the beautiful 50s dress outside. The lady, as ever, was a delight to talk to and I explained that although I did have an event to attend I had simply been longing for one of their dresses for sometime so wanted to try one on. The dresses inside are all rather fabulous, some in very bodacious cupcake prints, others in a more delicate rose print. Although there are a few with slightly different features to the design (some with more frilly adornments, others a little more standard) all have been lovingly made by Memphis Belle - something I'd not known previously! Essentially, the majority of items not in a packet have been made by these guys, which endears me even more to this gorgeous shop. The 50s style dresses really are stunning, with slightly sweetheart necklines, high waists and flowing skirts they're utterly flattering and I'm sure would suit all different shapes. After trying a number of different ones on, with lots of advice, I eventually chose one that we thought suited my skin tone best. (Being pale as death can be a real drawback.) They also sell the underskirts if you wish to make the dress more 'poofy', which I couldn't resist, so I came away delighted with a new outfit! For every aspect of retail this place is fabulous - from great products to customer service. I realise it's an entirely 'girly' shop, but if you're even a little tempted by glamming up I suggest you pop in and have a natter with the lovely lady who works here! There are all sorts of retro and burlesque style bits to choose from, or even simply some outrageous eyelashes...

Memphis Belle is really eye catching, perched neatly on the corner of the Leeds/Kirkgate Market…read more It's main items of sale are dramatic dresses, mostly varying around the 50's era and burlesque ilk with some more gothic. The windows outside are also decorated with mannequins legs flirtatiously portraying various colourful tights and high heeled shoes that are all wacky and wonderful. They also stock a wide variety of fancy dress type stock such as those packaged witch outfits or nurses attire, plus a load of jewellery, fake eye lashes, silly string and the like. I really enjoy having a look around in here, it is very busy on the eye and always draws me in and conjures up images of me dressed as a burlesque 50's lady at a party or just strutting around in some garish colourful tights. A huge amount fun to be had with this place, however is really quite small so navigating inside is hard to say the least when it's busy, and also wouldn't be the most wheelchair friendly.

This place is a haven of beautiful furniture. I had a recent trip here with my Mum, after…read moreChristmas, and we ended up buying a hoard of items-they've just so many wonderful things! Basically, if you're after unique antique furniture, this is a must-visit shop for those fabulous writing desks, blanket boxes, retro lampshades and so on. I bought an absolutely gorgeous writing desk, which is part display cabinet, for only £60 and for an extra tenner they delivered it to my door. (Of course, I had to persuade the lads I live with to carry it upstairs, but they got paid in coffee and mince pies.) The staff were excellent, helping me to mark which items I wanted to buy, and even searching through a bag of keys to find the right one for my desk. They've a number of clothes as well, although typically I find them a little more hit and miss, but essentially if there's anything you need in the way of furnishings you should definitely visit here first. They've odds and ends as well, chimney pots, large doors, glassware, tables -you name it and you'll probably find it. Essentially, it's so cheap compared to quality new furniture and it's all in the name of charity. I'm so pleased with my purchases! Awesome.

I discovered Poverty Aid as a student living in Hyde Park in 2004. It was amazing back then and the…read moreamazingness remains! Some of my best purchases have come from poverty aid, including my legendary purple velvet sofa, 1960's cage dressmakers mannequin, and no end of random kitchenwares! they have a really good furniture selection, absolutely loads of bric a brac, vintage items, clothes, books, records - you can find all sorts hidden away in there! The prices are great, they like to do some bartering and they now do delivery of any item to anywhere in leeds for £10. When I bought my sofa the 2 staff lifted it into my living room for me. Poverty Aid, I salute you! (And will be visiting very soon on a mission for a vintage wardrobe!)

I have a bit of a bad habit of staring longingly into the window of Year Dot. The owner always has…read moresuch beautiful displays of jewellery. Not only is there a whole rainbow of different precious and semi-precious encrusted items (rings, necklaces and so on), but there are a number of pendents, watches, cufflinks and other unique pieces for viewing. Inside the shop the shiny is intensified, a beautiful cabinet dedicated to sparkly jewellery, quirky ceramics and pottery, medallions and oddments are put on view. It is the antique and rare quality of the items within that will make you come back again and again, with an insatiable desire to look for that perfect one off piece. With the friendly manner of the owner/manager, who has many a time awaited patiently for me to decide on what I am going to purchase, you will find it easy to browse inside the shop despite its lack of space. Never a dull item, Year Dot is my favourite antique jewellers in Leeds.

As I am officially a magpie in human form, I can't help be dragged in to shops like this - there's…read moresomething in the combination of brassy yellow gold, antique pearls and sparkling semi-precious stones that draws me in with far more power than the ice-white diamonds and glaring platinum in a modern jeweller's window. As well as a veritable cornucopia of reasonably priced antique jewellery, this shop also stocks antique books, furniture and interesting - albeit ultimately useless - brick-a-brac. You'll need to squeeze past the crowd of people that always seem to be peering in the window, but take your time to look around inside and you'll find all sorts of treasures.