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Member since:14.03.2003
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I moved to London two years ago and, like many, had visions of shopping in Harrods and lunching in Covent Garden and going to see a musical or a film in Leicester Square. Of course once you move there, you don't do any of those things because it's too expensive and totally uncool.
However, if you're anything like me, you do spend about 40% of your life in Selfridges. Even if you don't actually BUY anything (except magazines - at least you get the bag then...)
The shop itself is on Oxford Street, right in the centre of the city, the nearest tube station is Bond Street (how apt, right next to my college building...) or Marble Arch. You can't miss Selfridges itself. To quote someone I once knew "it's the huge-ass expensive looking shop which says 'selfridges and co' on the door". Once you've made your way past the people collecting for charity and used all your upper body strength on the big revolving doors to actually get into the shop, it's time to die, because you will have already mentally spent about 5 grand.
The ground floor is home to everything but clothes. Designer handbags and accessories (cacharel, we're not worthy), make-up and cosmetics (don't let me anywhere NEAR Benefit..), fragrances, jewellery, watches, etc. It's also home to the massive food hall (pick up godiva chocolates and weird smelling cheese), the stationery and cards, a WHSmith concession that sells every magazine and import you could ever want (it's the only place I've ever managed to find US Allure), and has concessions for places like Red Letter days and a Muji
Here you'll also find the newly renevated Spirit, the 'youth' section, where I while away the hours looking at slightly more affordable clothes, shoes and jewellery (Warehouse, Topshop, FCUK, Oasis, Mikey, Bertie etc).
Moving up the floors you find the shoes,ladieswear, designer concessions and so on. Do not go here unless you have very good willpower or a man willing to spend a few hundred quid on you. You can find anyone who's anyone stocked somewhere in Selfridges, from Ghost to Matthew Williamson, Seven Jeans to Joseph.
All this, and Jimmy Choo too.
I must confess to not looking properly round the mens sections, or the bookstore, or eating in the cafe. I know plenty of people who've quaffed champagne in selfridges (very nice, if very expensive) but Spirit is my spiritual home. Lower floors aren't my forte, but I have it on good authority that, like the rest of selfridges, it's hell on your credit card and your self-discipline.
One of the things I like about Selfidges is the slightly less pretentious attitude, and the fact there are fewer tourists. Selfridges is where the locals go, as well as the visitors. The staff are perfectly happy to let you look at stuff without hassling you (cosmetics counters excepted - they'll always try and palm off some free gift on you...but who's complaining?). Selfridges also do great exhibitions with special events (at the moment it's 'bodycraze', on piercing and body art).
And don't get me started on the sale! Be armed with a bulletproof vest and a battering ram, it's mortal combat, but it's worth it. A friend of mine got a miu miu bag for £40. What more can you ask?
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Advantages: Large, spacious, choice, service, location, value during the sales, find things you are unlikely to find on the High Street. Disadvantages: Odour of the food hall, one might get lost, sometimes it is expensive, sometimes it is better to shop on Bond Street shop by shop.
Modena 01.05.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Selfridges (London)
Advantages: Large, spacious, choice, service, location, value during the sales, find things you are unlikely to find on the High Street. Disadvantages: Odour of the food hall, one might get lost, sometimes it is expensive, sometimes it is better to shop on Bond Street shop by shop.
Modena 01.05.2001 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Selfridges (London)
Jun 17th, 2003
very helpful by (100%):
