A beautiful store with a beautiful selection. I love their Stella McCartney range and their awesome sales!

Beautifully made clothes to make you look sharp in the office. I love Cue because most of their clothes are made in Australia and they are into making sure their workers are treated well. If the bank balance is a bit slim, make sure to shop up during their wonderful sales!

Beautiful products which are great as gifts for your girlfriends or even for yourself. Their hand creams smell devine!

Equally good for the boys and the girls. They’ve got an awesome range of jeans and shoes including GAG exclusives. It’s also a great place to get little gifts as they stock things like Six Barrel Soda syrup and beautiful jewellery.

Everything here is just beautiful! They have a great range of Olga Berg bags as well as other brands you don’t see much of anywhere else. Just go there and see for yourself!

The General Store is anything but general, packed with things you might never have even known you needed-- until now. The General Store, which opened its doors just before Christmas, is a beautiful little treasure trove of found objects, all sourced here in NZ and restored and repurposed for your purchasing delight. I dare you to walk in on a rainy day and not get caught up by the colorful typewriters in various shapes and sizes, loads of natural wood, and Nico's dulcet strains playing on the stereo, just as I did. Shelves made from library pigeon holes and a table fitted out from industrial plan drawers will call to you, but if your tiny flat won't fit a new cabinet, leave with a little parcel of hand rolled beeswax candles instead.

Trade Aid is the best place in Wellington to find unique items from around the world for around your house. Whether you're looking for a new rug or pretty quilt to cover up some chilly bit of your home or you want to liven up your space with some printed throw pillows, Trade Aid has you covered. Plus, when your friends ask, you'll be able to say your new bedding is from Kashmir or Tibet. With reasonable prices and a fair trade system firmly in place, Trade Aid makes for truly guilt-free shopping. You'll leave knowing the money you paid for your purchases is actually making its way back to the hands that crafted them.

With so many great little secondhand furniture stores along Riddiford St. in Newtown, it's hard to know where to start. A great place to begin is Renown Furnishings. A small store, neatly crowded with lovely dressers, mirrors, lamps, and desks, Renown has its own style at an affordable price point. I found my whitewashed four-drawer dresser here and threw in a retro magazine rack that doubles as my bedside table, all for well under $100. Since the shop is so small, keep in mind that Renown can't deliver your goods-- but they will hold them for you at the store until you can haul them home later.

The main branch of Vinnies shops in central Wellington, this St Vincent de Paul in Newtown is well stocked, large, and covered with friendly bargains. From oversized floral mugs to vintage NZ-made dresses, you'll find something each time you visit. It may be the central branch, but this shop has plenty of quirks; pop upstairs for a browse through rows of beautifully worn furniture, then giggle when you realize staff members have to carry the furniture up and down a narrow flight of stairs each time a purchase is made or a new acquisition comes in. A must-try any time I find myself up on Riddiford St.

Boasting one of the largest and best selections of furniture of any op shop in Wellington, this Salvation Army store on Taranaki is most useful for its affordable selection of mirrors, wardrobes, and office chairs. A word to the wise: be prepared to make snappy decisions. People know when the new stock comes in, and furniture is bought up fast. Although I’ve no complaints about my current wardrobe (listed as a ‘Genuine Narnian Portal’ on Trade Me), I still get pangs of regret at passing on a beautiful one I saw here in February that had already sold the morning after we spotted it.

Fancy, morally correct soap is the salve to many wounds and great little way of admitting culpability without having to actually, y’know, do it. Also, is there any better collection of words in the English language than ‘Bath bomb.’

It’s hard for a girlfriend to hate you when she’s a couple of discs deep into the boxset you got her to apologise for that thing. You know. That thing. You don’t like to talk about it. And she has no time to talk about it, addicted as she is. Everyone wins!

Nothing apologises for forgetting an anniversary better than a wind-up nun than spews fire.

There is a box of soft toys there. They’re all delightfully bizarre. Twisted foxes, warped bears, shapeless trolls. They’re charming, they’re cute, they’re freakish. They’re just the right kind of unique to bring home after a day of delaying texts and emails to say sorry for not being there. Look, I know this one sounds like a bit of a stretch, but seriously, stick with me on this - it has never failed me.

Bundy is the most amazing barber in Wellington, you will never be disappointed with a Bundy cut at Boar N Blade.

As well as a clothes store there is a remarkable array of men’s grooming products.

With all designer clothes, you also must have a designer beard! Get your beard oil here.

A huge selection of Men’s cologne and shavers.

This skincare is not just for the ladies.

If you have been living under a rock then you might not have heard of Twenty Seven Names. Locally made and designed in NZ, their winter collection with their playful prints, bold lines and bright colours will definitely turn heads. A winter coat from here is a must for any coat rack in your hallway.

GAG is the place to go when you want to stand out in the black-wearing winter Wellington crowd. Their jackets and coats (for guys and gals) range from stylish pieces that you won't find anywhere else in NZ to the affordable but classy vintage wear. Step into this wooden wonderland.

The kids won't mind being dragged out into the howling Southerlies when they are wrapped up in the stylish jackets from Toi. They stock the perfect winter gear which is guaranteed to keep the kids warm and dry this winter.

If you have the dough to buy a boutique suit from Crane Brothers then you better be prepared to not hide it from the world with a shabby coat from any old department store. Instead look the full part with one of their bespoke coats. They are a justifiable splurge as a great one can last you for many years with extremely high quality fabrics and skilled tailoring.

If you are on the search for the perfect vintage coat for the high streets of Wellington then you have to pop into Hunters and Collectors. Squeeze through the door and into a treasure trove of racks upon racks of great-quality secondhand and vintage digs. The ever-changing stock means that every visit is bound to sprout a bargain for the discerning shopper.

Recycle boutique has a genuinely awesome business model. You can sell and buy good quality used clothing, and accrue store credit or actual money. The displays and selection is curated, and always chic. This is where you will find those one off vintage designer pieces that you'll never find anywhere else, and all for a reasonable price too!

This treasure of a store is an experience in itself. Brick a brack, and every other miscellaneous item you never knew you needed piled right up to the roof. Seriously, to the roof. Whatever it is you are after, whether it be clothing, glassware or tribal artifacts, you are bound to find a one of a kind bargain somewhere in the depths of this Abel Smith street store.

Super central location, and always a huge selection of fairly priced furniture (which they can deliver for a small fee!). The only downside with this store is that you have to be super quick as all the new stock gets pillaged by bargain hunters super quick. You can sometimes get crazy good deals on kitchenware also!

Ziggurat has an absolutely amazingly curated array of vintage clothing of all eras, shapes and sizes. This is where to go if you are after a sequinned 60s get up, or a pair of 50s tennis shorts. Everything is super well preserved and georgeous. Go with a full wallet though.

Hunters and Collectors has a super diverse selection of vintage clothing of all sorts. Like Ziggurat, it is highly curated so you don’t have so sift through acres of junk to find one amazing piece. The window displays are always a treat as well!

This central fabric store has got you covered for every costume. For less than $20, you can get enough black polar fleece for a bat costume!

All your crafty costume supplies under one roof - fabric, pipecleaners, paint and much more!

Too lazy to make a costume? This place has every costume could possibly dream of!

Selling whole costumes (like banana suits!) or crafty add-ons (think pipecleaners, pompoms, masks, hats and much more), Wisebuys is a central city spot that meets your every need for original costumes.

Heaven for crafty-minded people! Fabric, accessories, paint, wigs galore - a must-discover for Halloween and dress-up parties!

A couple of years ago I used to constantly see this beautiful woman about town always glamourously decked out in the most gorgeous of silk kimonos. She seemed to have an endless supply of them so I assumed she must have had spent years in Japan and have very deep pockets. One day I told her how much I admired her kimono collection and she leaned forward and whispered "Do you want to know a secret? There’s a place I get them nearby and they are dirt cheap!". And this is how I discovered Asia Gallery, a gorgeous little treasure trove of gorgeous vintage silk kimonos all imported from Japan. And, they start from $25! I now own a number of them and am always delighted to introduce friends to my dirt cheap secret tucked away in Kilbirnie.

For a couple of years I lived just around the corner from Moore Wilson’s and stupidly I always forgot to go in for my weekly groceries. For the last year, however, despite living much further away, I have been visiting on a weekly basis and was delighted to remember the abundance of speciality foods available. If you are wanting to make a dish that requires an ingredient that is only typical to Asia, Europe or even Africa, it’s likely you’ll find it at Moore Wilson’s. Since rediscovering Moore Wilson’s, my dinners have become all the more exotic and the pages of my Spanish cookbooks have gotten dog ears. I certainly don’t forget to spice up my weekly grocery shop any more with a visit to Moore Wilson’s.

Trade Aid is a little slice of heaven for trinkets from all over the world, and on top of that, it’s sells them with a good honest work ethic philosophy. Trade Aid is a not-for-profit fair trade organisation that sells imported gifts from developing countries. I drop by frequently to pick up little nic nacs as interesting gifts, to decorate my home, for affordable and unique jewellery and accessories. The products are all high quality and all affordable. The store is tended to by big-hearted volunteers who donate their time so that the profits of the store can go towards education and advocacy work on fair trade. For feel-good shopping enthusiasts!

J’adore I Love Paris! I often find it hard to find the range of interesting and unique shoes locally but I Love Paris has them in abundance. The shoes have that European je ne sais quois that I love to find. Something glamourous, chic and without prioritising practicality - yes please! They sales are also fantastic and it’s typical the shelves get cleared when they are on.

Despite all of the furniture in this store being retro ranging from 1950 to 1980, you wouldn’t be amiss to mistake it for today. Skandi imports beautiful Scandinavian retro furniture from Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Masters of design, they have a beautiful modernist feel to them, but are made of top quality woods (some of which are no longer allowed to be milled) that give them warmth so they don’t feel sterile. Skandi has the most stunning range of Scandinavian lights and lamps that made great centrepieces for a room. Collector’s pieces ranging from Johannes Anderson to Børge Mogensen.

For all your needs, with everything you could ever want. That pretty much almost sums up trash palace with an array of electrical items, whiteware, furniture and more. Run as a way of recycling goods that were destined for landfill, you can find bargains on lots of great things. With any money spent here helping the Mana recovery trust provide support for those with mental health needs.

Savemarts are all across New Zealand, stocking a massive amount of nearly everything. The finding of items can sometimes be a bit tricky but the finds here have always been impressive for those that are adept at hunting for them. A trip out to Upper Hutt is something that could go a long way to helping find new things for your wardrobe.

Another of the ‘Mega’ Op-shops, this one in Petone has a large array of pretty much everything clothes wise, with a wide variety of stock from formal to casual. There are definitely some gems hidden in here for you to find and everything is at a reasonable price as well!

Another bric-a-brac store, with a large array of goods strewn throughout the store on Abel Smith street. Rummage through and find gems for upcycling among other great pieces that need no restoration. With pretty much all bases covered go and have a wander through and see if you can find anything that’s worthwhile, I’m sure you can!

Slightly of the beaten path, this Opportunity for Animals shop has lots of great items for sale. With less foot traffic meaning that not every thrift savvy uni student has come in and taken a wander and picked off all the great finds. Definitely worth a journey up to if you’re on the lookout for some new items to bring in the change of season.

In a city near-synonymous with the flat white and the long black, a couple of Wellingtonian tea purveyors have helped to ingrain tea into the consciousness of the city. Conveniently located right in the heart of the city, this tea haven is a must for us enthusiasts. Combined with more refined versions of the Earl Grey, Green and English Breakfast classics are more experimental teas sourced from literally all over the world. Whether your tipple is a Chinese Oolong, a red African Roobio or a Turkish apple, T Leaf T stocks more tea than you could ever wish to taste. Samples starting from $2 make it tempting to try though! Check out the beautifully crafted teapots too.

Commonsense Organics is a must-visit for any wannabe foodie. Beautiful, locally sourced veg sits alongside gourmet, NZ made pestos and cheeses. Stocking their shelves in keeping with the seasons, this little hangout is in keeping with the 21st century philosophies of environmental sustainability, fair trade and supporting local business. All of this results in some of the freshest looking produce you're likely to see. Take advantage of the online shopping option and share the green-tinted love with friends or family. 

The demise of the "record" shop is truly a sad thing. For many, spending their lunch hour pursuing the shelves at their local independent store is a distant memory. Youtube and Spotify have, for better or worse, left us music geeks with a slender choice. Slow Boat, however, has weathered the corporate, electronic storm and is the place to pick up CDs, LPs and even posters in the capital. On the very rare occasion I actually purchase a hard CD, this is where I invariably head. A Cuba Street stalwart. 

Despite 90% of the produce being way out of the range of my modest budget, I’ve still found myself on the odd occasion perusing the "foodie" section of Kirkcaldie & Stains, perhaps the most historic of the all the CBD stories. The "Harrods" of Wellington has an astonishing array of food and drink from the Wellington area and elsewhere.

A real slice of Kiwiana. Pick up some of the beautifully crafted ceramics and pendants for your loved ones away from NZ.

IKO IKO is a treasure chest of marvellous trinkets and gift ideas for men, women and children of all ages. This is the place where items of the weird and the wacky sit on display from prices ranging from affordable to why do I not have enough money for interesting item that I could spend all day looking at. It is the foolproof place to go for any person that is impossible to buy presents for.

When it comes to Christmas, birthdays or just general gift giving time a book is always a safe bet. If you have seen that special gift receiver reading a book at any stage in their life you could always buy them that same book, or ask one of the helpful salespersons to point you in the direction of the author or books of similar style. Alas, if books are not the gift of choice Whitcoulls carries a large range of beautiful stationary, hilarious games, and amazingly fun toys.

When searching for a gift for one of my lovely girlfriends, mother or other great females in my life I will often make a trip to Madame Fancy Pants. This beautiful boutique store stocks hand crafted jewellery with affordable prices, of which I have purchased as gifts on more than one occasion. For those with a larger budget, take a look at the clothing and leather wallets/purses that have been crafted with care.

Farmers is New Zealand’s best department store catering to the needs and wants of many. With its various departments and increasingly upmarket quality it is a great place to find that special someone an appropriate gift. When Christmas time comes calling Farmers is one of the places I know I will be able to find a gift suited to each member of my family.

While it’s obviously more expensive than the many secondhand bookstores in Wellington, you can’t go past Unity Books on Willis St for its selection. It’s so beautifully curated that you’re bound to find something to add to your wishlist, no matter where your interests lie, and it’s a great first-stop for the friend or relative who’s impossible to shop for. Moreover, the staff are fantastically knowledgeable, and can help you track down even the most obscure tomes.

There’s something for everyone at Iko Iko, even if they don’t know it yet. Its wide range of homewares, books, knick-knacks, toys, artwork, jewellery, and novelty items means there’s bound to be something that reminds you of that friend or relative who’s difficult to shop for. There are always some gems in the sale section hidden away at the back of the store, too.

Good As Gold is best known as a hipster fashion store, featuring labels like PAM, Twenty-Seven Names and Cheap Monday. But if you’re struggling with gift ideas, pop into its Victoria St store and check out its range of accessories, homewares, skincare and jewellery. It stocks hats, socks, watches, coffee mugs, collectible toys and other desirable trinkets that would make perfect stocking fillers.

Rex Royale stocks a limited selection of homewares, jewellery, art and accessories as well as designer clothes, much of which is handmade here in Wellington. Something’s bound to remind you of someone, but there’s always the option of a gift certificate if that hard-to-buy-for person proves just too hard to buy for.