Igigi Women’s Boutique

Beautiful clothes for women in elegant surroundings. I’ve bought a couple of things full price (expensive but very good quality) and found some bargains in the sale. The owner, Zoe, and all the staff are super friendly and helpful and will give you their honest opinion. I bought my bridesmaids dress for my sister’s wedding here which was very much admired on the day!

I would imagine that women round the world are perpetually frustrated by the high street’s preference for the undernourished, as the fickle world of fashion leaves no room for those of ordinary size and physique. At Brighton’s IGIGI you can buy anything from a size 8 – 18 and, while other IGIGI stores accommodate a broader range of sizes, it definitely made my girlfriend happy. She said the only problem was the price but, with such a quick manufacturing turnaround, it’s justifiable as you get unique, stylish clothes for a larger-​than-​normal size range. Also available are a range of products by local business Beyond Skin, who are an ethical shoe company that design and manufacture a range of elegant vegan footwear.

As with the I Gigi general store a few doors down, their women’s boutique leaves me in two minds. I love some of the labels they stock– most with ethical stances, great mixes of classic and avant-​garde, particularly Humanoid, Beyond Skin, Fillipa K– admittedly expensive brands. The women’s boutique has a harder edge to the décor which is welcome after the crisp clean neutrals of the homestore, yet ultimately, combined with the stiff staff, comes across as snooty.

Owned by the same peeps as Igigi General Store and Café a few doors away, this lovely boutique specialises in elegant and stylish womenswear.
Refreshingly, they stock sizes 8 to 18 and their niche seems to be classic dresses, skirts, trousers, shirts, blouses, jumpers and dresses made from beautiful and ethical materials. Turning it into a one-​stop destination for shoppers in a hurry, they also sell shoes, bags and accessories. Designers include Beyond Skin, Sam Ubhi, Ally Capellino, Best Behavior, Hartford, Anna Nygards and Anouk.
If you see something you like and it doesn’t quite fit, they also provide alterations and styling advice. If they could make me a size smaller, I’d buy my whole wardrobe from there!