I don't think I've ever been happier to discover a shop as I have this one - practically any clothes I bought over winter I found here, including an incredible-looking, excellent quality brand new winter coat for 75 euros that would keep you warm in a blizzard. In fact if I walk into BTs in this coat, shop assistants look at me optimistically as if I might actually be a real prospect; poor them, but I got a good laugh out of it. The husband picked up a gorgeous Alpaca wool coat for around 100 euros, and it too would preserve you in an Antarctic storm.
Another good buy was a designer jacket which I'm guessing didn't sell in the designer Siopaella around the corner, good-as-new quality, retail price over a grand, cost me 35 quid, two ripped-out shoulder pads later and a bit of sleeve adjustment, and (to me anyway) what it had lost in standard-issue French chic it gained in cool.
The atmosphere in Siopaella is great, the staff are helpful but there's no hard sell, and the chilled out doggie lying contently at the till slapping his tail from time time perfectly accents the general homely, cool vibe.
The good stuff turns over fast so keep an eye on Facebook which regularly shows what's come in. The prices can be a bit mixed - I've seen at least one item for a price near enough to what you'd buy it for new in Zara, but in much less than new quality, but generally I find the prices to be good and the quality very high - good as new really.
This isn't charity shop prices (or standard of clothes, obviously); it's a good shop for fashionistas who buy often and turnover wardrobe regularly, and these are the types they look to trade with. When I suggested I had some things I could sell there, the wonderfully friendly woman who owns it explained kindly that they're looking for a minimum of around 15 items to begin with (you start an account). My shopping profile doesn't make me the ideal trader, but I am the ideal shopper there.
The designer Siopaella around the corner from this one is the same concept, but if you spend a third of the shop value on a dress there, you could be setting yourself back 500 quid. But you'll be wearing Chanel.
As I understand, this is a consignment shop, and they keep 40% of anything they sell of yours (either that or you get 40%), and if it doesn't sell, you take it back at the end of the agreed time frame.
I delight in telling people about this shop when I get complimented on something - as an alternative to the high-street shopping model, Siopaella gets my vote and not just because of what you save on the pocket; it's just a much more interesting way to shop and it's a more sustainable model too. Full marks to these guys. read more