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.

I am trying very hard to resist the temptation to say 'Ooh la la!' Trying…read more Newly opened, this little store stocks items which are all imported from France. Having a desperate longing to visit Paris, I was hoping to be able to indulge some wandering down cobblestoned streets by the site of a few beheadings before having my 6th cognac for the morning fantasies. There's chandeliers, a gold clawfoot tub, and the nice lady working there was as French as you can get, but if this shop was the trade office for the nation of France, you'd think the entire economy rested largely on soap sales. I've never seen so much French soap in one spot. You can choose between brands of French soaps, including a terribly pricey range that claim to be 'dried by the winds of the mistral' and stamped with an 100 year old stamp. In Provence. Better be, for $14.95 a pop. The staffer was lovely, and the soaps and gifty things nice enough, but I suspect France has considerably more to offer than this. Anyone want to sponsor to send me and find out? I'm taking donations...

What a delightful exxperience visiting this shop. The fragrances and other products are lovely and…read morethe service is fabulous. The owner takes justifiable pride in the quality of everything on offer! Have been there on many occasions and always look forward to my next visit.

'Christmas Corridor' my witty fellow shopper quipped. Claustrophobes beware…read more If you want to feel beset on all sides by Christmas decorations, or perhaps harbour a quiet desire to feel like you're drowning in Christmas trees (hey, I don't judge), this is the spot for you. Opening hours vary on the time of year, so best to call for up to date details. I felt quite blinded by potato guns and politcally-dubious Christmas golliwogs in about 0.23 seconds, while managing to knock over a glitter-spattered angel at ground level, so my ability to accurately describe is limited. Grinch, me? Bite your tongue...

Beautiful traditional Christmas ornaments and atmosphere, a magical place to get into the Christmas…read morespirit.

I simply cannot visit Katoomba without a long, leisurely browse around Mr. Pickwicks. Over the…read moreyears, I have never walked out of this treasure trove without some unique find. If you are entering looking for a pristine shop, you will be disappointed. If you are stopping by to find surprises, you will be thrilled.

As I perused the shelves, chuckling quietly at titles like 'Little Miss Grouch', 'The Woman Haters'…read moreand 'Some Eccentrics & a Woman', the wonderfully gravelly-voiced staffer was telling a story about Winston Churchill's mother having her leg chopped off from gangrene after a fall from wearing Italian high heels. I always thought high heels were bad for you. Walking along the very well organised shelves of secondhand and antiquarian books downstairs, you also come across 'The Vault' - a kids room with chaise longue and all. There's glass cabinets full of antiques and collectibles, Satsuma vases and ancient Roman fibulae. Downstairs is the bargain section with lots of furniture, but head upstairs. First you pass an amazing actual magic lantern, slides and all, and up you go, up the echoey stairs that feel like you're walking through a repressive girls' school, of Enid Blyton era. Upstairs there's a big vintage clothing section, and more affordable books, from comics to a huge range of Penguins so you can stock up on your Worthy but Forgotten Authors. There's lots of chairs everywhere, inviting you to sit, and classical music seeps out from speakers all over the place. You will be steadfastly ignored by the staff unless you ask them something, as they show you the respect of assuming you can find your way around yourself. You could wander in Dickensian referenced abandon for hours.

Came here while we were driving through to go to the Three Sisters rock formation and just picked…read moreup some snacks like Cadbury, local M&M's flavour and of course some passionfruit. This town is really small, so I figured to buy things here, because it should be cheaper than the more metropolis area.

For such a small town, this was a large and new Woolworths. We were staying in a nearby hostel and…read moredidn't realize they didn't have bath towels or shampoo/conditioner for us. We were surprised and relieved to find Woolworths was open late and we easily found bath towels and travel sized shampoos/conditioners. We also picked up some Tim Tam snacks and juices (got to get your fruit and veggies while traveling). Woolworths was a lifesaver.

The four foot high alpaca out the front ought to give you a clue. It's all alpaca, all the time in…read morehere. Jumpers, scarves, blankets or knitting yarn if you want to knock up your own, all perfect for when the weather gets chilly. The clothing styles are quite plain and suited to an older clientele methinks, but I defy those toes to get cold in a thick pair of alpaca socks. That's if you can get in past the tourists taking a snap with the alpaca toy out the front.

From the owner: Alpaca is a remarkable natural fibre renowned for its thermal qualities, being light yet warm.read more

I hate shoes. Blessed with feet designed for sitting and not actually anything ambulatory, finding…read moreshoes that fit is a nightmare. I wandered up the stairs with a friend here to lend shoe shopping moral support. The ceiling slopes in, and you do feel like you're in an attic. Displays of (mostly expensive) shoes, handbags, scarves, hosiery etc. I barely even looked as a sale table boasting $350 'sale' shoes was a little out of my budget. My friend, bless her, picked up a shoe, found it a bargain, and asked to try it on. Nice staffer found the other for her, and she put it on, it fit, purchase finalised. No-one noticed me going blue in the face having a jealous fit in the corner, gobsmacked that anyone can just buy shoes like that. I'm off to try on 65 pairs, none of which fit. Again.

I LOVE shoes in the attic. True - they aren't cheap - but YEARS later, anything I buy there still…read morelooks terrific. And they DON'T stock shoes made in China - shoes that would not past tests for either longevity or stylishness. I love the bargain shelf - you wind up buying shoes that you don't need, but how can you resist - and years later, you are glad you didn't.

I have a vivid image of Mrs Peel. If she were a person, that is. Cat's eye 50's sunglasses…read more Ponytail. Bright red lips. Bobby sox and saddle shoes because she's sensible. Poodle jewellery. Killer vintage wardrobe mixed with modern designer pieces. Doesn't mind attracting a bit of attention, and saving up a total sequin overload cocktail sheath for when she wants to arrive in a room with a bang. Sarcastic barbs have a way of just falling from her lips. I think we'd be friends. This fab store used to be hidden down the back of another Leura arcade, but is now front and centre, windows full of modern, quirkily designed jewellery and vintage clothing for women and men. Inside is even better. I instantly swooped on a piece from a designer I used to love from my days in Newtown, who no longer seems to exist. Lovely lady staffer and I chatted about Japanese fabric-using designers while I was breaking my no unnatural fibre rule with my purchase. Almost air-tight, but a woman's allowed exceptions for vintage, right? Prices are pretty good, especially for Leura, the modern designer stuff is a bit steep, but that's what you'd expect. Staff are lovely, and the offer gift vouchers too, which I'm thinking would beat a Myer GV hands down in the Christmas pressie stakes. Newly glammed, I'm off to scour the cafes for someone in cat's eye sunglasses. I'm sure she's around somewhere.

A very sweet and mostly reasonably priced vintage shop particularly for a store in Leura. There are…read moresome truly gorgeous little jewellery pieces, cute retro bags and a good mix of new and vintage clothing pieces. It is a little cramped but they have made good use of the space they have been given. A few pieces here and there were a little too expensive for what they were but generally prices were fair. The staff are friendly and personable and I will certainly be back again when shopping in Leura.

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?

The squealing starts from some distance away. And not just from the kids…read more The giant gumball machine out the front gives you a clue. There's often a bubble machine spilling rainbows onto the street as well. Through the doors and stars gleam overhead, and it's everyone's dream of a toystore. Quality products, different from the mass-produced branded rubbish you get in department and chain stores everywhere (not a feminist-fit-inducing Bratz doll to be seen) and fantastic service. I had the most lovely chat the other day while stocking up on stocking fillers for my increasing number of nieces, nephews and friend's kidlets. While you can go all out for a fairy costume, a jigsaw puzzle of a picture of jellybeans, a magic tricks set or card games galore, there's plenty of cheap and cheerful items too. Gyroscopic bloodied eyeballs sit next to princess lip gloss, wind-up animals, dinosaurs of various make and size, Foucault's pendulum sets, stuffed toys, silly straws, die cast toys. While there's an emphasis on the nostalgic (1930's repro pin the tail on the donkey!) the sheer popularity of the place with any kid within shouting distance says a lot. Getting in here at Christmas time is not easy, and the owner tells me she stays open until 8pm every night in December. Every purchase, no matter how small (and you see lots of kids clutching sticky pocket money for a bag of blood slime or a super bouncy ball) comes with a really cute wooden peg, mine had polka dots and a cartoon fish on it. Little things like that, and great service bring us back in droves, sticky coins in hand.

From the owner: Our pedal cars will delight any young budding driver, and our porcelain tea sets are sure to light…read moreup the eyes of any little girl.