My Style is one of two coffee and retail stores I've discovered in the Aspley area. This one is…read moresituated in the newly built Aspley Village and is pretty slick. The baristas are top notch and the overall presentation of My Style is very homely. Checking out the menu there isn't a meal there over the price of fifteen dollars and the cakes look ready to be fanged into. I ordered my flat white and it only took a few minutes to make up. With cup in hand, sitting on a well made drop, I walked though the retail section noticing that there are some good little gifts one could purchase for a friend or a loved one (as long as they're into that feminine presents). Definitely a place I'd go visit if I'm in the area. It's a joint that's well suited to the middle-aged woman with kids who wants a meet up with a friend.

This florist has the most beautiful flowers. Highly recommend this business to everyone. Sam (the…read moreowner) is so inviting and very helpful.

I've often remarked that stepping into the chermside Oxfam…read more(away from the tinny top 40 on the speakers or the scary looking tweenagers) is like stepping into a relative oasis from the mall. This Chermside store boasts beautifully presented home wares, accessories and delectable foodstuffs all from affected countries in South Asia, South Africa, East Asia and the Pacific. You would be hard-pressed to find a more honest and genuine company like Oxfam. For over 50 years these guys have been battling to raise awareness, lift third world citizens back on their feet and arrange means for them to survive and provide for their family. (One of my favourite initiatives of Oxfam is the Unwrapped Christmas, where you buy a goat, a chicken or literacy classes for a Papua New Guinean.) Having been a fan for some time I can also attest to the quality and workmanship that go into some of these home wares. The chocolate is beyond divine, but I always love to take a gander at their growing collection of chutney's, spices and cookery books. Be sure to look out for the sensational sales lady Mariah or the hilarious manager Nate, they are guaranteed to brighten your morning with their warmth and unique sense of humour. For a gift that keeps on giving I recommend giving Oxfan a go.

Jess's Home Interiors is a great local shop for that something different. I often drop in there…read morewhen I need a present for Mum, my Sister or the Girlfriend!! Lots of people like to shop online for these kind of accessories these days but I love to touch and feel and see the real thing. Its great to get another perspective when buying gifts as well!! I'm always surprised at the creativity of the little nick knacks and almost purchased a piece of furniture during my last visit. Next time you want to spoil that someone special drop in for sure!!

It makes sense to me that an op shop represents the area it's in. Clayfield has something of a…read morereputation for being a hoity-toity sort of area, and so doesn't it make perfect sense that it's Vinnies sells more boutique items than bargain? Clayfield Vinnies has even gone to the lengths to arrange it's shop in a similar vein to a boutique store. You're not going to find stuff piled upon stuff here. Everything is orderly, skirts with skirts, cups with cups, the red clothes flow into the pink and then the purple... It's quite well presented and easily navigable. If the shops' appearance didn't signal upmarket to you, then the formal dress section should have. So should the design tags on some of the clothes you're browsing through. It was such a satisfying visit. I was bent over with the weight of the clothes I was carrying to the dressing rooms. There is so much great stock in here! The best part is that it's reasonably priced. If it's a designer piece, you'll pay a little more than the standard prices, but not much more. They've got five rooms of wares to sell, so put aside a little bit of time to go in there. Men might be pleasantly surprised by what they'll find in the men's section/room. Clayfield Vinnies doesn't really have much to offer in the way of homewares, but there is a small shrine per se, paying homage to more classical op shops with their mountains of tupperware strewn across the shop. What an unexpected find this op shop was. Because I was in Clayfield, I assumed that I wasn't in prime op shopping territory. As I left the store holding a new assymetrical linen brown skirt ($4) in one hand and little black dress ($6) in the other, I realised I was wrong.

This Vinnies rocks!…read more After a tour of Northside op-shops, this little spot was a stand out. The store was really well laid-out and organised with care and thought. The staff clearly knew what they were doing and took pride in their work. We picked up a few items and found the prices fair, especially compared to some of the bigger op-shops we later visited. We were also surprised with the music selection playing; the usual 97.3FM was cast aside in favour of Triple J, which the older ladies didn't seem to mind. Perhaps this is just a sign of suave staff who know their market. I like to think they exclaimed once we'd left and switched it over to a classics station.

It's not every day that you walk into a place where a powder puff store keeper comes up to you and…read moreoffers you a cool beverage. She handed me a drink and said "just have a browse around, and come have a chat with us in the front window". Lisa and her two friends were posed like mannequins wiling away the afternoon in the shop's front window. I was in love. Lisa took charge of the space 10 months ago now, and it looks like business is going swimmingly. She says she's going to celebrate Atomic Martini's first birthday with a prom (keep your ears to the ground). Her clothing racks are plump with high quality vintage and retro beauties. She has some great stuff for the gents as well. A nice added touch is the price tags that site the specifics of each item: era, style, and condition. Her prices are hefty (expect to pay anywhere from $100- $500+) and aimed at, as she states "people with good taste who have some money to spend". Lisa is an enchantress. On the day I met her, she was wearing a 1950's boat necked yellow dress, with matching yellow head scarf and with olive green heels. If you give her an idea of what you're looking for, she'll run off and find garments for you that might interest you. I happened to be looking for 'baking dresses'- dresses I can wear while baking. She ran off and returned with a beautiful 1970's cotton, navy blue, embroidered mu-mu. "Cotton, light, breezy, won't get in the way of your baking- I spend all summer in these, I do. I really do." I was impressed by such a practical suggestion to my abstract question. Come here to enjoy browsing through the clothes, accessories and Lisa's genuinely easy, laid back hospitality. What a way to spend an idyll Saturday afternoon- in a retro store in the 'burbs with a couple of new found, and very well dressed friends. Delight.

You wont find better Vintage in Brisbane anywhere! Lisa is…read morethere to guide you into whatever era you like, with knowledge of what styles will suit, and fit you. A great range at reasonable prices with special sales every now and then (so make sure to follow Atomic Martini on facebook) conveniently located right near the antique centre at Clayfield so you can go drool at antiques you can never afford, then pop into Atomic Martini to not only drool, but buy some amazing vintage clothing

The Lush Lily is a small, well stocked florist that has some lovely flowers…read more They specialise in arrangments and bridal packages, and I love how they have their basic bridal packages advertised out the front. It can be really frustrating for brides to be to go to florists, as you always get very nebulous answers about ball park pricing. Yes, I understand it depends on the flowers and what's in season, but what I want to know is an estimate of your pricing. Packages at The Lush Lily start at $350 for bouquets, corsages and buttonholes for a standard wedding party which would certainly give even the most budget conscious bride the confidence to go ask more detailed questions.

Such beautiful bouquets for every occasion! Thank you - your creativity and fabulous service are…read morealways appreciated NFM are my go to for this very reason.

North side flower markets are my go to florist. Having recently gotten married I was looking for…read moresomeone to provide flowers for the wedding. All I required were 2 bouquets and market flowers to use throughout our reception venue. The staff were very friendly and helpful with discussing my bouquets, and the prices very reasonable. I was able to order specific market flowers 2 weeks before our wedding also at very good prices. Their quality is excellent and the staff are more than happy to give you information on how to care for your flowers. They also have a good range of bouquets for general sale and a cold room full of seasonal flowers for you to choose from.