Retail concepts

Farfetch X Sixby6 Bloggers – the shoe challenge




Blogger collabs are quite the thing now, aren’t they? I just had a call from a value retailer asking me to work with them but I don’t really do value fashion so had to pass, I think I may have even uttered the phrase ‘it’s not on brand’. (more…)



Retail concept: Your Samples Collective



How’s this for a new type of sample sale? YSC (Your Samples Collective) aims to ‘put the simple statement back into people’s wardrobe with good reductions and product that you can rely on’. Translation? Non-seasonal pieces that you’ll keep on wearing, such as their debut sample sale from Wrangler.

I try to avoid samples sales as I seem to be that person who gets far too carried away and then regrets the unworn purchases a few weeks later. But this one looks like quite a good concept, provided the product is right. The sale is on Friday and Saturday and all the info is below. I might see you there!



What’s worth buying from the Versace X H&M collaboration?




Rather handily, the H&M press day had a couple of rails neatly arrayed with the Versace X H&M collection. I managed to inspect right up close with the Lumix and guess what? Some of the pieces aren’t half bad. I tend to sidestep high street clothes as I don’t really do fast fashion – I like things to last. So my high street shopping is mostly limited to Cos, American Apparel, Topshop, Whistles …and that’s about it. But there were some pretty good quality pieces on the Versace for H&M rail that I admit I didn’t expect to find for the price…

This leather studded dress is definitely worth £179.99 as the leather is super-soft and the seams properly aligned (the PR assured me this wasn’t just a lone perfect sample)

I was also mighty impressed with the studded biker jacket – at £179.99 it’s a great cut, the leather feels and looks luxe and it’s not too much of a one-season wonder

The other pieces that caught my eye for their better-than-expected quality…

Cropped bomber jacket

Men’s crocodile print jeans *paging Henry Holland*

Love the classic cut of this knit top – very Anna Wintour en vacances, no?

I think we all agree that a wardrobe of these suit carriers would be worth queuing for…

The collection goes on sale on Thursday and the rules for shopping are here. What will you be buying?



Disneyrollergirl’s picks for Time Out’s Best 100 shops in London




Choosing my favourite shops for Time Out’s 100 Best Shops In London list wasn’t difficult. I’m not a big online shopper because I prefer to make really considered purchases and I find the whole store ambience and experience adds to the value of what I’m buying. My top five stores are the ones I visit on a regular basis, not just to buy, but also to ‘keep my eye in’ and research what’s out there. (more…)