Swap Meet Party from Outerspace!
If green is the new black, then swap is the new shop. They did it in the olden days, back when the planet was healthy and 'economic crisis' was a completely foreign phrase, so maybe a few olives for a bit of your chutney here and there isn't such a bad idea. Don't worry though, at this Swap party you won't be sent home with handfuls of olives and chutney.
MOD.CONS
In Brisbane, there are only so many places you can find the latest, the kitschest and the cleverest in gifts and general ‘Ooh, look at this dandy little thing I found at this cute little shop...' Located right smack bang on the corner of Ann and Warner Streets, man! those lights take sooo long to change, by the time you cross over to MOD.
Annerley Op Shops
They say Annerley is the new West End (albeit a slightly sloppier and more suburban version). Sure, it does have that same community feel, bohemian vibes, and organically-minded cafes, but let's face it: Annerley's main claim to fame is its op shops. Four second-hand treasure havens exist within just steps of each other at the top of Annerley Road (well, five if you include the huge Antique Shop as well).
Retro Metro
Paddington is a suburb as renowned for its vintage shopping as its cafes, bookshops and parades of SUVs. Sure, there's the usual clusters of op-shops and antique stores (still always worth a visit), but if you want to bypass the digging and head straight for the treasure then Retro Metro is your best bet.
Fabric Swap
Brisbane has its cool pants on again this week, with the launch of our third Mercedes-Benz Brisbane Fashion Week. The champagne is flowing, the glitterati are out in force - but don't let this put you off completely. Fashion Week is also serving up a side dish of sweet activities for us plebs as well.
Akuti Fashion Boutique
South Bank is still a place many of us can't help but associate with our childhood. Expo 88, or those long hot summers at Kodak beach, all sticky-fingered from chocolate paddle pops and endless rainbow slurpees. Back then, the most impressive shop was the novelty candy store filled deliciously wall-to-wall with sugary treats (and this still exists, and is still, in its own right, amazing) but there's no denying that South Bank has come of age as an urban hub of fine dining and shopping.
I Life Factory
If you haven't discovered it yet, your life is about to change. Introducing, I Life Factory: a whole world of stuff you didn't realise how urgently you needed until you step inside its doors. Its quirky little goodies are so cheap they are practically free. $10 will get you bag-fulls of treasures (aka crap you don't really need), including cute Asian stationary, trinkets, jewellery, ornaments, homewares, clothing and accessories from as little as 30 cents each.
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