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'Designers at Debenhams'

H by Henry Holland, Star by Julien Macdonald, Butterfly by Matthew Williamson and J by Jasper Coran are to name a few of the designers which been commissioned by Debenhams to design a 'uniqe fashion fantastic' collection for the store, but from what I saw in the Oxford Street store was more like garments that belonged in Peacocks.
It seems that by trying to bring in these designers, Debenhams is trying to lure back in some of the custom they have lost over they years with other department taking the lead, but it seems like however hard they try Debenhams can't just seem to get it right! Regretfully it should be said that also the designers are put to shame by some of the creations they have churned out, as it seems they have lost their individual style and design ideas which has made them well respected within the industry, minus Holland. Which leaves me to say that by trying create designers labels for less, they are making horrid budget garments, made out of poor quality fabric, which leaves you feeling only less for the designers.

STAR BY JULIEN MACDONALD

BUTTERFULY BY MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

H BY HENRY HOLLAND

BLACK BY BETTY JACKSON

Debenhams...relevant?

Oxford Street, the prime location for a flagship store, where everything from the window displays to visual merchandising of the garments should be top notch, as if they should be setting an example to the other 159 stores world wide, however I'm not to sure if Debenhams are really doing this?
Walking inside the store is like stepping back into the 90's, dull lights, old shabby clothes rails, changing rooms with hidious printed curtains, you already know when you walk through the doors that this department store isnt quite up to the standard of rivals House Of Fraser or John Lewis. It doesn't get much better as your walking to the elslaters to get to the womenswear section, as perfume representatives  approach you,wanting to give you a snippet of the lastest designer frangance, and without giving you the chance to even say no, they go and cover you all over!

Things don't seem it get much better when you reach the first floor, it looks as if you walked into a TK Maxx jumble sale, with huge red discount cards standing out to you at every angle from across the floor, garments cramped onto stand free rails on plastic hangers and clothes lying on the floor, to say the least its all abit to much, you just don't know where to start, even if you are trying to bag a bargain.
Things don't get much better from there, there doesn't seem to be any fluidity around the store, as the different concessions have all been mixed into one, which makes it hard to identify where one designer collection starts and another begins. It also seems they have got abit confused when trying to work out what concessions should be placed to each other in order to fit a certain age range, as they seem to think that H by Henry Holland, who is aimed for girls in their teens to twenties should be next to Black by Betty Jackson, who is aimed for the middle aged women.

Customer Service? What Customer Service...

Not one member of staff approached me in the store apart from wanting to hose me down with perfume, it wasn't as if there was a lack of them, it just seemed as if they were walking around like zombies on their section they were working on. It felt as if the dingy and dull atmosphere of the store had taken it's toll on them, and you could see they were just waiting for their next tea break. 

Futuristic Thinking

BRUNO PIETERS

Red Label

1st Class Service, No Question About It

As part of a shopping experience Question Air are keen to assist you in anyway they can, they offer a personal stylist, which they say is all about the in house service they provide, you can either ask for help, or they will happily step in to give you a few fashion tips.

Question Air say they don’t have a niche market, and they are happy to help out anyone and everyone from the contemporary women to Sloane Square chic, and if you looking to splash on a garment for over £1000, or if you’ve got a smaller budget you need to stick to, and need to find something ‘wow’ in that price bracket, then they are happy to help.  It literally is first class retail service at your feet.

TOP 5 STOCKISTS AT QUESTION AIR...

1. Vivienne Westwood - Red Label

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs

3. Malene Birger

4. Antik Batik

5. Nicole Miller

QUESTION AIR

Question Air?  Westbourne Grove

A small boutique which opened over 18 years ago, but with their sucess growing and growing they have just opened their 6th store in London. Their aim is' to make designer items accessible to their fashion conscious customers.'  They state that: ' Each and every brand which is avaliable from within the boutique is carefully selected, which gives their customers a selection of the finest designer brands available.'

Question Air is within the heart of Notting Hill on the trendy street 'Westbourne Grove', situated opposite Nicole Fahri's restaurant 202 and around shops such as Joseph and Whistles. The shop is in a prime location, and it has every reason to be. Visually the shop floor is simplistic but stylishly effective, with chrome rails and glass shelf's, all laying on a chess board like floor! The rails of garments are sectioned into individual 'style looks' which contain 3 or 4 items, including shoes, which ables you to get personal styling off the rail, without the stress that some get by doing it themselves or even having to ask.