Not for the plus-sized! Couldn't fit their biggest size (I usually wear 18-20) and they refused to…read moreprovide a refund, only offering store credit for a store I can't use. Body discrimination and theft.

Great store and customer service as well as quality and fashionable clothing at a reasonable price.read more

I held my breath as I crept through the door, looking around for a Style Authority to chase me out…read morewith a look of icy disdain. Nobody. Hmm. I crept in a little closer, taking in the distressed wood surfaces, the minimalist racks. Aah, staffer is on the phone in the next room. I might have a moment then. Oh my. Akira Isogawa designs and superlatives are hardly strangers, but to see them up close is quite the experience. Don't misunderstand me, I consider Fashion TV a form of penetential torture to be endured while getting my hair cut, I don't think I've ever bought a Vogue, and couldn't care diddly about what the latest skirt length is this season. But beauty earns its own respect. The lady even flashed me a smile as I inched my way into the far room, growing bolder by the moment, but she didn't get off the phone, which was a blessing. I got to run my (very clean, honestly) fingers over the silk, and imagine what these cloudlike suggestions of clothing must feel like to wear. Some were on sale, but no, there's no way I can afford them. But thanks for not running me out, scissors slashing and hurling pins at vital acupuncture points. I feel like this should be categorised as 'Art Gallery', for which I should have left a gold coin donation in gratitude as I slunk away, silkily serene.

What's there is what they have--if your size is not there, don't ask. I was told in a much nicer…read moreway, but it's good to know. Well organised, easy to find things which is shocking for me in an H&M

The new H&M store in the Pitt St Mall is enormous!! I've been to the store at Macquarie Centre a…read morecouple of times, and have bought a number of items from a top to a bikini to thongs, but wasn't that impressed with the selection - there wasn't that much that grabbed my attention, plus it's such a cramped shop. That's completely different at the Pitt St Mall shop, with all of the huge ground floor plus much of the second floor being devoted to women's clothing alone, with easily twice of the floor space at Macquarie. The aisles are also wider, there's so many more eye-catching displays, and so much was so tempting to try on. Or not try on, given the huge queues for the change rooms (just like at Macquarie Centre) - it's probably easy to take it home and try on in comfort, then return (within 30 days) if you don't like it (well, I'm sure that's what the receipt mentioned). I made it as far as the Home section, where there were lots of great cushions, knick-knacks and summery bags. Most of it was organised by theme rather than item (so the cushions were scattered around), making it difficult to just look at cushions, say, but easy to see what goes together. I didn't make it as far as the top floor with men's and children's wear. Tip: Rather than queuing for the register at the ground floor, try those in the Home section for no queue.

Gail Elliott is a former top model turned fashion designer. She married an ozzie some time ago and…read moremoved to Double Bay where the Little Joe head office for the multinational label is located. But don't let the fact that a model-turned-designer turn you away - it possibly would me if I hadn't seen the clothes in the flesh - there's been so many Kate Moss types doing their own thing and not necessarily with success. Little Joe started of with camisoles and slip dresses but now have a range that can fill a wardrobe with beautiful, slightly hippy and sexy original cut pieces. Expect to pay $300 for a dress, $110 for a singlet. Pieces are pretty with usually something unique about them - the cut, the material. The friendly blonde in the shop said Gail frequently visits her stores and is super lovely... which is nice to hear - who wants to buy a snooty so and so's clothes. A favourite piece is the laser cut suede and scalloped sleeves and hemline Loving Cup dress from the Love in Exile Summer 2011 Season for $549. Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9.30am - 6.30pm Thursday: 9.30am - 9.00pm Friday - Saturday: 9.30am - 6.30pm Sunday: 10.00am - 6.00pm

The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) was built in 1898 and designed by 28-year old architect, George…read moreMcRae, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place during a severe recession. How? The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen - stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. The Stained Glass The visual message of Sydney's coat of arms on the cartwheel stained glass window, is that the beehive depicts business, the sailing ship - trade, and the dolphins - the harbor. Panel 1 (on the left-hand side) represents the Council of the City of Sydney and symbols of architecture, while the letters I.G.B., on panel 3 (on the right), represent Ipoh Gardens Berhad, the Malaysian company who restored the QVB in 2009. The symbols are of property developers - the builders. The bottom central panel represents the heraldic symbol of a finished building, and the joining of two hands denotes the fusing of two cultures. The Queen's Secret Letter There is a letter from Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of Sydney, to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in the year 2085. The Queen Victoria Statue Outside the QVB, on Town Hall Place, facing The Town Hall are the Royal Wishing Well and Queen Victoria's statue. My experience: This is the second time I have visited this building and on the second time, I found even more hidden historical things of note. It's a remarkable way to feel like you've stepped back in time, whether that's through shopping or through grabbing a coffee or tea and sitting in the atrium, taking it all in. TIP: Go to Haight's for some chocolate!

A must see building and a wonderful place to shop! Such fun stores and an incredible building to…read morewalk through. Very skinny as a building design which makes it so interesting to go through. Different floors to explore too! Love the historical building with some modern twists of restaurants and shops.

Where do you go if you need competitively priced, fashionable clothes? The answer, of course, is…read moreSportsgirl. Don't be fooled into thinking that they only sell sports clothes (although that would be a natural assumption to make, wouldn't it?). Instead, Sportsgirl has a wide range of dresses, tops, jackets, knitwear, skirts, pants, jeans and shorts for women. At first, the hustle and bustle of rummaging shoppers was quite overwhelming. I must've been standing there looking quite dazzled, because immediately a shop assistant came over and asked if I needed any help. As it so happened, I did, and she obligingly whisked me around the store, throwing various items of clothing over her shoulder for me to try on. She delivered me at the threshold of the changing rooms, before introducing me to her colleague, Tim, who would be my stylist. I'm not used to this level of immaculate service, especially from a high street store. Tim rushed to-and-fro, bringing me a whole load of tops and shorts to try on. He was refreshingly truthful about what looked good and what didn't (much more so than friends usually are) and even suggested other stores where I could find similar clothes. My Sportsgirl shopping experience was fantastic - fun, easy and I was taken very good care of. I'll definitely be going back.

Pyrmont's hidden gem! Specializes in women's and children's fashion vintage and new, vintage…read morehomewares and gifts.

Buyers beware! Arduous return process for faulty items. Offers of 30% of return to keep a faulty…read moreitem. Poor quality clothing and poor customer service. Do NOT buy from Rebecca Ruby.

Rebecca Ruby imay be a small women's clothing boutique tucked away in the Met Centre, but it's…read moreworth the hunt as it has great clothes at really good prices. For months I had walked past this tiny, crowded boutique while on my daily coffee jaunt, and one day I did a spur of the moment drop in and I am glad I did as their clothes have become the mainstay of my work wardrobe. The business is owned and run by the designer, Rebecca, and she is very proud about employing a fully local team every step of the way; even her patterns are drawn and cut locally! The dresses all sell for about $99, and tops and pants are between $50 to $60.so not only am I supporting a local business, I am getting great value for money while doing it. Best of all she uses wash and wear, machine friendly type fabrics so there's no expensive dry cleaning and no ironing - best of both worlds. The one criticism I have about this otherwise awesome boutique is the Part timer who works there - she tells you everything looks perfect on you and as soon as you don't buy what you try on she loses interest and you get no further help. The easy work around is to make sure you drop by when Rebecca is there, as she is really helpful and will be honest about how you look in the outfits. A great little local business with great prices!

I walk past Glamourpuss once every couple of weeks or so and can never resist at the very least…read morehaving a quick squizz through the $10 rack out front. There are always some cute tops or skirts on this rack,and when you step inside you discover a mix of recycled designer items, some new with tags, bags, scarves, accessories- you name it! The lady behind the counter is happy to leave you alone to do your thing (I can't stand stand shop assistants who are clearly only being overly attentive because they're bored.) and there's always a pretty good chance of finding a nice piece at a nice price.

This is the type of shop I love in theory, but in actuality, it never quite lives up to it's…read morepromise. Vintage shopping is one thing and shopping at op shops like Vinnies and Salvos is another. Glamourpuss Boutique, however, falls in some sort of middle ground. It's all nice stuff, but it's on its second life. And for some reason that gives me the creeps. I stopped in the shop for the first time last summer and found some Sass and Bide jean shorts that I really liked. The problem was, all the buttons were hanging by their last threads and the price was still $40. Cute as they were and as easily as I could have sewn those buggered buttons back on, I couldn't justify it. Other times I have been beckoned in by the usually well dressed single mannequin that stands on the sidewalk. With sections arranged by size and style, I will say it's easy to have a browse, but for me, not so easy to find something that suits my taste. Because the merchandise is constantly rotating, maybe you'll have a better luck. And if nothing else, the owner is full of nice things to say.

I love House of Leather, I really do. House of Leather is located on both sides of Wynyard station,…read moreas two separate shops, and they're both great. For such a small space, House of Leather has an impressive variety of shoes. They also sell handbags, but the variety there is not quite as large. The shoes, the shoes are where the action is. You can find almost any style you're looking for, whether it's flats, boots, kitten heels, stilettos, or sandals, and you can find them all in a range of colours and patterns. Plus, they have some hefty sales on now and again (there's one right now, 30% off), and their prices are fairly reasonable even without the sales. Have a look!

House of Leather sells more than just leather handbags. Although the name suggests otherwise, the…read morestore actually sells gorgeous shoes at heavily discounted prices. Situated within Wynyard Station, House of Leather has plenty of traffic thanks to the thousands of commuters who pass by. I was attracted to the store because of the very reasonable prices and the many shoes displayed in the window. Despite being a reasonably small store, the shop has plenty of stock and a range of sizes. The shoes are beautiful and are made even more attractive by their pricing. If you work in the city and love shoes, House of Leather is definitely a place to drop by for a quick window shop!