Evening lights in the village

Today, Clare Taylor of The Potty Diaries writes about her first experience visiting Bicester Village…

I write this in praise of the Outlet Village. Well, actually, not just any outlet village. The queen – nay – the EMPRESS of outlet villages.

There are plenty of them about, you see, and in the normal way of things, whilst all outlet villages are equal, some of them are more equal than others.

Now, I would be the first to admit that I am not a willing shopper. I don’t run true to female type on this matter; normally I need to be dragged kicking and screaming to the shops as my clothes fall off me in rags, so dilapidated have they become. Why? Frankly, I just can’t stand the disappointment. Not that there are no clothes to buy, oh no; I live in London for goodness’ sake, close to both the Kings Road and Westfield Shopping Centre. It isn’t that there are not enough clothes to choose from, rather that there are too many and – more to the point – they all make me look like a sack of potatoes. A sack of potatoes in a pair of well-cut jeans, perhaps, or in a pretty patterned shirt, but – to my jaded eyes – still a sack of potatoes.

Or a 42 year old woman, at any rate, and whilst I might be that, the last thing I want to do is look it…

Anyway, I digress. Outlet villages. I’ve been to a couple in my time, and in my limited experience their proponents talk a good game before you get there, but once you arrive they are usually a disappointing collection of low-end high street brands shifting last year’s stock and Royal Doulton shops shifting seconds. Or so I thought… But then, unable to deal with the ripped hems on my jeans any longer, my beloved husband dragged me to Bicester Village, one of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Europe.

(Cue the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from the Messiah here, please)

Oh. My. Gosh.

This place is to normal outlet villages what Selfridges is to C&A. What Keira Knightley is to Britney. What Green & Black’s Ice Cream is to that reconstituted potato stuff you get out of the Mr Whippy van at your local village fete.

High end designers like Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenburg (can we call her DvF from now on please? You’ll see why in a moment), Gucci, DKNY, Armani, MaxMara, 7 for all Mankind, Myla, Temperley London, Matthew Williamson, Vivienne Westwood, Roberto Cavalli and so on, are all packed into one easily navigable high street for your delectation. Who could resist? Who would want to?

It’s a bit of label-fest, to be honest. And amazingly, it’s not all last years’ tat. Shock news; they actually appear to be stocking clothes that even I would want to buy and keep forever! On a thin day, obviously.

Luckily for me (and unluckily for my credit card), it was a thin day, so rejoicing mightily I tripped lightly into (or was that ‘got sucked into the vortex of’?) DvF and bought myself two items. That’s two. Items. Me. I bought. Two. Items.

In my defence, they were both must-haves since a) they actually fit and b) they were reduced from around £500 to £80 and I don’t care how you cut that cake, it would have been rude not to. And I’ve even worn one of my purchases since, which is something of a miracle since you might imagine that a gold brocade tunic dress wouldn’t see much use in South Kensington in January. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way…

Anyway. Must go; I have a top-up shopping trip to plan. ’7 for all Mankind’ and Jimmy Choo are calling my name and I received a seasonal 10% off voucher from joining the Bicester Village Membership on the website last month. Never mind that we all know I will get there and chicken out of trying on anything that might highlight my still too-evident Christmas holiday tummy, instead finding myself buying shoes for my children in Timberland and vases for my mother in law in Royal Doulton, I can dream, can’t I?

Now, where has my husband hidden my credit card?

[Photo credit: "Christmas Time..." by Tony on Flickr, all rights reserved]

About Clare Taylor

Clare Taylor is a hardcore non-shopper who experienced the joys of Bicester Village on a recent visit, and discovered to her surprise that this fashion business might be all it’s cracked up to be, after all. She is a part-time writer and blogger.