Advantages: excellent choice, bright colours, versatile designs
Disadvantages: a bit pricey

...I have two little nieces and I always try to buy them nice clothes for their Christmas presents and birthdays, so I have had my fair research on baby/toddler clothes shops. When I look for baby clothes I want to find all sorts of garments, from dungarees to socks, dresses, hats, trousers, rucksacks, etc and also I want to be able to co-ordinate them. Baby Gap has to be one of my best findings and since then my favorite shop for baby clothes. The shop is well laid out, with lots of clothes and accessories to choose from that suit different ages. One of their distinctive points is that their clothes are very colorful and modern. I must also say that their staff is very helpful too. The clothes are very comfortable and wash very well, so if I where you I would give it a go. Although they are a bit pricey for baby/toddler clothes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Cheap, branded clothing
Disadvantages: poorly displayed and arrangement of products

...Have you Got what it takes to be a TK Maxx shopper? TX MAXX can hold some of the best bargains in designer names for men and women. The prices are low and real bargains can be found. But be warned! Only Men with lots of will power and patience should enter this store, those with a phobia of shopping when with thier girlfriends should stay away. The reason for this is because TK Maxx is set out like a big jumble sale. Clothing is split into types (ie tops, trousers, shoes ect) and then into size catogries. The garments are arranged on long rails all tightly crammed together. Most of the stuff is either in extra large or looks like the back end of a rainbow, however there is good stuff in there if you keep searching. I had to search for a good half an hour untill I found somthing I liked, but it was worth it. I got a funky DNKY top for £16... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: can find some bargain buys
Disadvantages: often too messy to find anything

...If anyone reading this is like me, you too will love a bargain. After all who can resist fabulous clothes at cheaper prices?! TK Maxx is a store that promises these fabulous designer clothes at discount prices. The idea in principle is great. Obviously you can't expect to walk in and find the very latest designer garment. you can however find reductions on end of season stock, slightly wrong products (in otherwords someone put a stitch in the wrong place or forgot a bead etc, nothing drastically wrong!). Some items you will find many of (the unpopular garments the first time round!), others will be few and far between. Personally I find these the best buys. Although a few bargains can be found I do still feel that some items are quite pricey for my student budget, especially for those 'designer' items I have never heard of! Contrary... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: see op
Disadvantages: see op

...Pilot has got so much i spent 1 and 1/2 hours in there, and then went back in again! the choice, quality, and low cost of the clothing in pilot is absolutely fantastic. in august they did a buy one get one free (bogof) deal. My friend and i came out with bags of clothes and great big cheesey grins on ourfaces, i'd just bought 2 tops for £10(!)(amongst other things), how brilliant is that?! My friend came out with two tops and two pairs of trousers for £17 we were amazed by the quality of the garments as well as the prices. The changing rooms are well organised as well, there wasn't too much waiting in the queue, because there were enough cubicles for a busy day with lots of shopaholic females buzzing round with arms full of clothing to try on. The one thing i would say could be improved upon is the mess of sales clothing... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A better shopping experience
Disadvantages: Slightly more expensive

...River Island have succeeded in beating other women's high street stores (eg Topshop, New Look) by having: *Better quality clothes *Better value clothes *Better variety of clothes *Better shop layout Better Quality Clothes~~ By just looking at the clothes, you can tell they have been made to a higher standard than New Look or Topshop. By looking more closely, you can tell that more care has been taken in manufacturing the clothes. In the long term, this means that clothes can be worn for longer and will not lose their shape or colour as quickly as clothes from other stores. The material of the garments is also better quality. For example, if you were to buy a rollneck jumper from Topshop, it would be made more of synthetic fabrics which are more prone to wearing out faster than fabrics they use in River Island. I also find... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: price. fashion
Disadvantages: short staffing, crowded

...putting. Staff: Everytime I go in Newlook, there are both good and bad staff. Some staff are there when you need them, and dont bother you unless you need them, while others are never there, as they are always gossiping with their work mates.The shop can sometimes be understaff, particually in the smaller stores, there never seems to be anyone on duty at the changing rooms,but the larger stores seem to overstaffed some what. Value for money: The products are quite cheap, especially when a slae or special offer is on, which is quite usually most of the time.There are always rails of cut priced clothing, or slightly old stock on sale.Be careful though as some of these garments are often soiled or damaged so always try on the clothing before you buy it, and look for special tags telling you if there is anything wrong with the product. Generally... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Affordable for a designer brand, good quality and range
Disadvantages: Still fairly expensive, and some dodgy colours

...I really don't know what to think about warehouse. On one side of the coin, it's a good "not too expensive" designer shop, but on the other, the prices are rather high, and although some of ths stuff on sale is nice, and not too "fashionable", i.e. it's more classic, rather than something you can't wear in 2 years time, some of this seasons stuff is especially awful. The shops are always nicely laid out, and they "feel" expensive, with tidy rails of clothes, and not too much either. Very classy. Everything is well organised into colour schemes too, and the shops generally looks lovely. Warehouse also provides casual, workwear and party stuff, so it's well-rounded in it's ranges on offer, although sometimes the colour range available isn't to my taste, and so sometimes I like all their clothes, and sometimes I never buy anything from... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Quality garments
Disadvantages: Expensive

...I started shopping at Gap the moment I found out I was pregnant as I have always associated Gap with quality but also high prices.... I was pleasantly suprised to find out that BabyGap has one of the best all year round sale rails there is... The other really good thing is that they take back merchandise at any time - not just within 14 or 21 days. So if you have bought an item full price and it is reduced and the baby hasn't worn it yet, you can niftily return it and buy it back!!! As for quality, I am really impressed with the quality of their clothes. They wash time and time again and come out looking brand new. The one disappointment with them I had though was that their socks tend to 'bobble', but otherwise from that they are the best socks I ever tried as they stay on the baby's feet, and as most parents will know, this is no mean... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Store layout
Disadvantages: Range and price

...To be honest, contrary to popular opinion, I don't think FCUK stores are all that... However... PROS -OK, I like the t-shirts (some v. amusing!) -Helpful staff. Espcially the Southampton store. They just cannot do enough for you! They run around after you, fetching different sizes and at the end, they carefully wrap up your purchases as if they were for themselves! -Excellent quality. Once you have a French Connection garment, it tends to last! -Nice stores, well lit with not too much stuff crammed onto the rails. -Clothes are clearly well looked after. But... CONS -Everything is a bit pricy for what you're getting! But I suppose you're paying for the label aren't you? -Things just won't fit! If they fit round the waist, they won't be the right length and vice versa. VERY frustrating! And it must be FCUK because its not a problem I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Long lasting good quality clothes
Disadvantages: more expensive than some other clothing shops

...Feel classy in principles clothes. Ok they are not cheap but their clothes sure do make you feel good. I am petite and they have an excellent range of petite clothes that fit straight off the peg. I bought a pin stripe suit in Principles for a hundred pounds which i thought was expensive at the time, this was three years ago. I wear and wear it. perfect fit excellent quality and hasnt dated yet. You can feel the difference in quality with Principles garments they actually feel nice to the touch and nice to wear. I would say their clothes are fashionably classic which means they dont date but look modern. They do nice accessories as well. They are more expensive than most clothes shops but the extra money in my opinion is well spent. I always feel "classy" in their clothes, theres nothing trashy about them. They do have... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful