There's not nearly enough gorgeous boutiques named after Ancient Roman Orators…read more Sigh. My favorite boutique ever. I have expensive taste, and not the budget to match it. But with frequent sales and very often a sale rack, I've bought the odd drop dead stunning designer concoction here. There's a red dressing-table like long couch for your shopping companions to sit upon while giving the requisite thumbs-up or -down response as you parade something you never want to take off. Staff are fantastic, one went to a great deal of trouble once to try and source me a replacement for a red winter coat after an accident with City Rail, rain, no signage and floor paint. Don't ask. They stock Lazybones (great cotton vintage inspired Australian designs) although the staffer the other day tells me they're getting harder to source, Katherine and Odd Molly. Amongst others. A few groovy shoes and handbags too. Desperately want an Odd Molly piece with not-really-making-sense writing all over it and Scandinavian embroidery. Sigh, one day.

If Sherman and Betty were a couple, they'd be cool and relaxed, but not so relaxed they didn't care…read moreabout good design, had a conscience about supporting local craftspeople and designers, with a slightly quirky sense of humour. Sherman probably wears the odd vintage Hawaiian shirt, Betty sports cats eye glasses and makes her own felt jewellery that looks like bodyparts. Or so I imagine. This lovely little clothing and accessories store seems more at home in inner city Melbourne or the upmarket end of Newtown than Katoomba - a place more known for shapeless rainbow woollens that well-designed, super-thin but warm merino numbers. All Australian made, the items here have clearly been lovingly selected. There's a gorgeous hand screenprinted skirt that really wanted to be friends with me, I can tell. The shop's open and bright, and perfect for those willing to pay that little bit extra for pieces that are well made, of good design and locally produced. Bags, hats, jewellery, clothing for men and women, the store's got the lot from design labels like Hikenbiker and Otto & Spike. The lady staffer was most kind, and I'll be back to visit my skirt before too long, I suspect. I think it wants to come home with me.

The hipster heart of Katoomba. I'm always telling people…read moreabout this gem of a store and they are always asking 'where is it?' Come on people. It's under the library - aren't you reading much these days? Pop in and visit both when you're passing. Fantastic wardrobe building pieces in super light and warm merino, great for layering in our cool climate and all made in Australia. And a great range of funky fashion pieces and accessories. Clothing with altitude.

There's a wurlitzer at the top of the stairs. Four rooms packed with vintage delights as well as…read moresome modern reproductions. Stacks of hats and glasses (heart shaped sunnies anyone?) 1950's dresses and rockabilly repros. Lots of menswear too. Out the back there's a smattering of homewares, bric-a-brac and books. Love a shop where you can buy antique gloves and a stretcher to keep them in tiptop shape, a Superman tie or one of those weird turbans 1940's vamps used to wear in black and white movie just before they led some poor hapless chap to his doom.

I should love this store, being fatally addicted to Vintage kimonos. But where can you wear them, I…read morehear you ask? Well, that depends how comfortable you are with looking eccentric. Renommee has another option for this dilemma, hence the discomfort. They sell clothing made from Vintage black kimonos, with the design cut off and reconfigured into a full length skirt. For $180. Can't quite decide if that's clever (if pricey) upcycling or just butchery. Several of the kimonos they had in stock the other day were less than that. By a bit. I think I'd rather the real thing. It's not just kimonos, most of their stock is recycled designer pieces with a few handbags and shoes thrown in. They're quite expensive, and I've never been tempted enough by anything to swallow the prices. Good for quietly drooling over the kimonos though. They've got a bunch attractively displayed which make quite a sight.

Tiny, but full of bursting bright colour. Currently, they've got a display of vibrant parasols in…read morethe window and hanging from the ceiling. Maharani sells women's clothing, mostly with an eco bent and often by Australian designers. Have my eye on this fab grey pinstripe skirt reminiscent of a bustle at the moment. Lots of jewellery too, some of the tribal kind (love it), as well as a smattering of accessories and gifts. A friend bought a great brown leather messenger bag (Billy Goat designs) from here, and I rarely see them apart. They have that great leather smell as well, so, on second thoughts, not the best place to bring a vegan. I haven't had much luck trying on the super-uncomfortable felt clog shoe things. Eek. But their range of clothing is great and not super pricey, the staff nice. It's obviously aimed at a slightly younger market (ie: under 50) than some of the other boutiques in Leura. Bustle skirt or fab chartreuse green stripy one?

There's generally not a lot going on in Bullaburra. Highest concentration of Yowie sightings in the…read morecountry apparently. And the 1st Saturday of the month, the Bullaburra markets. Right on the highway, with parking on Noble Street, this little market is full of treasures from bellydancing outfits and local honey, to books and tools. There was even a stall selling jam with profits going to MSF. My little treasure this time was not the Jane Austen eat your heart out teacup I bought for a snap, but the story that came with it. The lovely lady enjoined me to start my bone china collection now, dear, and put them in a glass cabinet. 'With all the handles pointing at 5 o'clock.' 'Umm, why?' I'm game. 'Because that's how the Queen has it.' She emphatically nodded. 'She has her tea at 5, and the handle's always pointing to 5 as well.' I smiled. I pity the poor creature who has to align the queen's teacup handle every day (job satisfaction? not so much), but was grateful for the story. Learned my new thing for the day, and it came with a crown. Although my cup's going on a bookshelf in front of a collection of Voodoo anthropology, with the handle any way it pleases.

I walked past the window here once and filling it to overflowing was a display of Korean kimonos…read more Nearly fainted. It's probably a good thing that this isn't an everyday occurrence, as this Presbyterian Church run charity shop stocks more everyday wear usually. The pickings were a bit sparse the other day, but I've found some lovely things in the past. Everything is arranged by colour, and the (cheap) prices clearly marked. They have a good range of kids clothes and the odd bit of manchester and bric-a-brac. The staff are very chatty and helpful and although most of the stock is fairly recent rather than real vintage, it's worth keeping an eye on. You might just stumble across a treasure.

Story of my life…read more This fab secondhand/antiques store has some great bargains for the stylishly strapped for cash. Furniture, a great pile of persian rugs, books, crockery, you name it. Adorning my wall right this very moment is a portrait I picked up here. It's just a study of a woman, it looks to have been done in the 1920s or 30s and it is very rough around the egdes. I love it. For some reason, the signature is upside down in the top left hand corner (unless the whole thing is meant to hang upside down) and the woman's white coat is rendered with the most wonderfully rough and scumbly texture. Everyone asks if it's me (looks NOTHING like me) but hey. And I'm so the type to have a whopping great portrait of myself on the wall. In another life. But the point is - fab old portrait study by someone who could really paint - picked up here a few years ago for $3. Yep, couldn't believe it myself. A must see place if rummaging is your thing, and the prices can be a lot better than you'd expect. If only they were open more often.