Warehouse

I don’t like this shop. I mean, I like the Warehouse website, and the clothes are alright, occasionally even quite good. But this branch annoys me, for two reasons:
— it is a tiny shop and yet they often have three or four members of staff at one time. Cue every customer being harassed. «Are you alright there? Can I help you? Do you need any help?» No! No! I am 23 years old, I know how to shop, fer gawd’s sake. The over-​attentive staff here make me appreciate the intimidating gorgons of Topshop.
— I don;t know if this is just me, if maybe I’m missing something, but this Warehouse doesn’t seem to stock all the current ranges. So two or three times now, I’ve spotted something on their website, and gone to try it and buy it at the shop, before being told they don’t have it… but the Trafford Centre shop does. There’s no point putting a shop in the middle of the city centre, if it’s not going to stock EVERYTHING.
Aside from those branch-​specific gripes, Warehouse is OK. The 100% silk dresses are really lovely, and on the whole the product range is varied, and well-​made. I guess my main problem with Warehouse is that it doesn’t seem to know who its market is. Cue flirty dresses that are a bit too long, and tailoring that looks clunky and matronly on anyone below 30, alongside lace panelling and body-​con. They also suffer from the age-​old high street issue of ignoring boobs, cutting out a huge potential market.
As a brand, Warehouse seems to be mid-​identity-​crisis, like it doesn’t know who’s supposed wearing the clothes. And until they work it out, I doubt it’ll be me.

Time and time again I have been in Warehouse, time after time I have been disappointed. Even in the sale. Am I doing something wrong? Back in college I used to see Warehouse labels on many things my friends wore, and I’d think, yeah, that looks great on them, but it wouldn’t suit me. And this is something which has remained with me to this day, as my clothes rails are noticeably Warehouse bereft.
One thing I can’t knock is the jewellery. Warehouse stocks some fabulous earrings and a lot of amazing statement necklaces and bangles. In fact, the accessories are where it’s at, with lovely scarves, patterned tights (a favourite sock drawer staple of mine), clutches, oversized bags and innovative things like ‘arm warmers’. Hey, with all the goshdarn length sleeved coats we see these days, you need inventions like this.
I genuinely don’t know what it is about the clothes though, it seems that nothing ever grabs me. I’m not saying they’re not nice, perhaps it’s just the colour or feeling of functionality, I really can’t put my finger on it. You might love them though, so I do suggest you give Warehouse a visit and see if there’s anything in the sale that tickles your fancy. As far as accessories go, it’s a fabulous little shop, and this standalone store in the Arndale makes for varied shopping.

I only started appreciating Warehouse recently, it’s a really good shop. Not for everyday stuff but for going out/​dressing up clothes, it’s really good, really reasonably priced and very good quality clothes.
I’ve got some beautiful dresses from here that I’ve worn to weddings and christenings, really pretty and they’re also not dry-​clean only which saves a fortune and means I wear them much more often!
This one in the Arndale is much better than the concession stands in the department stores because they have a much bigger range and the staff are really helpful.