While some would say Melbourne is the shopping capital of the country, Sydney has a pretty solid offering, too. You can go to Paddington for the most edgy, forward-thinking threads, or Newtown for quirky pre-loved finds, or hit up an outlet store to score a bargain. Whatever your flavour of fashion, Sydney has got you covered.

Cool Kid-Approved

If you venture down the Oxford Street end of Paddington you’ll find The Intersection, a collection of classy boutiques with more Aussie designer threads than your wallet or sweet little brain can handle. In fact, this pocket of Sydney is so famous it boasts regular celeb sightings.

Here, you’ll find Australian designer heavyweights like Alice McCall, Gorman, Zimmerman and Camilla, along with cult favourites like LIFEwithBIRD and Ginger & Smart. It’s a must-stop for fashion addicts.

Vintage And Virtuous

Newtown and Enmore are Sydney’s rebellious little siblings. While the Eastern suburbs is the go-to spot for hot trends, Newtown is the place for vintage clothing, second-hand books and clothing with a conscience.

The great part about shopping in Newtown is that you can find everything you’d ever want King Street and Enmore Road. Start by hitting up SWOP Clothing Exchange, CREAM on King and UTurn Recycled Fashion for pre-loved wares. Down the road, places like Maple and The Local Store — while a little more exxy — are all about those hipster threads.

Make sure you pay a visit to The Social Outfit and end your experience at Gould’s Arcade second-hand bookstore, a verified Newtown institution and complete time-suck. You could seriously browse those books for hours.

Familiar Territory

Like most cities, the centre of Sydney is brimming with big, bright international brand stores. In Pitt Street Mall, you can find regular offenders like Sephora, ZARA and H&M, as well as Aussie chain faves like Witchery and Sportsgirl.

Once you escape the delightful mayhem of the mall, head to the nearby Galeries and Queen Victoria Building for a more boutique experience with cult brands and fancy jewellery alongside familiar stores. Of course, a trip to the QVB wouldn’t be complete without a cup of tea and a scone, so treat yourself while you’re there.

To Market, To Market

Every Sunday from 10am, flocks of beautiful Bondi locals, tourists and blow-ins descend on Bondi Beach Public School to browse through the markets. You can grab a unique knick-knack or snag a top from an unknown designer before they hit the big time (Sass & Bide, Samantha Wills and LOVER The Label all got their start here). The Bondi markets are all about nurturing promising talent, meaning you know what you’re getting is good. The backdrop is pretty impressive, too.

If markets are really your thing, you should have a look at the ones in Glebe and Marrickville. If for no other reason than the food is sensational.

Bargain Hunter’s Delight

What better place to seek out a bargain than an outlet centre? Start with Birkenhead Point in Drummoyne, a former warehouse-turned-shopping mall. It’s got an excellent collection of designer and regular retail brands primed for browsing and a stunning location right on the sparkling harbour.

A little further out of the city and a bit less pretty, DFO Homebush is another place you can find a guaranteed bargain. With 120 stores — 80 of them Australian brands — that boast up to 70 per cent off discounts, you can find great clothes along with homewares and electronics.

Go forth and shop til’ you drop!

(Lead image: Clueless/Facebook)