Holdfast
Stylish Dinosaur
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2006
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Saturday afternoon, at loose end. What better way to spend it than go shopping at the Bicester Village outlets?
It was insanely busy - I didn't realise it was half-term week, so all the families were out in force. Still, plenty of good shopping to be had, and nearly all my favourite outlets had recently received new stock.
I avoided Loro Piana on entering, saving it up to the end of the day (otherwise I knew I'd blow my entire budget there!). So straight to Ferragamo, which was buzzing but I managed to get the manager (who's helped me before and tends to give an extra little off) to help me out. And help me into a couple of new Tramezzas! There were loads of lovely Tramezza models in many sizes in stock and I only just resisted a double monk as well!
Ferragamo Tramezza "Daniely" burgundy oxfords
Ferragamo Tramezza "Filosofo" variegated dark brown monks:
(trousers in the photos are also new - brown with a faint check, wool & cashmere, courtesy of M&S)
Next, over to Ralph Lauren. Very, very busy, and I saw a former colleague shopping for a new suit too (he chose a fairly unpleasant chocolate brown with a bold pinstripe). Lots of new stock, lots of RLPL suits and jackets, but not much that fit me well. Shoes were disappointing as were ties (not much PL).
There was a beautiful RLPL light-grey flannel or cashmere (can't remember, but very soft) in 38S on a good discount (less than 1/3 retail) which more or less fit and tempted me hugely but I prefer a 37S in RLPL so passed.
I also found a 38S in a dark grey/black glen plaid Black Label Ralph Lauren. Fit damn-near perfectly - definitely more fashion forward slim cut than even RLPL - but I can confirm these suits are totally fused and therefore IMO overpriced even at the outlet price (Black Label seem to only get discounted to the same level as RLPL!)
I did find a buttery-soft 36S RL Polo cashmere jacket that fit me nicely and I couldn't resist:
Enough Ralph Lauren and over to Zegna where I stocked up on shirts (oh, and found another colleague here, buying a nice-looking suit):
Nearing my limit for the day, I returned to the Loro Piana. I started chatting to the manageress and trying a few lovely items on, when I hear a "it's OK, we don't stock that at Ede & Ravenscroft" over my shoulder. Turns out my tailor at Ede seems to be fond of Loro Piana at outlet prices and was also shopping!
Well, having received permission to shop from the competition, I ended up buying a nice new Storm System coat. Apparently this coat was designed for the Italian Olympic Equestrian at the Athens games, though it seems remarkably thick and warm for Greece!
I love the design of this coat, so many beautiful little touches such as the belted back, the "action back", the leather at the collar and basically, the excellent workmanship throughout.
Loro Piana "Barrage" Storm System coat:
A fine day!
(PS. apologies for the x-post from AAAC but it seemed just wrong not to post new shoe pics here on SF!)
It was insanely busy - I didn't realise it was half-term week, so all the families were out in force. Still, plenty of good shopping to be had, and nearly all my favourite outlets had recently received new stock.
I avoided Loro Piana on entering, saving it up to the end of the day (otherwise I knew I'd blow my entire budget there!). So straight to Ferragamo, which was buzzing but I managed to get the manager (who's helped me before and tends to give an extra little off) to help me out. And help me into a couple of new Tramezzas! There were loads of lovely Tramezza models in many sizes in stock and I only just resisted a double monk as well!
Ferragamo Tramezza "Daniely" burgundy oxfords
Ferragamo Tramezza "Filosofo" variegated dark brown monks:
(trousers in the photos are also new - brown with a faint check, wool & cashmere, courtesy of M&S)
Next, over to Ralph Lauren. Very, very busy, and I saw a former colleague shopping for a new suit too (he chose a fairly unpleasant chocolate brown with a bold pinstripe). Lots of new stock, lots of RLPL suits and jackets, but not much that fit me well. Shoes were disappointing as were ties (not much PL).
There was a beautiful RLPL light-grey flannel or cashmere (can't remember, but very soft) in 38S on a good discount (less than 1/3 retail) which more or less fit and tempted me hugely but I prefer a 37S in RLPL so passed.
I also found a 38S in a dark grey/black glen plaid Black Label Ralph Lauren. Fit damn-near perfectly - definitely more fashion forward slim cut than even RLPL - but I can confirm these suits are totally fused and therefore IMO overpriced even at the outlet price (Black Label seem to only get discounted to the same level as RLPL!)
I did find a buttery-soft 36S RL Polo cashmere jacket that fit me nicely and I couldn't resist:
Enough Ralph Lauren and over to Zegna where I stocked up on shirts (oh, and found another colleague here, buying a nice-looking suit):
Nearing my limit for the day, I returned to the Loro Piana. I started chatting to the manageress and trying a few lovely items on, when I hear a "it's OK, we don't stock that at Ede & Ravenscroft" over my shoulder. Turns out my tailor at Ede seems to be fond of Loro Piana at outlet prices and was also shopping!
Well, having received permission to shop from the competition, I ended up buying a nice new Storm System coat. Apparently this coat was designed for the Italian Olympic Equestrian at the Athens games, though it seems remarkably thick and warm for Greece!
I love the design of this coat, so many beautiful little touches such as the belted back, the "action back", the leather at the collar and basically, the excellent workmanship throughout.
Loro Piana "Barrage" Storm System coat:
A fine day!
(PS. apologies for the x-post from AAAC but it seemed just wrong not to post new shoe pics here on SF!)
