H & M

I’m not really a big fan of this H&M but then its probably because the H&M I used to frequent was the vast one in Oxford Circus which had a great menswear section. Yes I am a lady but I found the menswear section great for presents for brothers and hubby. Sadly this one isn’t as good.
Is it just me, or does anything else think the quality of H&M has gone down while the prices have gone up? Its been a long while since I’ve seen something I’d be prepared to pay money for. This H&M doesn’t inspire me with anything particularly new and its frequently quite busy so I rarely frequent it now.

It must be said (and you’ll know if you’ve read my other reviews) that I prefer the new H&M at Cabot Circus. But judging by some of the reviews on here, it looks like I might be in the minority. And it is possibly because I didn’t really go in this H&M much before Cabot Circus was opened. Partly because I hadn’t been in Bristol that long before Cabot Circus opened and partly because I hadn’t really spotted it. It is right on the edge of Broadmead, near the Odeon cinema, and of course once you know where it is you really can’t miss it but hey ho. Anyway, it does everything an age old H&M does but in my opinion doesn’t have as much new stuff and little gems as the other one. It’s also much quieter and can look pretty sparse. It is however, worth a look in because it sometimes has different offers to its newer sister.

I used to be a big fan of H&M and, given the choice of this store and the new one in Cabot Circus, I would still come here as the layout is nice. It has a kind of circular route that allows for browsing without intent.
If I’m going through a phase with clothes this is a good place to start, as on the whole they are pretty cheap (£5 to £10 for t-​shirts). But cheap prices of course mean poor quality and there’s that dubious nagging where did the cloth get made/​dyed/​sown guilt that makes me shop at People Tree instead.
Style-​wise they are on trend but don’t go too far, and you will see just as many 30 somethings shopping here as teenagers.

Well, basically my entire wardrobe comes from here. The price is right and it’s pretty stylish. The only problems are that a) there are days when every single item I am wearing (bar my shoes) comes from here and b) you can end up looking like a clone of everyone else.
If these things don’t matter to you though, H and M has pretty much all you need. A few caveats though. They can be a tad pricey sometimes, getting far too close to forty quid for a pair of jeans for my liking. The jeans, in fact, aren’t that great if you ask me. They’ve got to much a predilection for putting a worn effect on the thighs. What I like about H and M is that they make functional, unadorned clothes that are still nicely cut. This is what they should stick too. #
I once came here on one of their student nights, where they open late and have a DJ blaring music out (only because I didn’t have time to go in the day, honest!) and it was one of the weirdest retail experiences of my life. Almost too loud to think, with music louder in the club, and almost completely empty. Apart from this odd experience I’ve had nothing but pleasant and successful shopping experiences here.

Being a man, I’ve found myself generally oblivious to the charms of cheap, mass produced clothing, and remain somewhat perplexed as to how the fairer sex can get themselves into such a lather at the prospect of a new Primark opening, or apparently mistake a quick trip to the supermarket with a weekend in Milan. One small exception is H & M.
Although the fellas’ threads are shoved into one small corner, I still find it worth a look on the odd occasion that I’m walking around Broadmead. I personally find their jeans and t-​shirts to be a bit lacking, but if you want a decent jumper (probably stripey), hat (probably stripey), or belt (probably stripey) at a bargain price, this is the place to come. Just don’t blame them if every third bloke on Park Street is also wearing your lovely new jumper.
There’s no two ways about it: H & M are responsible for the biggest Swedish fashion sensation to hit these shores since a certain four-​piece stormed our charts in the ‘70s clad in matching white jumpsuits.