To any Auckland visitors in search of quality woolen products from merino wool baby booties…read more(purchased by a friend for her first grandchild) to top name jumpers or sweaters (purchased by me) you must make a stop at Great Kiwi Yarns. The quality of service is second to none. Anne jumped through a number of hoops arranging to have a sweater delivered to my hotel the day before I headed back home from vacation. The pricing for these name brands is comparable (if not better) to other stores throughout the north and south islands but without the variety and atmosphere at Great Kiwi Yarns.

This is a wonderful organic baby shop in Newmarket. Its great if buying something special for a…read morefriend, family or for your own baby like I did. When your baby is newborn its so lovely for them to be in the soft organic clothing they have available here at Naturebaby. As well as organic clothing, they also have bedding, furniture, strollers, laundry, toys, books and lovely skincare products. When I came here I wished I could buy everything as its all so beautiful and soft and just so organic.

I really love everything about this store. This is Australian designer Lisa Gorman's only store in…read moreNew Zealand and it sells some really gorgeous pieces of women's clothing. Gorman specialises in dresses, tops and trousers in really cool, funky prints. I think the great thing about it is that the clothing can really be worn by anyone of any age. Nothing in there is ever too short in the hem or low cut on the bust, which is perfect for older customers, but the cuts and patterns ensure that the clothes still look really trendy and hip enough for a younger crowd. My favourite things though are the shoes and boots. I've got a pair of little Chelsea boots from here and they are so comfortable and really well made from real suede. They have lasted for ages and I wear them all the time. The store itself is really spacious and is all wooden floors and walls, making it feel really organic, which complements the clothing perfectly. It feels very light and airy in there, so you can really browse for ages and the staff are always really friendly and give great advice as they clearly know the products inside out.

I absolutely love this store. Located on Nuffield St in trendy Newmarket, this store fits in…read moreperfectly. Everything in Gorman is beautiful. The boots are gorgeous - real leather, buckles, thick comfy heels - I was transfixed by them. Not to mention this great knitted clutch bag that was on display. And all that is before I even started flicking through the racks of clothes. How I wish I was a millionaire and could spend up large in Gorman!!! Every single garment was delightful; Gorman have managed to stock their store with items that are classic yet chic, fashionable and have a certain alternative, funky flare. This combination of styles means that Gorman is a shop that would appeal to a really wide age group. Both my mother and myself love their stock. It's just that great. The quality of the fabrics and the sewing means that even though items from Gorman may set you back a few hundred dollars, it's worth it. The garments and accessories you find in this store are the kind of pieces you can create multiple outfits around - they're staple pieces for your wardrobe, so spending a little more on them isn't too bad... Or so I tell myself! Bonus: One of the things that stands out the most about the stock in Gorman is the fabrics that have been used. They are amazing - really textured, bright and great quality - you'd feel like a million dollars in one of the pieces from this store.

If you're after some great New Zealand designers all under one roof, why don't you pop into River…read moreon Remuera Road in the heart of the Upland Road village. Here you will find a large mix of designer women's clothing, accessories such as jewellery and sunglasses, gorgeous shoes and even some other quirky gifts that would be perfect around the home. Whenever I am in the Upland Road village and walk past this store I can't help but poke my head in for a wee look as everything in there is stunning. If only the price was just as nice. River is definitely on the more expensive side. But it's here you are paying for quality of the goods. Originally starting in Keri Keri they still have a store up there selling the same fabulous designer clothing. There is plenty of street parking in this area. Just watch out for when it's a clear way, you wouldn't want to miss out on a new dress because you have to pay to get your car out of the pound.

I really love this store, it's such a great place to come for Australian and NZ designer clothing…read more They stock brands such as Cybele, Kathryn Wilson and Trelise Cooper as well as my personal favourites Lonely Hearts, Ksubi and Nom'd. Purchasing from this store feels like much more of an occasion, it feels special because it has a really boutique feel and everything is beautifully displayed. The staff here are really great and they help to create the friendly relaxed environment that this place has, I always feel comfortable talking to them and asking any questions they may have. I don't feel looked down upon here like I sometimes get at designer boutiques. The free street parking makes it very easy to spend a long time in this store as well as all the racks and tables full of absolutely beautiful clothing.

WORLD (fashion) brand is NZ made! Recently, I attended a morning event at the Britomart store which…read morewas enlightening & engaging. WORLD have 6 stores across NZ: 3 in Auckland, 1 in Wellington & Christchurch. I have purchased key garments from here over the years, however the collections are bold and brave - so not for the introverted! Fashion tees are priced from $149 up to $699 for a 'Prado' blazer. WORLD also stock Men's fashion, accessories, fragrance (from $245), candles (from $80) & Aesop (exclusive) body & skincare. Delicious, high quality, glamorous everything is WORLD. They do lay-by too, which is fabulous! Fantastic customer experiences, always.

Geoff's is no longer the in-the-know Auckland hipster's secret. Go here on Halloween and you will…read moresee what I mean. Luckily, Halloween only happens once a year but year round Geoff's is the place that truly does have everything. I am most often here for random products like baby oil ($6 for a small bottle of branded petroleum by-product at a supermarket? $2 here), fabric dye, art supplies, sewing stuff and what must be Auckland's cheapest fabric. No offence to Spotlight, but go here first if you need anthing crafty. There's ribbon, cotton, buttons, sparkly bits, belt buckles, bra pads, googly eyes, appliques, patches.... on and on and on. The fabric selection is no small part of the shop and the pricing fairly freakin ridiculous. You'll also find toys, costume jewellery, probably Auckland's biggest range of wigs and "ready-costumes" for adults and kids, as well as such essential props as tiaras, plastic swords, feather boas, cowboys hats, gloves, face paint and garters. There are paints, brushes, canvases, dyes, sketch books...... You can even buy paperbacks, hardware, kitchen equipment, candles and it just goes on. What I love most about Geoff's is that it has been around as long as I can remember and as far as I know, Geoff himself is still around too. My kids love coming here with a handful of coins and leaving with treasures and so do I. The staff are awesome and Geoff's is such a wonderful reminder to me that some things don't ever change, they just get better with age.

This place is AWESOME. Recommended to me by a fellow sewing friend, I decided to check it out…read moretoday. Walked in the door and thought wow, this place is a bit...crappy. But then I walked in further, through the narrow door and into a huge space, filled with all manner of crafty supplies! I was there to buy interfacing, and buy it I did - 5m for $5! Incredible prices. I also got a zip for $1.05 and a belt buckle kit for $1. The prices are insane, even cheaper than what I paid living in the US. I saw some gorgeous fabrics in there, too, but I'm trying to watch my fabric budget right now so I sadly left it behind...for now. The woman who served me was really friendly, carefully rolled up my interfacing and asked about my projects. I can't wait to go back and browse their fabrics some more, and they will definitely be my go-to place for notions, too! I didn't explore the rest of the shop too closely, as I had a sick husband in tow, but they have a huge range of paint/art supplies, party supplies, incense and other trinkets, and heaps of other stuff too.

"Zambesi" is a trustworthy NZ brand, having worn their clothes (with pride) for sometime now. Sort…read moreof like the NZ equivalent of Vivienne Westwood in the UK. Quirky, timeless pieces that last the distance! The shop in Newmarket is conveniently located in Teed Street (just off Broadway), with ample parking in a stones' throw. Only $1.50 for 30 mins! They also stock menswear, footwear, glassware, accessories etc. Service is first-rate. I went in to buy a dress today (that I had my eye on) and the sale had only finished 3hrs before I arrived, however I can still have the garment for the sale price!!! Smiling - ear to ear! Yelping down Teed Street!

A Kiwi designer fashion label with some great creations. There stuff ranges from very wearable to…read moreperhaps a bit weird. This is coming from somebody who has a reasonably conservative fashion sense, I am not out there to make a fashion statement on a daily bases. But Zambesi does cater for us fashion noobs with clothes that do not look to far out of the ordinary, yet do have edge of something a bit different. A while ago I bought a pair of corduroy pants from Zambesi, beautiful soft black material with a fitted cut. I loved those pants. I made the mistake of wearing them to a concert one day and they stretched in all the wrong places, that followed by piping hot machine wash completely ruined them, $350 down the drain YOLO.

"Cotton On Kids" is one of the best and most affordable (quality) children's clothing shops in…read moreAuckland - in my opinion. There stores are located normally in malls (LynnMall, St Luke's, Sylvia Park, Dressmart etc) with the exception of this shop - which is on a major shopping street in Takapuna. I was greeted with racks of tutus available outside the store, which made me smile (girly & colourful). The sales assistant was busy behind the counter and acknowledged me briefly. The merchandising was chaotic, slightly claustrophobic due to so much stock and not knowing where to look first. There are always great reductions on t-shirts, usually 2 for $20-$25. Lots of great girls footwear in particular, hair accessories and drink bottles for $6 when you make a purchase. I didn't buy what I wanted, however I still left content with my $2 charity bag full of boys clothes. Customer service needs improvement, nonetheless I will go back to my fav store in Sylvia Park next time! Nearly forgot - chilled bottled water is $1-$2 by the counter!