Time and time again I have been in Warehouse, time after time I have been disappointed. Even in the…read moresale. Am I doing something wrong? Back in college I used to see Warehouse labels on many things my friends wore, and I'd think, yeah, that looks great on them, but it wouldn't suit me. And this is something which has remained with me to this day, as my clothes rails are noticeably Warehouse bereft. One thing I can't knock is the jewellery. Warehouse stocks some fabulous earrings and a lot of amazing statement necklaces and bangles. In fact, the accessories are where it's at, with lovely scarves, patterned tights (a favourite sock drawer staple of mine), clutches, oversized bags and innovative things like 'arm warmers'. Hey, with all the goshdarn length sleeved coats we see these days, you need inventions like this. I genuinely don't know what it is about the clothes though, it seems that nothing ever grabs me. I'm not saying they're not nice, perhaps it's just the colour or feeling of functionality, I really can't put my finger on it. You might love them though, so I do suggest you give Warehouse a visit and see if there's anything in the sale that tickles your fancy. As far as accessories go, it's a fabulous little shop, and this standalone store in the Arndale makes for varied shopping.

I only started appreciating Warehouse recently, it's a really good shop. Not for everyday stuff but…read morefor going out/dressing up clothes, it's really good, really reasonably priced and very good quality clothes. I've got some beautiful dresses from here that I've worn to weddings and christenings, really pretty and they're also not dry-clean only which saves a fortune and means I wear them much more often! This one in the Arndale is much better than the concession stands in the department stores because they have a much bigger range and the staff are really helpful.

I told my husband that I loved Fred's and he said Fred's what? Fred's clothes of course darling. He…read morehad every right to be jealous because I have developed an unhealthy obsession for this place. The brother of Six clothes shop in Urmston, Fred's is a plethora of funky, pretty and stylish ensembles and as only approximately three of each garment is stocked, you don't run the risk of seeing clones of yourself about town....is there anything more irritating?! A fresh green exterior leads you into a boudoir of flocked wallpaper and huge ornate mirrors. The store itself is small and can get really crowded especially on weekends, yet the changing room is spacious with two cubicles ( I just whip my clothes off in the area outside them, it beats a long wait). From floral boho maxis to vintage looking 60's lace minis. From cute summer dresses ( I bought a yellow/purple floral creation last year and was never out of it), to sexy sequinned numbers, Fred's has something for everyone. Prices are superb too! Most dresses range from only £18 to £30 with a couple of exceptions. The staff are terrific, Fred is so helpful and amazing at sourcing original clothes, teenage Saturday girls cannot do enough for you. Yes dear husband, another man has entered my life and stolen my heart.

I was immediately drawn to Fred's by their quirky window display. It's a relatively small shop but…read moreeverything is well spaced and displayed to advantage. The clothes are extremely reasonable. The last time I called in they had a rail of chunky knit jumpers going for £20 each. Styles lean more towards the younger market a pretty mini dress with a bunny print and lace collar caught my eye. Other items included cute tops with character prints and stripes and polka dots seemed to be popular. If you buy from Fred's it's unlikely you're going to bump into anyone else wearing the same thing. This is not your average high street stuff. Knowledgeable staff make this a relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience.

Situated on the upper floor of the trafford centre, this is quite a large store for a label store…read more A wide selection of sportswear and leisure fashion clothing for both men and women. The widest colour selection of polo shirts I have ever seen! They also sell trainers and shoes, watches and perfume. Staff are extremely helpful and advise on what looks best and will order in and even send to your home anything which you would like which they don't have in stock. Clothing in here is expensive, but if your a label lover you'll be use to it!

Do you remember in your teens when £20 bought you an entire outfit and your wardrobe was a…read morerevolving door of new buys? Then along came Primark which made clothing disposable and ensembles dispensable. Teenagers flock there in droves and do not feel complete unless they come out with a brown paper bag containing a belt, bangle or boyfriend blazer. Due to this heavy competition, very few local shops now target a young female market, however Tags n Labels is every teenage girls dream. Positioned next to Urmston Market, this is a cheap and cheerful little shop. It lures you in with rails of brightly coloured t-shirts and dresses on rails outside covered with signs that say £5 only- well who could possibly resist such temptation? The owner is a lovely man with a dry sense of humour. He asks customers what they are looking for and points them in the direction of well made and low priced garments that can be tried on in the small cubicle at the rear of the shop. The stock is varied and although not generally for my age group, I have been known to walk away with a bargain from time to time. So if you are- or know- a 13 to 20 year old fashionista who deserves a treat, I urge you to forgo the lure of the huge cut priced department stores and give Tags N Labels a try.

Luke 1977 is a contemporary menswear clothing brand set up in the West Midlands in 2001 is a small…read moreBritish "Designer" menswear chain, with stores mainly in the north of England and the Midlands however they do also have stores in Cardiff, York and Livingston. I called in Luke in the Manchester Arndale after it recently won the MARAS awards for "Best Men's Store" which is an award the shopping centre does every year, and while I certainly don't agree this is even in the top three men's stores in the mall, Hugo Boss surely has to take that #1 spot, it still is a pretty decent store. They did have some nice items other than the shirts which were pretty hideous, and they did have a lot on sale too, making most items at reasonable prices. The staff seemed pretty friendly however when I visited the store it was pretty quiet in terms of customers, in terms of actual noise I did find the music to be a little too loud. Award-Worthy? No. Still, a pretty decent store with a good overall feel apart from certain products and loud music, however. 3*

It gets a bad name for selling cheap clothes but to be honest while a large t-shirt may turn into a…read moremedium after one wash, you can't really grumble for £2.50. I once bought a full wardrobe of t-shirts, polos, jumpers & jeans for under £70. If you are fashion conscious then this isn't the place for you, If your into fashion but don't care that it doesn't carry a name then this is place.

I called in Primark while in Oldham today to take a look at the clothing range in particular, to…read moreget my last things before I head off to Rome. As regular readers of my reviews will know, I'm not a regular visitor to Primark and I actually think I have only visited the chain about 3-4 times in my life and that was only across this branch and the one in Manchester. This store is quite a big one (although not as big as Manchester) and is located over 2 floors, they is a lift connecting them as well as escalators. Most of the things here seem to be on the cheaper side, but it does seem in a way they have piled clothes into a smaller area, hence making it seem a little like a jumble sale, especially to go alongside the low pricing - but still it isn't as bad as Sports Direct! I didn't notice many staff around the store. Most of the clothes here, I didn't find to be "Amazing Fashion" at all - which the company labels it as. Some of the clothes here I didn't even find to be fashion at all - but take my comments as a piece of salt if you are a fashion geek, as in all honesty, I know people who question my ability in style all the time, as I do honestly feel "ripped jeans" (is that what they call them?) just looks tatty and something that needs replacing, and it makes me wonder if they can not afford to buy a full pair of jeans or pants. 2 stars - I will probably visit in the future and do a more detailed review but for now the fashion here, in my eyes seems unfashionable and it isn't the nicest of stores, and the layout of it isn't too good either and it can be hard to find a staff member.

Zara is a lovely place to check out, but this one like it has progressed from the last time I…read morevisited 2 months ago but still has some changes that are needed. The ground floor was actually pretty organized this go round but it's really hard to find an employee to assist. One issue is possible because the employees look just like a regular shopper so you are unsure who to ask except the cash register individuals. The escalator going to the second floor was broken, so you will have to walk unless you can get on their elevator. On the second floor they also have self checkout and exchange and return registers. When I was asking an employee a question that was at the exchange/return counter, she was really on edge which I am unsure why. She finally just dismissed me and told me to go to another counter to check out since the self checkout machines cause so many issues. All I needed was an employee code to proceed with taking the locks off. Went up to floor three and the cash register employee that assisted me was so sweet and helpful! Normally I love Zara's for odd and end pieces but this one could work on customer service and working with finding a way to help the layout more shopper friendly.

If I had a body like Penelope Cruz, I would be able to swish in and out of Zara and pick up stylish…read morenew blouses, trousers, blazers, knitwear and dresses on a monthly basis. Knowing the Spanish fashion houses makes beautifully tailored clothes to perfectly fit the European figure, I wouldn't even have to try them on. I'd just stroll over to the cash register, exchange greetings with the assistant and walk out knowing I had some lovely additions to my wardrobe. Sadly, I don't have a body like Penelope Cruz and nothing - I repeat NOTHING - in Zara ever fits me!

A lovely addition to Manchester's fashion scene, which is often overlooked for focus on restaurants…read more/ bars, most predominantly shown by the changing face of King Street. & Other Stories is located in the old French Connection unit, taking two floors of light and airy space, showcasing their lovely clothing and accessories perfectly. They had a small opening event with local bloggers / 'VIPs' but also managed to continue the feeling of a launch through their first day, with some smartly dressed waiters handing out drinks in paper cups while people took their first look at the store. I was also greeted by the friendliest front of house / security I think I've ever met, which was a nice surprise! The items are categorised well and everything feels like it has a place, including shoes upstairs and a beauty / homeware section downstairs with some perfume and candles I can already tell will be a regular feature in any future present buying. Although they seem to specialise in light colours and fabrics, dig around a little and you'll find some beautiful metallics and items more suited to the Manchester weather! If Evelyn's is the most Instagrammable restaurant in the city, & Other Stories is the same for fashion. Excellent natural light and desirable products; hopefully they'll stick around for a while.

I'm not gonna lie, I don't enjoy shopping. I usually plan exactly what I need so I can run in and…read moreout and be done with it. This place changed my mind. It is a big, open shop with lots of white space which has been utilised really well. It is a sibling of the H&M chain but has a more up market feel to it and it slightly more pricey. I wanted to buy everything but showed some restraint, I will definitely be back on pay day!