Expand your shopping horizons in close quarters with some of our favourite hard-to-stumble across upper-floor stores. By Bourree Lam.

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Upper-floor shopping

Harajuku in Hong Kong
Angel Vee, 1/F, No. 1 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay, 2574 7787.
This place is like a life-sized dollhouse with its plush magenta velvet-panelled walls, white wardrobe that envelops customers, purple carpeting, big recliners, and ornate furniture. The sexy lingerie and dresses (from $200 and up) are not the only things imported from Japan; the shop was inspired by Harajuku culture when the owner took a trip to Tokyo. And this might be one women’s clothing store that guys won’t mind being dragged round: all the sales girls are decked out in Harajuku-inspired Lolita-esque outfits.

Sexy sleepwear
Closer Lingerie & Pink, 2/F, 20 Russell St, Causeway Bay, 2893 9598; 1F, 25A Granville Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2367 6116.
This store sells a variety of polka-dotted, lace, and funky print underwear, thongs, Hustler booty shorts, and g-strings. A selection of bikinis and matching bra and undie sets in punk colours such as bright pink, red, blue and jet black are also available. Almost everything in the store is imported from Japan, with the biggest bra cup size being a 36C (Japanese size). Schoolgirl, maid and other skimpy dress up outfits are also sold here along with funky fishnet hosiery. Underwear starts at $120 and a fancy lingerie set is about $500, so it’s great a place to pick up inexpensive and cute (or kinky) lingerie.

Shoes your way
Coup De Foudre, 222 & 223, Island Beverly, 1 Great George Street, Causeway Bay; 3428 2655.
It might look like just another shoe store from outside, but venture inside and you’ll see that this place has something unusual to offer: pick the style you want and they can remake it in your material of choice within a week. They have various types of leather, patented leather, and other fabrics to choose from, including a dollar bill or graffiti print. It’s an ideal spot to get matching shoes for any outfit, or just to let your inner Jimmy Choo run wild. Prices start at around $300 for basic heels up to $1,000 for boots.

Quirky boudoir
Des.sert, Shop 421 & Shop 430, 4/F, Rise Commercial Building, 5-11 Granville Circuit, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2367 7728.
With its leather jackets featuring amazingly detailed embellishments, reworked vintage pieces, and quirkily designed coats, dresses, and accessories, cult shop Des.sert has the feel of a Hong Kong-style Vivienne Westwood boutique. All the jewellery here is custom made; think brass rings, vintage chains, and lots of mirror-adorned bling, from about $500 a pop. The store is frequented by many Hong Kong stylists, as well as fashionistas local and international. Dresses here will scost around $800 to $1,300, while jackets cost $1,000 and up.

Skate or die
Evergreen, 9/F, Capital Commercial Building, 26 Leighton Rd, Causeway Bay, 2581 9763; www.evergreenskateboards.com.
A mecca for Hong Kong’s skateboarding crews, Evergreen’s got much more than decks, wheels, and trucks. If you’ve been searching in vain for cool tees by hard-to-find brands such as Emerica, Chocolate, Joker, and Mighty Healthy (around $250), this place is the answer to your prayers. They also have jeans, bags, caps, and other streetwear from labels like LRG, Fourstar, 10 Deep, and many others that would draw blank looks in most stores in Hong Kong. Also check out their trainer wall filled with chunky shoes by the likes of DVS, Adidas, Lakai, Etnies, and éS, and ask about their amazing ongoing special offer on out-of-season styles: buy one pair (around $500), get another free.

Second-hand couture
In Place, Shop 404A, 4/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder St, Central, 2808 1883
This store might look shabby, but there’s probably over a million dollars worth of stuff here. Most of the merchandise is second-hand, high-end designer clothes (think Chanel, Dior, Hermès) from celebrities, tai tais and other folks with revolving-door closets, and there are also a number of shoes, bags, and other accessories. You’ll be incredibly lucky to score anything in season, but it’s all in good shape – and usually the choices betray great taste on the part of their original owners. If the mountains of clothes look unassailable, the shop assistant here is ready and willing to help. Prices range from $10,000 and up, but it’s all real couture.

Hot underwear
Inducer Sexy, 3/F, 27 Lee Garden Rd, Causeway Bay, 2881 0802, www.inducer-sexy.com.
Besides having a great name, this shop boasts high-quality and innovative pieces of lingerie of all kinds and from everywhere. The dim lighting and sexy mannequins should get you in the mood. Here you’ll find underwear and accessories imported from Japan and the US for almost every special occasion of the intimate kind, from bras, panties and bikinis, to costumes, stockings, sleepwear, girdles and corsets. Prices range from $200 up.

You shall go to the ball
Queens House, 1/F, 53 Hankow Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2375 2988.
You might struggle to find a dress that you would actually want to wear at your wedding here, but there are lots of other kitsch attractions at this sparkly gypsy den of a store. Looking for a funky, slightly tacky, sequined ball gown for a bad taste ball? This place is your Aladdin’s Cave – pick one up for around $6,000. They also have feathered hair accessories and a selection of masquerade-style masks, and they even do hair and make-up. Did someone say one-stop prom?

Accessories all areas
Rabbit Liebes Zauber, Shop F19, 1/F, Gala Place, 56 Dundas St, Mong Kok, 2385 9728.
Rabbit is a little wonder, with high-quality leather goods at very reasonable prices. Local designer Gigi started the brand in 2004, putting together the limited-edition bags, wallets, and shoes. Since their operation is small and they have lots of fans, their stock turns over at a fair old clip, so don’t procrastinate if you see something you like – the chances of it being there next time are super slim. Bags cost from around $500 up, and they discount their items by up to 70 per cent at the end of each season. They also have stores in Causeway Bay’s Island Beverly and Sha Tin Plaza.

Take it back… way back
Retrostone, 1/F, 504 Lockhart Rd, Causeway Bay, 2838 6419.
Admit it: the 1980s and 90s were awesome. Retrostone sells vintage clothing from this era, including some great band T-shirts that are out of print. Stonewashed jeans, flannel shirts, vests and dresses go for about $200. They also have casual reworked pieces and some fancy stuff too, such as second-hand 70s designer ties, while true vintage Paul Frank shirts run for about $300.

A good vintage
Satis Factory Vintage Emporium, Suit 2M, 2/F, Po Foo Building, No. 1 Foo Ming St, Causeway Bay, 9783 5141.
Drop by to see owner Salina Lam’s beautiful vintage dresses in her antique attic-feel shop. Her clothes are handpicked, and shipped over from Britain and priced at a very reasonable $1,000 or so per piece. She also has great jewellery, all vintage, and handmade hair ornaments with feathers, as well as some gorgeous hats fit for the races ($400 and up). Quality leather vintage shoes tend to run in small sizes only, but they’re one of a kind. She also has vintage designer handbags, if that tickles your fancy. Call ahead to make sure she’s in. And if you’re allergic to cats, take your meds because her cat Momo is always around to greet the customers.

Men only
Star Boutique, Shop 243-244, Causeway Place, HK Mansion, Great George St, Causeway Bay, 2882 7908.
Reached by entering an unassuming elevator opposite Causeway Bay MTR’s Exit E (take it to the second floor and turn left), this tiny boutique isn’t much bigger than the lift carriage, but it’s packed to the gills with distinctive men’s fashions crafted by the store’s Japanese owner. Check out their plethora of shirts with fun embellishments (around $350), fitted jackets (from around $600), jeans (around $500), and accessories. Sizes are geared towards the slimmer gentleman, however, so either diet or get ready to breathe in if that doesn’t apply to you.

Skin deep
Vogue Shoes & Gifts, 4/F, Front Block, Karlock Building, 5 Lock Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2366 8150.
Turning exotic animal skin into custom handmade shoes and wallets is this store’s specialty. Ostrich, alligator and other skins are all made into custom items (minimum charge of $1,500 a pair for shoes) and each item is made to order and is therefore one of a kind. It might not be the classiest-looking of shops, but the exotic goods on show make up for the somewhat unspectacular surroundings.

Read our other fashion features:
Build your own brand
How to be an INC
Upper-floor shopping