Karene A is right, those looking for a second hand store experience that earns them hipster cred or…read morekitsch points should look elsewhere for their fix. That's not to say that you won't find items that fit that bill at the Red Hill Salvos Store but it's unlikely. Red Hill Salvos has been a spot I've spent many a hour searching for homewares, books and on the odd occasion kooky costumes for a 70s highschool teacher inspired photo shoot. This is the spot you come to if you're looking for something unique for your home- something that tells a story and stands out from the run of the mill flat pack furniture. On many occasions I've found (much to my delight) fantastic crystal pieces including small milk jugs perfect for the kitchen table, vases and other knick knacks for my home. If you're in the market for larger furniture items that tell a story and have a bucket load of character then be sure to wander into their back shed area where you'll find enough desks, dining tables, chairs and wardrobes to fit any decor or need. While I've done my fair share of 'shopping' here it has also been a fine spot to give items I no longer need a new home. Books, clothes and other kitchen items that I no longer need are donated to a good cause and handing them directly to their warehouse teams means I'm safe in the knowledge my donations are not being ruined by weather waiting for a donation bin to be emptied.

Rummaging through the piles of second-hand goods here, one is sure to pick up a bargain antique…read moretreasure. While it's not the place to pick up quality retro clothing, you will find plenty of old picture frames, antique furniture (banged up antique furniture but it's all about character, right?), vinyl records, old-school suitcases and shelves and shelves full of cute little statues and retro kitchenware that all looks like it should be in Grandma's kitchen. Their pricing system is a little haphazard; the price markers seem to know the value of some of the antique items but overlook others. Sometimes I can pick up an old suitcase or port for $20 whereas on other visits the same sort and quality item will be upwards of $50. There are definitely bargains to be had if you visit regularly though. As well as lots of really old stuff (I'm full of such technical terms), they also have plenty of newer second hand furniture, linen, toys, sports equipment and a section with discounted supermarket items such as toilet paper, shampoo, detergent etc.

If you've just been visiting and shopping at Adorne's shopping centre stores then you've been…read moremissing out. The label's West End warehouse is a treasure trove of colour co-ordinated home wares. With on-trend copper as you walk through the doors to tones of navy or coral there's everything you could want to add accents of colour to your home. Prices vary but on the items that took my fancy -- all reasonable. So, chop chop. Grab your go card and jump on the 199 bus to Montague Rd.

Cute boutique in the west end. Perfect for gifts, or if you want to treat yourself to something…read morespecial. Reasonable prices. High-quality candle selection. The women's clothes were a little bohemian for my taste, but pleasant nonetheless.

I've done my fair share of antique and vintage stalking, but Eilisha's Shoppe has never cropped up…read moreon my radar. I only happened to fall across it parking along James Street one day, and I'm very glad I did. Yes, all the other antique centres I've fallen across/stalked down have been wondrous and oh so gorgeous and otherworldly, but Eilisha's place is a little different. The antiques here seem more accessible and within your grasp somehow, while still carrying with them that intrigue and curiosity that comes with looking at wares meant for another time. Eilisha's has the traditional tea sets and intricately fashioned jewellery you associate with antique centres, but she also has some things I haven't seen such as postcards that I know my mother would absolutely die for, which makes it seem like the history here isn't so far beyond my reach. Eilisha's has furniture and bric-a-brac, jewellery and mirrors, toys and gifts; it's a really lovely little place that is both suited to and incongruent with affluent James Street simultaneously. But this is a place you simply must visit if you love your vintage and antiques. She's been there for 36 years with no indication of quitting it yet. You can call and email her on 0423 830 515 and lizann@optusnet.com.au respectively.

Strolling into Eilisha's Shoppe is like walking into a room where my Grandmother has laid out the…read moreentire contents of her pantry. It is a minefield of old china tea cups and dining sets. It certainly has a charming feel to it, but tuck all flailing limbs and shopping bags away because there is potential for serious breakage action in this cramped space. Considering it's deemed to be an antique store, there's not a great deal of furniture inside Eilisha's Shoppe. There are some unrestored pieces out the back but what's on display is predominately jewellery, dining wares and random bits and pieces like old war medals (creepy porcelain dolls included). It's the bric-a-brac and the higgelty-piggelty feel to the shop that makes it a quaint and cute place to wander through. Shopping for vintage or antique pieces is always a fun expedition. Eilisha's is certainly not the most amazing of second-hand stores in Brisbane, but if there's some sort of adorable vintage piece you are looking for, it's well worth a browse.

For an awful minute, I thought I wasn't going to be allowed inside this shop. I tried the door but…read moreit wouldn't open, then realised that I had to actually ring a bell to gain entry. I am not sure if this is so they can scrutinise your attire before they deem you acceptable to enter ((thank God I was wearing a lovely vintage leather midi-skirt), but I did find it very off-putting. And, to be honest, totally unnecessary. C'mon folks, it's a suburban Brisbane boutique, not Karl Lagerfeld's headquarters! Once inside the luxe environs (and yes, it is beautiful - and you can tell that they did base the opulent decore on the old-style French couture salons) I was told by the slightly superior shop assistant that you can find everything to dress you from the inside out. There's lingerie, high end hosiery, jewellery (I spied pieces by Ericson Beamon - I'm not sure anywhere else in Brisbane stocks that), bags, and of course an achingly expensive range of Little Black Dresses. When I was there they'd just received some newbies by Valentino). They only stock European designers - although one Aussie label did make the cut (Aurelio Costarella). Needless to say, the prices are not for the faint hearted. Nor for the really young and funky. Whilst the collections are carefully chosen and there are some beautiful pieces, I can imagine it would mainly appeal to the ladies-who-lunch set and the older members of Paddington's "society" crowd. I've given it 3 stars purely because of the quality of the clothes - if you're after a little slice of European chic, you'll get it here. But if I were you, I wouldn't turn up in flip flops and denim shorts...

For a taste of imported designer fashion in Brisbane this is the place to go. I visited to purchase…read moresome lingerie as they are one of the few retailers in Brisbane stocking french brands. If I had endless time and funds I would have found many special pieces to buy that I would not get anywhere else in Brisbane. The staff we're knowledgeable and I felt like they really wanted to help me find the perfect fit for me. A wonderful shopping experience.

Avoid online shopping! I use online shopping for almost everything and very very rarely need to…read morereturn anything, but this was a disaster in every aspect. The delivery was delayed, information was not accurate and no visibility to taxes and fares exceeded the original reported by over 50%! And the shop doesn't even allow international returns. Never ever again! And the dress unfortunately wasn't as good quality as described, which was the reason I wanted to return the item. Avoid this brand, not worth it!

Capsule wardrobe warriors lend me your ear. Samantha Ogilvie should be one of your handful of…read moreplaces to bring your wardrobe to life. Yes, price tags are more than your average Portmans top, but they're also pieces unlikely to be found on the masses and will last you a lot longer. Think: cost per wear. Cost per wear. Until recently, I'd been stupid and too intimidated to go into this stunning boutique. Stupid because the staff in here are friendly as pie and on the occasions I've now been in, I've felt welcome and never helicopter'd by a sales member. If you're looking for something that makes you feel a million dollars, without the price tag, and without the chances of seeing it on ever Thumbalina, Deidre and Harriet, then this is where I'd send you to shop.

This store is fantastic, the sales are really good value!!! Staff welcomed us when we entered the…read morestore and weren't pesky and left us girls to shop and have fun. Plenty of clothing to choose from and the store was kept in an organised way allowing for fuss free shopping!

This two levelled antique store is a world of all things outdated and old school. At times, it's…read moreeven historical and educational. The sheer size of their collections leaves one in awe. There are multiple cabinets devoted entirely to what I call 'man face mugs'. If it's ceramic, has a man's face moulded and painted into it, and it contains a liquid or solid- it's a 'man face mug'. Then there's the cabinet of rose pink glass wear. Be amazed at the cabinet full of egg holders and salt and pepper shakers, not to forget the cabinet of ceramic clown dolls, and try not to make a scene when you lay your eyes on the cabinet full of old, ornate pocket watches. There's a huge section of the store that houses military paraphrenalia. They have old war uniforms, badges, rifles, hats, navy gear, war propaganda posters- you name it, they've got it. There's your usual antique store wears: vases, tea sets, dry food canisters, books, clothes, and jewellery. They keep the furniture downstairs. What's neat about the furniture is that some of it has been organised into scenes. If you go downstairs and look to the first scene on the right, you'll find a dining setting that conjures up ideas of 'early colonial Australia'. The dining scene is set against a wall hanging of indigenous Australians walking through the desert. Again, 'early colonial Australia' pops up (actually, the last scene of The Proposition comes to mind, but banish that). It's up to you to decide whether it's tasteful or not. I can't afford anything in this store, not even a thimble, or spoon. It's an antique store, and so the prices are always jacked up, but this particular store's prices a bit over the top. A pair of no frills clip on earrings? $26- $40? No thanks. I will happily spend hours looking through your pretty things though. Thanks.

The unlimited possibilities that hit you when you walk into Southside Antiques is overwhelming. As…read morean avid fan of the Paddington Antiques Centre, I had a lot of high expectations walking into here. The thing I love about different antique centres is that they all stock the same types of things, but never ever stock the exact same things. That's the point right? They're antiques, sold for whatever reason from a previous owner with the possibility of delighting a new one. Well, Southside Antiques may be smaller than Paddington Antiques Centre, but it doesn't dull in comparison by any means. There's a beautiful ancient phone set just near the entrance that we aren't allowed to touch guys, just ask for assistance before you attempt to examine that one. There are antique tea sets that cost over a thousand dollars, vintage shoes and clothes, and the most beautiful and intricately crafted wooden chair I have ever seen in my life. There are even clogs for those of you who are Dutch! Everything is appropriately sorted into areas, and the kitchen looks like it's been lifted from a quintessential 50s advertisement with country-style drawers, old-school utensils, and nostalgic signage on the wall. Stumble along a little further and you'll find old movie posters, magazines, sewing patterns, and LPs, which I thought was just fantastic. You get so caught up in the glory of upstairs that you forget there's a whole untapped area of furniture downstairs with sets and singular pieces and clocks still ticking away marking time. There are some really beautiful Singer sewing machines and a fully fledged and restored washing mangle. Some of the items in this place fill you with wonder. So if you're scouting around for great antiques centres, make sure this one is a stop along your itinerary.

Swift and transparent repairs with commendable customer service - they went above and beyond my…read moreexpectations regarding recent repair work.