You know how sometimes there's shops you want to visit but you don't dare walk in because you feel…read morelike it is too cool for you? Sunday Social was one of these shops until today. With friends visiting from San Francisco we were exploring Winn Lane and I finally ventured into this small nook known as Sunday Social. Upon walking in I realised it was the exact opposite, there's something for everyone here. Full to the brim with carefully selected vintage clothes and accessories I began searching through the racks with endless pieces catching my attention. I couldn't resist walking out of the store with two tops for $90, which, if you think about your mainstream stores could easily equate to one top that a handful of others will also be wearing. For the same price I've gotten two tops, that I'll be hard pressed to find others wearing. Best of all as an introvert, the sales assistant let us just browse without hovering over our shoulders at every second. Sunday Social feels like discovering a secret world of clothes with great stories. I'm so glad I walked in and know I'll be back to revisit their racks for one of the kinds from this vintage wonderland.

Yay, more vintage! Sunday Social is a really cute little place nestled in the tiny Winn Lane market…read morearea. I had never even heard of the Winn Lane markets until my friend suggested we stop by on one of your shopping trips in the Valley. The lane is lined with drawings on the walls and market stalls, all filled with lovely jewellery pieces and vintage wares. It reminded me a lot of the lanes and alleys you find in Melbourne so I was more than enthused to see what was down there. It's so nice and secluded that you feel a little like Alice going down the rabbit hole. Anyway, enough about the lane itself. Sunday Social is perched at its end like a tidy little cottage. It's a tiny, gorgeous little shop with vintage clothes and pieces, including a very sweet range of shoes. Indie kids would have a field day in Sunday Social, but I also think it has a little something for everyone. Their pieces are just so gorgeous with bags hanging in its middle with accessories dotting the central table. Guys are confined to a rail and a few shoes but girls have their pick. They have clothes from cute peter pan collared dresses through to funky light, fluttery tops. There's also a really random but totally awesome Indian headdress behind the counter the wall too, just for a little bit of flair. I hear this gorgeous little place went from being a market stall along Winn Lane to a now staple store with four walls. It's no wonder, because they have such gorgeous novelty vintage pieces that you'd be crazy to pass by. Sunday Social has no phone number as yet but you can email them! sundaysocialstore@gmail.com

The Lifeline Book Shop on Oxford Street stocks a great range of antique and second hand books, as…read morewell as some knick knacks for your home. Stop by and grab a book to read, grab a coffee from Mugged across the road and then head over to the park to sit under the shade of a tree and enjoy the day. Bliss!

Blink and you'll miss it, but the lifeline on Oxford is a…read moreveritable gem amongst the thrift stores. Selling a large contingency of books, the shelves here are very neatly organised and offer some quality titles. The display cases here are also worth a gander as they can offer up some real bargains. (Especially in the way of cameras, an old canon only sets you back $80 here!) ...But the reason why I love coming here has to be the staff. The lovely lady here is hands down the friendliest op-shop attendant I've experienced in Brisbane. (..apart from the Ipswich flower mill nanna.) With it's easy Oxford location and thrift store prices, I highly recommend popping in.

I didn't go into this store because I wanted to buy homeware goods. I wanted to see what had become…read moreof this building - or rather, house. The structure has struck me as beautiful for years; when I was a child, this house was literally my dream house. I visited this "house" today. Because I wasn't intending to buy anything I looked at it all without worrying about price tags (though when I did glimpse a few it confirmed my suspicions: expensive). I felt like I could therefore just enjoy the store as an experience, because the homeware items, toys and antiques here are really quite quirky. I wandered about, absorbed in what felt like looking at art, and suddenly there was a bustling cafe in my face. I realized I'd become so absorbed I'd hit the base of the stairs leading to a cafe. Even the existence of the cafe seemed other-worldly; you don't see many coffee shops inside homeware stores. Unsurprisingly, I got lost on the way out. (Partly the result of embarrassment over having almost fallen onto stairs, partly because the place is quite maze-y.) A lovely staff member approached me, comprehended my dilemma and helped me. She also laughed at my self-deprecatory jokes, which is obviously the most important thing.

Blake and Taylor sell some of the most adorable furniture and home-wares that are either recycled…read moreor new pieces with a vintage edge. This store is not cheap but the merchandising and make a fun experience. This is the sort of store I can imagine myself shopping in if I ever become a 'lady who lunches' so I could invite my friends over for tea and show off my Blake and Taylor furniture. A lot of the things sold here have a vintage look that somehow manages to look modern. I think painting everything white and keeping everything free from too much embellishment is what makes things look chic rather than look like something your grandma would have in her guest room. I found the most amazing vanity at this store. It was all white with a huge round mirror and there was a cute little stool to go with it. It was adorable but at $350, I really did not need it (who really NEEDS a vanity anyway). Blake and Taylor is a treat to visit. Even if you are not a "lady who lunches" yet, it is a nice store to walk around and look at all the pretty things.

I honestly expected a place named after a British comedy show to be a little tacky, but absolutely…read morefabulous is far from tacky. There's weird and wonderful knick-knacks, toys, books, and gadgets to delight and entertain even the dreariest of company. There is choice everywhere you look: For that morbid friend you have, there is a guide to hypochondria; for the friend that won't trade in their old wallet, there's a range of vibrant colours ad luggage to match; for the friend who's trying to make their place more homely, there are countless pillows and kitchen utensils with a twist, pant-shaped egg cups, and china sets; and for lovers of jewellery there is a vast array of wooden styles to add an earthy feel to your outfit. There are just bits and pieces of everything littered around this store, in a good way of course. Everything is almost retro-modern, especially the furniture they have sitting outside the door. Absolutely Fabulous is that place where you know you'll find a birthday or Christmas gift for anyone, because their range is far too widespread for anyone to dislike anything.

Absolutely Fabulous is one of those stores that will impress…read moreeven the grumpiest person in your clan. I have seen all sorts of people happily walk through the Ab Fab doors ...and really why not? This place is one of the best little retro/gift stores around. A haven of quirky goods and trinkets, this place has everything from bird key holders, pug bookends and novelty shower caps to art cards, beautiful gift paper and vintage ornaments. This store is in my arsenal of places to go to when a person is annoyingly difficult to buy for or is someone I don't know very well. (I can guarantee you will find perfect gifts a plenty here.) Ab Fab is worth a definite gander when out and about in Woolloongabba!

Outstanding customer service from the lady working here. Unlike a lot of other discount stores,…read morethings were kept in a very orderly way, even though they were short on space. There were a tonne of options for travellers.

Another gem for craft enthusiasts, and anyone happy to poke around. A great number of good stock at…read morediscounted prices. The staff are helpful, and pleasant. I have been coming here for a long time. Their home decor and thoughtful gift lines are wonderful, if you are content to take your time. Storage, stationary and seasonal lines do change occasionally, basically their is good. Good place to explore, and discover more, of what you suddenly, think you must have? Enter at your own risk, and enjoy!

Oohlala, oui tres bien! My French may be awful, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the…read morecharming quality of The French Corner. The shop boasts an air of cluttered decadence; everything is kind of mashed into one place but it only adds to The French Corner's magic. They have some singularly gorgeous pieces, including a thickset white bedframe and the most amazing 20th century vanity and mirror I have ever seen. They also have an array of dazzling jewellery and accessories littering the side cabinets. Wading through the organised chaos is half the fun, because it allows you stumble across some hidden treasures. Just make sure you don't bump anything. I find that walking into The French Corner transforms you into a glutton; you can't just stop at one item. Once you pick up one thing you see a million others and can't bear to leave them behind. And yes, some of their pieces are rather expensive, but they also have a range of fairly priced items - most of them unique items that you'd be hard-pushed to find elsewhere. You can distinguish the shop easily from its trademark sign and if that fails, its beautiful vintage luggage and dressmaker mannequins lining the shopfront will give it away. It's an excellent place for gift ideas and for bits and bobs to add a stylish and quaintly furnished touch to any décor. If you're in the area and have some spare time, I definitely recommend popping in for a look and getting lost in another world.

Driving along Enoggera Rd, The French Corner entices you to stop and have a look. You know it is…read moreopen when the entire outside is lined with unique furniture, classy mirrors, old clocks and all sorts of other glorious decorations. You can tell that it gets a lot of customers from the road as cars pull up out front just for a quick browse. It is the kind of store that is way out of my price range (most of my furniture is second hand and falling apart) but is filled with the stuff I dream of having. There was an old clock outside that I would die to have but the $260 price tag was enough to stop me from impulse buying it. Walk inside and there are three rooms packed with everything from a dining table to a small model vespa. If you are like me and never know what to get someone for their wedding, or birthday than this is the perfect place. Everything is that little bit fancy and very very French. There is barely enough room to walk and if the place has more than a few people in it you end up doing those awkward dances to get around each other. But it is well worth it just to look at all the decadent decorations they have on offer.

This op shop is the other must-do-weekly-on-day-off essential. It's a well organised, roomy store…read morewith plentiful designer labels in good condition, great shoes, good selection of linen and furniture; and the stock turns over quickly. They have a loyalty system, so ask for a card. When it's filled you get $$ equal to 10% of what you spent on your card. They will keep your card under the desk too (if you ask) so you don't need to remember to bring it. Parking can be tricky, but it's worth walking a block or two :)

The Vinnies Store in Newstead is the cream of the crop in terms of bargain, thrift & op shops. The…read morefriendly volunteers here tell me that all the best donations from the city usually end up at their store and are price much more cheaply than their West End and Annerley counterparts. I love bargains. What's even more exciting is when you find designer brands in an op shop. More frequently than most, Vinnies Newstead is one place that seems to always come up with gems for everyone. The fact that my friends are always asking where I bought many of the cool clothes I get from here almost guarantees that I'll be back here in no time and lets not forget... it's all for a great cause!

Would I shop here on the daily? Unlikely. But when you need cheap jars to act as vases at an event,…read morepaper squares to use as photo backdrops or cheap garden supplies, The Reject Shop does, as the three stars say, A-OK. It's reliable and affordable. There's ample parking in either Brookside Shopping Centre or just out front. Don't dwell on the fact of what it is, just embrace that it sometimes has what you'll want and without breaking the bank.