:Fashion:Personal Stylist

Ever walked into a store and thought, hmmm I’m not sure I should be here, even if I do like that top?

Anya knows that you have, and has put together her top five places you should be shopping at but aren’t. Ignore the skinny models and the 18 year old store assistants; if this place does a great cardigan then you should be buying it!

1: Ricochet
Ignore the shiny leggings in the window, and repeat after me “cuts made for real kiwi women”. Whilst Ricochet may be marketed at the young and design hungry, the cuts and well formed basics make this a must-visit store no matter your age. On your radar in particular should be the multi use knitwear items, the kind of thing you can wear at 20 with a lacy tank underneath (ala the model) and at 50 over your white shirt and well cut pants.
Pictured: Ricochet Reuben top

2: Glassons
Maybe it’s the fact that it didn’t seem too long ago you were buying your daughters something from here which is making you feel uncomfortable - but with a recent buyer change and a shakeup of the whole shebang, the store feels more like Sportsgirl (you know, that store you keep buying things from when you holiday in Sydney?). For affordable accessories the place can’t be beat and make sure to scour the racks for their affordable merino options each winter!
Pictured: Glassons Naomi Peep Toe shoe

3: Diva
You can find it in your local mall by following the pink light, and once you get inside it can be a little daunting; with its walls covered in a huge amount of jewellery, bright white lights, and, more than likely, hordes of teenage girls. But this is my personal style secret, I constantly get complimented on my jewellery and whilst some of it is Karen Walker or vintage, a lot of it I got for $16.00 from Diva. And if that gets compliments from Fashion Editors and Designers then that’s good enough for me.
Pictured: Diva Metal Flower cuff

4: Alannah Hill
The store assistants look like dolls, and the whole place may resemble a toy house full of frilliness but when you get down to it, the clothes are beautiful. Season after season when people can’t find a cardigan I send them here, because Alannah Hill does things that you all want season after season. Blush toned cardigans, skirts with a kick pleat, tops that cover the arms, and all whilst managing to make them look pretty. The store may feel like a lot when you are beholden with the majesty which is Alannah Hill clothing plus the store itself plus the store girls (as pretty and helpful as they are), but when you get your one item home you will find it’s just frothy enough.
Pictured: Great separates from Alannah Hill

5: Huffer
You work in an office so why would you be shopping at Huffer? Because they consistently do some of the best work wear basics (or basics as a whole) every season. Yes the model has a blunt cut fringe, and those skinny leg jeans are very skinny but you can’t tell me the stripe bubble skirt wouldn’t look stellar with a scoop neck top, hosiery and your latest shoe crush from Mi Piaci. Just because it’s called street wear doesn’t mean you have to hang outside the local dairy at 2am to wear it.
Pictured: Huffer Stripe Bubble skirt

Do you have a store you’d like to visit but feel it’s not your kind of place?
Would you shop at stores that your daughter shops at?

Let us know in the comments below.

Anya Merryfield

Last updated: Thursday, November 20th, 2008