My credit card hates Incu. This damn store gets me every time. No matter how much I promise I'm…read morenever going to set foot in there again, I always manage to find a way to "just be in the neighbourhood" or end up clicking 'add to cart' on their website. Lately I've been stocking up on cute and quirky Karen Walker rings - delicate silver bands with skulls and lovehearts. Incu came to be in 2002 and has a strong philosophy of supporting emerging designers and interesting collaborations. (Incu = incubate, geddit?) They stock brands like Cheap Monday, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Antipodium, so both girls and guys cam emerge lookin' dapper.

For great clothing, the go-to place for most locals in Sydney is Incu. A store considered as one of…read morethe best boutiques in Sydney, it prides itself in bringing the best clothes that most stores don't carry. The clothes range from simple t-shirts to beautiful dresses from over 30 brands to choose from. Aside from delivering top quality clothes from Topshop and the like, the stores are creatively decorated and make shopping really fun! Visiting Incu will ensure that you have a fun time shopping for clothes and let you in on today and possibly tomorrow's hottest trends. Be sure to head upstairs to visit Marc Jacobs! Highly recommended!

I didn't realize this the first three times I've been to this store but now that I know I'm even…read moremore of a fan - Wild Lotus is a non-profit store where profits made go to both local and international communities in need. In particular they support children living in poverty in India, free food distribution to the needy, sponsoring free community based cultural events and promoting a holistic lifestyle of balance and wellbeing through educational programs. Wow. I loved it before because it has some very pretty stuff - gorgeous and original floaty silk dresses and long beads and silver earings that I haven't seen before. It's only a small shop but what they do sell is all quality stuff and now, I find out, sold in aid of socially conscious cause. What a delight.

Wild Lotus is part of the group of Lotus Pod stores dotted around the city (in Balmain,…read moreDarlinghurst, Surry Hills, Glebe and Woollahra) and while it's the smallest of them all, it adheres to the store's ethical concept that all profits made from sales are distributed towards communities in need. The store sells their own label, Alice Underground, which focuses on simple, feminine pieces like smock dresses, flowy printed skirts and oversized t-shirts - accordingly, a lot of the designs are one-size-fits-all so you can easily change how you wear them with belts or by using them with extra pieces of clothing. I used to come into this store a lot when I lived in the area, and pretty much always found something I liked - generally, this fell into the summery, beach cover-up category at a reasonable price. Last time I went the selection of stock was a bit random, but most likely they were just in between seasons.

Alexander Wang, Acne, Lover (Australian YAY!), Karen Walker, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Just a few of my…read morefavourite designer names available at Incu. Sure the prices are high but these are designer brands after all and to be expected. Although I have to admit Incu marks it up quite high. This place fits right into my approach to shopping. I don't shop often at all so I have a small wardrobe, but when I do I tend to buy investment pieces that would last me years. I have bought a few items here (mostly when its on sale) and even the most simple items look different when worn. My favourite designer is Alexander Wang and his casual wear line is amazing. He puts a bit of cool to my usual uniform of jeans and t-shirt! The assistants there are usually design students and are nice enough when approached. I guess the clothes speak for themselves and their demeanor reflective of most designer stores. Truth is, at current market conditions, I would rather shop online because you can get all of these designers on websites such as net-a-porter at much lower prices. But if I can't wait or if its sold out overseas, this is when I head to Incu. Lovely store with beautiful clothing.

Incu has two stores in the Galleries Victoria, the Mens store which I am discussing and if you a re…read morea woman or tranny, they have a women's store opposite. Incu is great, expensive but great, I don't often buy anything as I don't want to spend $45 for a singlet or $120 on shorts, but if I had an unlimited budget and less clothes I would shop there. They sell casual designer clothes from leading design houses and their clothes cover a range of styles, but are all excellent quality and extremely stylish. Although I try to keep my credit card in my pocket, I still like to have a browse.

Ruby & Min is a pop-in store. A pop-in store should not be confused with a pop-up store since the…read morelatter is not around for long and was therefore never designed to earn customer loyalty. This, women's boutique however, might. In fact, probably does. You - or as is my habit, I - pop in at moment's notice before or after coffee and brunch at Woollahra (this is very convenient since the store is ((again)) very conveniently located on Queen St in between all the cafes and general brunch spots) and see what's around. There's JuicyBear clothing (not juicy, but comfy tops and tees) of which I have one from here, and other designer-y stuff from Theresa Rawsthorne and Gary Bigeni among a few others. There's also undergarments (not much and designer-kind again), jewelry and heels. A women's dream, yes, but you won't always find something at Ruby&Min. Which is why you need to intermittently pop-in. Another reason to do so is because bargains exist here. There are two changing rooms at the back (with mirrors!) and the ladies working here are genuinely really nice and genuinely really helpful.

I always stop by Ruby & Min when I am shopping in the eastern suburbs. Their range of clothes is…read morealways unique, stylish and at a price point that you are confident in your purchase, and in your new item! Kate, the owner is also really lovely to chat to while browsing. I love this boutique in Queen Street.

If you love cute clothes for children, you can's go past Mini Pengiun.Owned by a lovely Chinese…read morelady, who has thousands on items, the store is a paradise of pretty little outfits for under fives. There's only one problem, what to pick becuase there's so much to choose from. I must admit there is an awful lot that I would not choose for my grandchildren becuase it's not to my taste but that still leaves a lot. The dresses are all frilly and lace, the sort of thing you would expect a doll to wear, the boys clothes are straight forward. Lots of colour but don't expect to see Fred Bare or Osh Kosh here. Mini Pemguin also has children's accessories.

'Scanlan' as many know it, has been a leading Australia fashion label for almost 20 years yet they…read morestill manage modernity and relevance. There are a few boutiques in Australia but the Paddington store gets a special mention because it is such a cool space - a converted Post Office. It is exactly that sort of unique creativity that you'll find in a Scanlan designed piece. The clothing is laid back luxe - beautiful material, crafted fit, effortless style. The accessories labels available in store like Christian Louboutin compliment the style of Scanlan perfectly. I recently looked far and wide for the perfect black blazer and found it at Scanlan. It set me back $650 (sort of what you would expect to pay here) but the investment is worth it for such a classic piece. The fit is impeccable. The beautiful thing about Scanlan is that it is authentic. This is a truly unique Australian label that does its own thing rather than copy international trends.

Fantastic European menswear that I haven't found anywhere else in Sydney. Great range of casual…read morewear too.

Considering the number of families in Mosman; there's plenty for mum, plenty for kids but very…read morelittle for Dads. Presumably Dad is too busy at work to care about clothing but for those who can make it out of the office Hayman is a little treasure. A cool(ish) gentlemen outfitters they focuses on Northern European brands and I'd say there target is: smart, fashion conscious men from mid-twenties on. This isn't a cutting edge fashion store rather a well selected version of David Jones. The windows always make me homesick as they often reflect outfits that my dad would wear and then I shudder and realise that my husband would wear them too. This is not bargain hunter territory. The owner once refused to discount a Ted Baker suit because he "has larger overheads than DJs, so they can do sales" - we drove to DJs and saved $150. If your wallet doesn't quibble then this could be a great little shop for a new shirt for that boys night on the town or dress down Fridays.

Perfect for Newtown, Tree of Life is stocked with hippy dippy fashion, homeware and accessories -…read morein a good way! I LOVE that stuff! Everything in the store is colourful, sequiny or bright; the clothes are similar to what you'd find at a market, but are of a good quality and a reasonable price. If you're looking for a summer dress with a difference, a pretty pillow for a housewarming gift or a heap of incense, this is your best bet. However, this is no flea market legitimised through incorporation - the stock is clearly carefully selected, and very rarely ventures into kitsch and tacky territory. It's boho chic, not hobo chic! It's also suitably westernised for our fashion tastes - although India and Asia are clearly the inspiration for the range, it's not so overwhelming that it can only be worn in Newtown.

Tree of life is more a shop for women, selling women's clothing and Jewellery, however they do also…read moresell home wares. But if you are not a woman but are looking to buy a present for a woman then Tree of Life is a worthwhile venture. They have a wide range of jewellery and the pricing is reasonable considering the quality. The products on sale many are Indian style jewellery and are generally quite exotic, yet tasteful and the great thing is the business employs fair trade practices in the acquirement of their stock, so it's nice to know there are some ethics behind the purchase you are making. So anyway I found a great gift of a woven beaded necklace & I grabbed myself some woven wristbands at the counter.