LONDON

- SHOPS -
1 Primark
Oxford Street has two Primarks and both are big
and busy with fast-fashion shoppers. Prices are
low: coats start at £9 and jumpers at £6. What
Primark does best is offer basic clothing at budget
prices – think vests and socks. Be warned: the
queues for the changing rooms and tills are long.
499-517 Oxford St, W1K 7DA
2 SamPle SaleS
Sample sales have been going for years, so it’s
surprising that so few people know about them.
Largely aimed at the label hunter, they are one
of the best ways to purchase a designer name at
a discounted price. Most items on sale are from
a previous season, but you can often get up to
80 per cent off. Entrance to the sale usually
costs about £2. Details of sales can be found
on Sample Sale Guide or Designer Sales.
samplesaleguide.co.uk; designersales.co.uk
3 Charity ShoPS
Buying clothes from charity shops has never
been so popular – they are now a go-to place for
the savvy label-loving shopper. The secret is to
shop in well-to-do areas, where high-end items
are often donated. The Beckhams previously
donated Victoria’s Jimmy Choo shoes and David’s
Dolce & Gabbana suits to the British Red Cross
in Chelsea. In 2006, Keira Knightley donated the
Vera Wang dress she wore at the Oscars to Oxfam
in Notting Hill in order to raise money for charity.
It’s not just big names, either – for under £10,
second-hand items include games and crockery.
British Red Cross, 69-71 Old Church St, SW3 5BS.
Oxfam, 114 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3QS
4 tk maxx
Big names don’t have to come with big prices.
TK Maxx is for fashion-forward shoppers, who can
choose from menswear, womenswear, accessories
and a handbag collection – all of which include
big discounts on designer names. You can buy
shoes starting at £7 and shirts at £10.
120-124 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JR
5 Beyond retro
Vintage clothing has become increasingly popular,
with lots of stores based in Soho and east London.
Beyond Retro is one of the most popular, and there
are bargains to be had on both men’s and women’s
clothing. There are lace gloves for £8, hats for
£10, swimsuits for £9 and belts for £10. The aim
of the shop is to recycle clothing, so all of the
products were originally donated to charity.
58-59 Great Marlborough St, W1F 7JY
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JANUARY 2016 | 11