Shopping in Liverpool can sometimes be a bit monotonous, each shop selling similar clothing. Most people forget about the alternative shopping locations within the city centre, and it’s time to take a fresh look at this hidden shopping scene.

There are two main areas of interest within the city centre that supply new and second hand clothing - often referred to as vintage clothing - for those consumers wanting something a bit different. Quiggins on School Lane and The Palace on Slater Street seem to have cornered this market well.

Quiggins unique retro style

Quiggins shopping centre houses many independent retailers selling alternative clothing and jewellery. You will find a lot of their shops sell good quality second hand clothing at affordable prices. Providing the vintage clothing consumers with unlimited amounts of denim, leather, shoes etc.

The range of sizes provided by these small shops puts them at a great advantage to the major retailers found on Church Street. It's quite astonishing how they manage to stock large amounts of extreme sizes and sell enough of them to make a profit. It is a quality that should be seriously considered by the major retailers, as there's obviously a market for it. Vintage clothing retailers provide just that. New and second hand clothing at affordable prices in a range of sizes.

Quiggins also houses tattoo parlours, bead shops, barbers, card shops, a café and much more. All offer their own variations to the norm, providing something of an alternative to mainstream shopping.

The Palace has 30 shops over three floors

The Palace on Slater Street is a smaller version of Quiggins but is still as diverse, with a little bit of everything. Resurrection selling t-shirts with funky logos for men and women. Ditto specialises in gadgets and gifts for the ‘man who has everything’. Lollypop selling stylish jewellery at affordable prices. Also a huge range of music memorabilia in a collection of different formats. The variety providing a more enjoyable shopping experience for wide ranging tastes in clothing and music. After all that shopping you can relax in the award winning Baa Bar located on the second floor. Selling delicious sandwiches and hot food washed down by a range of their stunning shooters - Guaranteed to curl your toes! The end result being a great atmosphere and affordable stylish clothing that has you standing out from the crowd.

Oxfam is a great supplier of vintage clothing.

For people on a budget finding stylish clothes and other products can be a little daunting. Town is full of shops and department stores selling the latest fashions, but purchasing them at that price is just not an option. However, there are a few shops in the centre that provide quality clothing at affordable prices. H&M is a major player in Liverpool for affordable clothing and accessories that any budget can accommodate. But other lesser known shops such as Dodo’s on Paradise Street and Angel on Bold Street sell some of the cheapest stylish clothes in the city. The works on Bold Street sell a range of heavily discounted books which are an ideal present for anyone on a budget. Finally, don’t forget about your local charity shop, they only stock quality second hand clothes and are ideal for affordable vintage accessories.

Words: Susan Clews