clothing prices?
 

Although shopping won't be at the top of my list of things to fit in on my upcoming trip, I would be interested in knowing the relative price of clothing. My daughter has several big events coming up--a confirmation, a middle school graduation--and it might be a nice treat to buy her a special outfit in London. My husband thinks a dress could easily be $200. Any ideas/advice? <BR> <BR>Thanks so much!

Yes; and in our equivalent of Wal-mart, it could be $15. <BR> <BR>Many years ago, I was advised to buy cotton in the US because it's cheap; and wool and tweed here for the same reason. I think it's good advice.

I just came back from London this weekend and did a "little" shopping while I was there. <BR> <BR>Clothing prices seem to be more expensive in England than they do in the States. For example, I was looking for children's clothing and saw some children's outfits which were selling for around 35 pounds (1 BPS = US$1.60). However, keep in mind that the prices include the Value Added Tax (VAT). Thus, if you spend more than 50 pounds (usually) at any one store, you can get a VAT refund when you leave Europe.

This is a great question, and I'd love feedback from Sheila, Joelle, and other Europeans about this. <BR> <BR>Prices are all relative (and none of mine have any money) so can we do some comparison shopping? <BR> <BR>For a simple, straight black wool skirt, I can pay all sorts of prices. Walmart/Kmart - $15 <BR>Sears/JCPenney - $35 <BR>Macy's/Burdine's (career dept) - $50 <BR>Macy's/Burdine's (designer dept) - $150 <BR>Armani boutique - my firstborn <BR> <BR>$15 buys me a full meal (tax, tip, tea, entree) at a Mexican restaurant; $35 is a little over one day's rent on my apartment; $50 is a ticket to Lord of the Dance (middle priced seats) at the local theater venue; $150 is 10 bottles of decent California wine. <BR> <BR>And, yes, I have found clothing prices in London and Paris to be expensive (compared to here), but I can't seem to find the "career department" or Sears prices in those cities - I can find cheap (like Tati in Paris) comparable to KMart, but so's the quality. <BR> <BR>

One "chain" of clothing stores that is great is called "Mango". They originated in Spain, but have shops in most all cities. I always pick something up for my 25 year old, as she loves those cute clothes, and the prices are not bad. They even have a website.

Here you can find the web page for Mango <BR>http://www.mango.es/s/index.htm <BR> <BR>Another good one (also spanish), and with clothes ranging from babies to young adults (both men and women) is Zara. They have a great shop in Regent Street. Just opposite you can find Adolfo Dominguez (sorry, all of them are spanish). Great materials, good fitting, although I am thinking more you than your daughter...

Another vote for Mango ( I am wearing an outfit I bought on sale in their Seville store ). Pencil straight linen skirt with short sleeved matching tee ( cotton /spandex)both in lavender. Total: about $45 US. Very hip merchandise, good quality and very reasonable prices;especially the sale. <BR> <BR>

<BR>Try Marks and Spencer, which do good value clothes, and also Next, and Zara and Mango as suggested. Sales seem to be non-stop these days, so shop around, and realise that shops in Covent Garden etc. will necessarily be more expensive because of its location.

Elvira <BR> <BR>I have been trying to get time to think about this all week. I'm a very bad witness because I work so hard I do an awful lot of my shopping by mail. But here goes.... <BR> <BR>There are a few places which are serious discount stores where clothes are very cheap. In Scotland (I think it's not a UK company) we have achain called "What everyone wants" which is "Stack 'em High and Sell 'em cheap stuff. Stores like Asda and tesco do a limited range of bearable quality mass produced clothes. Next step up is the stables- like Marks & Spencer and British Home Stores and Debenhams and Lewis's- the places you always go for underwear and tee-shirts and plain skirts and tops and things. <BR> <BR>They have a slightly High Street equivalent- Richards, Dorothy Perkins, Etam, Next. <BR> <BR>Then there are the classy, for work places- like Country Casuals, Jaegar, Austin Reed. <BR> <BR>Then there are the places I can't fford and won't bore you with. <BR> <BR>In the end you gets what you pays for. <BR> <BR>S

Thanks, Sheila, and to everyone for the info. <BR> <BR>I forgot about Marks & Spencer; it does have pretty good stuff for what I consider reasonable prices. I'll check out the Mango stores in Paris (I went to their website and found the addresses despite the fact my Spanish is virtually non-existent) and look for the other names mentioned. <BR> <BR>I remember from about 10 years ago going to Kew Gardens for an outdoor 'market' and finding nice outfits for about $40; does anyone know if that market was a fluke or if it still exists? <BR> <BR>Most of all, thanks for asking the question, Penny.

Good place in central London to buy a 'special' outfit would be Dickens and Jones next to Liberty on Regent street [2 mins from Oxford circus]It is the upmarket store of a UK wide chain so has both their normal stock and designer floors etc so can wander in the expsnive bits without feeling outfaced by it all !