London – Shopper’s paradise. New wardrobe anyone?
I buy almost all my clothes while on vacation. Mainly this is due to the fact that when I’m home I’m saving up to pay for that vacation, but there is something really cool about going through my closet and being like, ”not that Bangkok shirt, the pink one” (and before you ask, no, all my clothes do not have the tacky ”I went to LA and bought this shirt” slogans on them, though I do love my tacky souvenirs). I have this theory about ”vacation money” : anything you spend in the local currency while on a trip is free money, more like trade really, as you’ve already spent the Canadian money by buying the foreign currency. I’ve allocated that much money for spending, and if I burn through every penny, it’s fine. As long as I don’t go over budget and dip into the credit cards (unless it’s really, really, really incredible and worth it), it’s game on. And when I go to London, I know I have to make sure I budget enough, because, while I can shop anywhere, London fashion and I just click. We’re talking pack-an-empty-suitcase good shopping here!
The biggest thing I love about London shopping is that their “high street” (mass market) stores have great styles at great prices. It’s as if the English approach to shopping in general is to make sure it’s accessible to the masses. Affordable and easy to find. Now you’re talking my language. You’ll also notice here I’m not going to talk about Harrod’s or Selfridge’s, London’s uber-famous and uber-expensive department stores. This is because, honestly, regular people do not go there to buy. They go for the spectacle of it. I always go and look at the GBP$10 000.00 dresses, entire rooms full of nothing but purses and Egyptian-themed escalators, but the only thing’s I’ve ever bought there are magazines, because they have the prices printed right on them, so they’re the same price there as they are at the corner newsagents. But I still got the cool Harrod’s bag to wave around.
Naturally, the place to start is Oxford street, otherwise known as the big awesome and freaking crowded street of all things good and wonderful. You can’t throw a stick without hitting a clothing store. But all of these stores are pretty much everywhere around the country, so if you don’t want to battle the crowds, it’s not hard to still find great fashion. The suburban shopping malls offer huge selection without having to face the weather running from store to store. Smack in the middle of Oxford St. is the English institution that is Marks and Spencer’s, where you can get pretty much anything, the focus being wardrobe basics and career wear. They’re a touch on the pricey (for this focus-on-cheap blog, not compared to DKNY) and middle-aged side, but everyone can usually find something there. Oh, and you can’t miss their awesome food hall, where you can pick up a great selection of groceries or ready meals for good prices. Love their wine gums.
If you’re angling for something on-trend while not being too “oh my God, is she wearing a duck on her head?” over the top, some of my favorites are:
Dorothy Perkins - Aside from the adorable designs, their 2-for tank top deals will be my wardrobe staples forever. Their “tall” line, aimed at those of us over 5 foot 7, keeps the fashion world open to everyone. Their shoes and accessories are hot for a steal, and they have a new organic/free trade/eco-chic line geared for the environmentally conscious amongst us.
New Look – Bright colours and wild patterns mark this store as probably the most funky on the list, but don’t let that scare you, they have everything from sexy/sweet dresses to career wear to teeny-bopper tween styles. I got one of my most professional looking dresses (that I just so happen to be wearing today) there for under GBP$30.00.
Next – More classic and stylish while not being old or boring, this is a great mix of business casual and weekend chic. Not too over the top, but far from boring. Also with an excellent denim section – lots of cuts in tons of lengths. One of my favorite pairs of jeans is their bootcut.
Topshop – More pricey than the other three, this is where you go for trends. On occasion, they do have the “oh my God, is that a duck on her head?” over the top styles, and they wear them with pride. Partnerships with top designers and exclusive lines from the likes of Kate Moss makes sure they are always on the cutting edge.
And then there’s Primark. You want cheap, shop here. Period. End of story. For what you’re paying (GBP$6 for a hoodie? Sweet.) the materials are not top of the line, but they look way more expensive than they are, and the quality is better than average. The aforementioned hoodie I’ve lived in for three years, and it still looks perfect. Be prepared to carry a big bag, because with their prices, you’re not getting out of there with just one item.
When traveling to London, make sure you have some room in your suitcase, are under your luggage allowance and have time to shop, because you’re gonna need it! Last time I had to leave some things behind in order to squeeze all my new purchases in! And it’s soooo worth it.
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- Oxford street on a mildly crowded day
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- There’s that Primark Hoodie and Dorothy Perkins tank