This shop is a welcome addition to wetherby, as wetherby itself doesnt have very many clothes shops…read moreat all, Alexia is handy if you fancy something new without travelling to Harrogate or Leeds. My friend has bought some really nnice tops from there recently and the only bad thing you could say about this hop is that it is on the pricey side, but then again, the clothes are really nice. and it is on the small side, but what do you expect for a small town. other than that..where are the size 16 clothes in all these small shops?

Great Local Independent Fashion Shop lot's of nice items here without having to trawl through town…read more A nice selection with all the benefits of being independently run and genuinely keen to help.

I'm actually quite a fan of the Dorothy Perkins on Briggate, as it happens. Although I seem to find…read moremore on the sales rack in the St. Johns centre, the window always seems to catch my eye and draw me in for a browse. In terms of style these guys seem to have my look down. Vintage styled shirts, (one in particular that I coveted had some incredible detail on the neck but alas it was dolly pink, which just isn't me) and interestingly tailored trousers, with more than a few cute dresses to boot. I've found the overall quality of the material is pretty high, which is a massive jump from the tacky plastic based cloths of Primarni, and the pricing is just under the line of the likes of Warehouse, French Connection and River Island. Whilst I'd prefer to buy something unique from a vintage shop, for some staple pieces to match in with what I've got these guys are just the business. On average the staff encounters I've had have been pleasant and whilst I wouldn't go for the shoes they've on offer, as I don't believe the quality is really there, overall you can't really go wrong with DP. They're brother branch Burtons is also great for quality men's clothing. I've already reviewed it, but it's worth mentioning I bought an entire suit, including shoes, for my boyfriend a while back for about £150. Really great value!

A great store for a spot of retail thearpy. Things are a little strangely laid out, perhaps to…read moreencourage you to shop for longer, but it's still easy to move around the store and I didn't have any trouble finding what I wanted (although the sale racks could use slightly more careful organisation). Sales and promotions are common and they offer a student discount of 10%. The queues at the check outs can sometimes get a bit long but the staff don't have too much trouble clearing them.

I love this shop. I love all of the little, thoughtful decorative touches that Cath Kidston stores…read morealways have. Cath Kidston's Harrogate store is brilliant, with a large amount of stock and plenty of tempting things beautifully displayed for you! I think this is the perfect place to buy little presents for friends; the purses and the make-up bags are great. I know that some people hate Cath Kidston and that some people love it (I am in the latter camp), so, OK, there isn't something for everyone here, but it's just nice to go in here for the experience. The staff are lovely and helpful, and everything- as I have already said- is presented beautifully, really selling the Cath Kidston aesthetic to the consumer. This shop is definitely worth a visit!

Sharing the Success is a government funded programme which aims to regenerate areas of Leeds. There…read moreare many projects using the programme to create new jobs, enhance prospects and develop businesses in the city. An active example of a business within the scheme is a stall in Leeds Kirkgate Market called How Bizaar! Described as a business stall where ideas come to life, it offers local people a twelve week stretch to sell their wares, to gauge the public interest of their product. It seems like an excellent scheme to be involved in, the opportunity to gain entrepreneurial astuteness, receive business guidance and exposure. Some of the businesses that are exhibiting their goods currently, include Vicky's Crafty Arts who presents photographs in a more accessible way, rather than being stuck in books which are rarely browsed. She displays them via scrap booking, card making, and can make paper mache products to order. There were a ready made array of them when I visited the stall, they are vibrant in colour and seem almost African-inspired. Sanashzak offers a range of ceramic plates and bowls, at very affordable prices. There were also greetings cards, screen prints and various handbags made from recycled materials. Angel Silk stocked many silk scarves and ties, celestial in colour and soft to touch. Mim's Couture was my favourite section of the stall. This business designs dresses, and the style and quality of them are fabulous. Often using unusually patterned fabrics, the hems are at playful lengths and the product screams of total originality. Mim's Couture also offer a complete dressmaking service for formal events, with wedding and prom dresses available. There would be no danger of somebody else arriving in an identical outfit if you attended a social event in one of these creations! There are many more businesses brandishing their wares on the How Bizaar! stall. It is a brilliant way for local people to raise the profile of their product, with the guidance of a supportive and interactive government scheme. Well worth a visit.

How Bizaar! is a brilliant idea, giving small businesses the chance to display their wares for 12…read moreweeks for free!! This gives them the chance to make their ideas a reality and encourages them to assess their creations, selecting the best ones for their small area of the shop. By having a stall for 12 weeks in the market they are able to test the popularity of their products and gain customers who may spread the word. For shoppers it is a unique experience, with a dozen or more shops within a shop, each selling unique and beautiful hand made products. My personal favourite (whose name I'm afraid to say I've forgotten) sold cute vintage-look dresses that appeared to have been re-made from second hand garments, with many floral fabrics and button fastenings. Mim's Couture was also very memorable with unusual ball gowns and skirts in striking fabrics. Apparently it is going to be moving into a nearby stall, so its experience of How Bizaar must have been a success! There were also many other lovely bits and bobs including bags, glassware and jewellery. If you're looking for a unique gift look no further! And you'll get a nice warm feeling knowing that you're supporting a fledgling business that's just finding its feet. Despite Leeds Kirkgate market not seeming the most sought after location for a new business selling unique hand-crafted items, when I was browsing the shop there were several people who stopped by for a look...and if other How Bizaar! businesses followed in Mim's Couture's footsteps and opened a shop nearby, just think what a thriving bazaar of unique independent businesses Leeds Kirkgate Market could become!

I'm a fan of Dorothy Perkins, it's true. And this one in particular is pretty fab. I always seem to…read morefind a bargain in here, and usually the sale rack has far more treats than the one along Briggate. I can only assume this is because it's in the St. John's Centre, and so perhaps has less walk-in trade, but even so I'm always excited to nip in for a browse! The staff have always been really friendly during my visits, not overly pushing for a sale but happy to help, which is the perfect combination in my book. The changing rooms are reasonably spacious, which helps if you like to try as many items as I do, and the store is laid out well for easy browsing. All in all, for style, quality and price DP are certainly worth dropping in. And, for some reason, they always seem to have shoes in the sale!

I normally find a little bit of something I like in 'Dotty P's' but I have to say, I'm always…read moredisappointed by the Leeds selection... The clothes are alright but I think they look quite boring, and as with Topshop, you know you're going to get a load of clones wearing the same thing. Th only thing I do rate is the accessories. The bags to be exact. Especially the purple silk one I saw in there recently....anybody want to buy me it for christmas? No? I'm also keen on the jewellery. I recently bought a clear, silver and black beaded long necklace from here and always get asked where it's from. Clothing? Nah. Accessories? Yar!

I'm not the biggest fan of Oxfam on the whole, as charities go it is the one that has most…read moreobviously become more of a business. In many cases the Oxfam shops sell second hand clothing at ridiculous prices under the guise of vintage, and I've even seen Primark clothing on sale there for a little more than it sells brand new! But Oxfam books is a shade different. Here there are literally hundreds of different books on sale. As with the standard Oxfam shops, some of these are a little overpriced, but with so much variety it's hard not to find a bargain in here. There are lots of popular texts, but also some really quirky old books, which have that lovely antique vibe. I wanted to find some specialist literature based around gender studies and feminist non-fiction and found a far better range and highlighted section than even Borders - which had merged those texts in with lesbian erotica! Oh the irony! Every item that I chose to purchase was super cheap and it was pleasing to know that some of my money, however much, should go to a good cause. A great gem of a bookshop for wee Headingley.

Oxfam Books is jolly good indeed. It is rather large and has clearly labelled sections with areas…read moreincluding gender studies, philosophy, gardening and much, much more. It's the kind of place you could spend forever in, browsing, reading, then curling up in a corner engrossed! It has a lovely, library-like feel to it with many other people flicking through pages and browsing the shelves. For the most part the books are very good value for money and the huge selection means you are absolutely guaranteed to find something you want to take away. They also sell a tasteful range of greetings cards. The staff seem lovely and you get the impression they really enjoy their job. Next time I have some pennies to rub together I'm definitely heading over there to stock up on books in preparation for springtime reading under a tree in my local park! Can't wait!

I've been coveting a pair of trousers from here for a while now. They were in the window, deftly…read morearranged on the ultra slender mannequin, calling out to me in shades of tan and cuts of finery. Every time I passed I'd see them and so finally, the other day, I went in to investigate. And I think I've found a brand that knows my style - I love the clothing in this place. It's smart, but with a hint of vintage, the fabrics are high quality and the colour schemes are adorable. I.e. there is naught a hint of shocking pink in sight. On this fine sunny Bank Holiday I sought out my coveted pair only to discover I'd left it too late - they had about three pairs left none in my size! Dang. And, to make matters worse, they retail at a massive £45... That's a bit of a number for a pair of trousers. Sadly, as I browsed the other items this became a recurring theme. All the gorgeous tops I longed for were just that little bit too much. Perhaps I'm a skin-flint, but then again, I understand that you are at least paying for a high quality item should you make the spend. Tough decisions. Nonetheless I asked a sales assistant if they had any more in stock, wanting to at least see if they looked as glorious upon my person as they did in store, and she was extremely helpful. Whilst they had none she checked all the other stores in Leeds and found that the shopping plaza had my size. Of course, I trundled over there, and found that they were perfect. But, no. I did not buy - I decided to be sensible and save up my pennies. After all, they are only a pair of trousers, right? To summarise; the clothes herein are gorgeous, expensive, but well tailored and superbly stylish.

This is a much bigger Warehouse store than the other one in Leeds, and is therefore a lot more…read morespacious and easier to shop in. There is a wide selection of clothes, bags and accessories, and everything is easy to find. The store assistants are usually happy to help, and will advise on clothing ideas. Most things are quite expensive, but they are very good quality clothes, and will last longer than cheaper alternatives.

I'd never heard of Dunnes before and so I didn't really know what to expect as I perambulated…read morethrough their large front doors. The first thing to catch my eye was the amazingly cheap bed linen on offer. They were selling some really quite duvet covers for next to nothing! I checked the feel of the fabric on the display cover and it was lovely and soft too so I was really quite impressed. On further investigation of the store I came to realise that Dunnes is something of a 'do-it-all' kind of shop - they had clothes, shoes, accessories, decorative items, house items and more on show in this really quite large shop. It's a little bit of a mix between Wilkos and Primark I guess, with the fashion and homeware items all rolled into one building. Whilst I was loving the cheap prices, I purchased myself a delightfully cheap sewing kit for £3 with a great deal inside, the quality is certainly not of the highest standard. For example, the safety pins inside bend very easily and the unpicker is pretty much good for nothing but accidentally stabbing myself. Unpick it does not. Jab me in the thumb as I try it most certainly does. As well as that the clothes on display, in spite of the temptingly cheap prices, were simply not nice enough to buy. Primark at least is bang on trend, even if their items will only last as long as their latest range - 3 months if you are lucky! I think I'd definitely browse again, certainly for some cheap bits when I move house, but it won't be the first place I think to come. The service I received was reasonably friendly but quite lack lustre. That being said, in a shop like this I'd rather not have someone going for the hard sell as they simply wouldn't get it. It's a fair old browse but not necessarily worth a special visit.

Dunnes is the Irish equivalent of M&S, to all intents and purposes. It's perhaps not quite as good…read morequality, but it's really handy as I live within a couple of minutes' walk from here. There's a particular clothing line they stock, Savida, which is pricier than the ordinary 'Dunnes' stuff, but is really good quality. They sell a lot of nice business dress and jackets. There's also a trendier, funkier line on offer, of which I own a few t-shirts and pairs of jeans, and I can't for the life of me remember what it's called - I'll have to check and update. The underwear is good enough quality and cheap too - got a few bras from here that have lasted and still look nice, and their homeware section is pretty much the same as Primark's but it's a bit more expensive. As it's next door to Morrison's, I find myself drawn in for a mooch about every time I do a big food shop, much to my detriment, as I always end up buying something Worth a trip.