Clothes Shopping in London
 

Can anyone suggest shops or department stores in central London where I'd be likely to find fashionable, but not designer priced, clothes for a woman my age (55)? We've rented a flat in South Kensington, so any suggestions in that vicinity would be nice.

Just my opinion but I thought clothes were overpriced in London and certainly nothing I couldn't have found in the U.S. There are a lot of shops along Kings Rd.

You can't beat Marks and Spencer for good quality and value for money. Yes, some items may be a little pricey but compared to the quality you get in the US it is worth it. Also, it is nice to get different styles that you can't get at home. Another good department store is Debenhams where you will definately find something. Both stores are on Oxford St which is not far from where you are staying. I just came back from London and had lots of fun shopping there.
Hope this helps

Caryl

Funny you should say that Caryl. I don't know about women's clothes, but Brooks Brothers (made in the USA) used to be wonderful. Then Marks and Spencer bought them and have replaced most of the well-made clothes with imported junk. The quality went way down hill.

Don't get Mrs F started on this. There seems to be a conspiracy among UK clothes shops to force women over 40 into either paying fortunes or buying stuff more suitable to people who think looking smart is immoral.
Probably only Talbot's really tries, but they're pretty dowdy too, it'd be a bit coals from Newcastle for you.
For affordable, attractive clothes, M&S's Per Una and Autograph departments do work. There's a branch on Kensignton High St, but by far the widest range handy for you is the branch at the Marble Arch end of Oxford St (not the one at the eastern end, which often has a smaller range). These ranges actually change frequently, by M+S standards - and often sell out, so it's worth looking more than once.

Next is OK: they were aimed at late 20-somethings when invented 20 years ago, and they've grown up a bit with their customers.

The computer went funny in mid-flow. To continue:
Harvey Nicks - the professionally run retailer next door to the Harrods theme park on Knightsbridge - is pricey, and a bit kid-oriented, but worth a look.

Don't totally ignore the youthful chains.
Zara, and whatever other of its sister fascias get launched here by the time you arrive often have interesting separates. And - amazingly - many of Zara'a prices are actually lower in Europe than in the US.

Similarly, if you can live with the repellent muzak and staff, many of the other European chains, like Oasis, Monsoon, H+M, have stuff worth buying hidden among the thongs aimed at 18 year olds.(Ken High St's less frenetic than Oxford St for this mob).

And if you find yourself out of town, don't underestimate the quality in sheds here. Very large branches of Tesco, Sainsbury and the George label at Asda (much better than its equivalent in the US), as well as Primark and Matalan all offer surprisingly good and well-priced basics.

The good news though, is that with the depressed state of the industry, the designer shops along Bond St, Sloane St and the St Christopher's Place area are forever having sales.

Never of course with anything that suits Mrs F, but...

Darling, If you want the lowdown on shopping in London, get a copy of Suzy Gershman's 'Born to Shop London'. She writes for destinations all over the world & she also writes the shopping sections in the Frommer's [forgive me]guides. Her anitidotes are very amusing. She also gives lodging recommendations as well as where to have tea & the faves of 'ladies who lunch'. She breaks down the shopping by area. This is her life's vocation & I think she is in the ballpark for age. Enjoy!

True that clothes are a lot cheaper in the US. Try some of the high street shops that have been mentioned here such as Zara, Next, Mango, Oasis, and also Jigsaw; one of my favorites (and also of my mother who is 60). There is a good branch of Jigsaw on Fulham Road, near Brompton Cross (very nice area for shopping).
If you walk from Harrods to Harvey Nichols along Brompton Road (easy walk from south ken) there is a shop on your right called Massimo Dutti; this is Zara's more 'upmarket' brand.

Hi Jane,
Try and get to TK MAXX. They have lots of designer names at rock bottom prices. I have only been to the Croydon store and St. Albans and got great bargains on bags. My husband got a wonderful winter coat and lots more. I hear that it is worth going to more than one store because they don't all have the same stock. I plan on checking out the Hammersmith store and definitely Kingston too, when I am in London in March/April. Kingston is a great shopping town and lovely to wonder down to the river, and you have to go through Richmond to get there, Bonus!
Have a look at the TK MAXX site here http://www.tkmaxx.com/stores/index2.cfm
Here are some more sites that may interest you.
http://www.bluewater.co.uk/
http://www.brentcross-london.com/splash.htm
http://www.clarksvillage.co.uk/
http://www.lakeside.uk.com/
These are not all in London, but may be worth a daytrip if you have the time or are traveling in that direction.
Have fun :-)

Much of what you will find will be wool, even in summer. This is an issue for me, as I'm allergic to the stuff, and cannot ever wear it where it will touch my skin. Kind of put a damper on my shopping experiences.

(In summer, BTW, the best bargains to be had are swimsuits. "Swimming costumes" are MUCH less expensive than they are in the US, for some reason.)

Selfridges

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Selfridges_London__10752

I am more or less looking in that same category, maybe a bit younger, but I don't really go to London to shop for clothes too much. I might go to New York, instead. I do like Selfridges okay, but it's not cheap. Talbots is in every mall in the US, anyway, as well as being rather dowdy (occasionally they have something cute).

I really would not suggest Zara's for you. I find their stuff for 14-22 year olds, perhaps, overpriced and not very good quality. H&M is all over the US, also, although they do vary stock by store. That's a pretty young target market, though, although you might find an occasional piece you could wear and I think it is better than Zara in style.

This is great information, just what I hoped for. I agree with flanneruk, but I think the conspiracy extends to the US at least and may be worldwide. Thank you all so much!

After reading a few of the replies regarding shopping, I have to say I am not a big fan of Marks & Spencer. Debenhams is not too bad but its the run of the mill department store. I actually agree that the clothes are over priced. However, if you want to travel and are willing to pay more a little more then my mother in law owns her own boutique called Barbarella's in Mumbles, South Wales. Check it out if you ever get to that part of the world you won't be disappointed.

Shopping advice is hard to give if you don't know the person! My mom shops at Zara and she's 60. But nearly all clothes are more expensive in London, and often not as good as what you find in shops in the US; I'm still waiting for Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret and other shops to open up here. We do not even have the Gap in Belgium.

Sorry HRH, I can't resist asking!! Has the lovely Catherine ZJ been into your mother in law's boutique?

I agree Tulips!! Thankfully, Victoria's Secret ships to the UK. I got some amazing swimwear this summer.

Janecolo, if you are going to be based in South Ken, why don't you try High St. Kensington or Kings Road for shopping. London is great for street fashion and cheap, trendy gear. If you're after fashionable, I don't see why you should leave out Zara. There is a huge selection and a broad range of styles. They are great for the really up to the minute fashion (which I'm not interested in right now, btw. I don't like 60s mod fashion, I'm a bit of a hippy) but also there are some great separates in between.

I would also suggest that for a unique and very pleasant shopping experience (but not necessarily cheap), you could head to Westbourne Grove. This summer I bought some gorgeous white leather T strap flat sandals with a leather daisy from a boutique there.

Happy shopping!