Bicester Catch Up

>> I couldn't make it to the launch of the new British Designers Collective at Bicester Village last week so I went on a spare Sunday to do right by my inner journalistic purpose and cover what is in fact a great initiative in the scheme of discount fashion shopping.  It's got NOTHING to do with the fact that I love a good outlet mall, especially one that has a Le Creuset shop or the fact that I wanted to go and stalk Prada to see if there's still any S/S 10 postcard print stuff.  No, not at all… *cough*

If I did make the British Designers Collective store my primary motive for heading up to Bicester, that wouldn't be too shabby at all.  The shop fit this time round is more ambitious and in the stretch of outlet stores really stands out with its astro-turfed exterior and pop-baroque aesthetic.  

The offerings from the previous two British Designers Collective store have been expanded upon and now there are more designers taking part, covering shoes, accessories as well as clothes.  If you're not in London, fiendishly hawk-eyeing all the sample sales and you're visiting the country, you could do a lot worse than bagging a few past season pieces from the British Designers Collective at up to 60% off with the bonus of being able to try them on (unlike say TheOutnet.com or Yoox.com).  Just a quick perusal yields the following…

…Nicholas Kirkwood shoes (not the boring styles either)… 

Jonathan Saunders' deliciously juicy knitwear // Lulu & Co. pieces including this Louise Gray MA collection dress that is my go-to party frock

Peter Pilotto's S/S 11 shattered prism prints // Holly Fulton bling/fun jewellery 

Other jewellery notable mentions include this Erickson Beamon ring that looks like it's glowing in daylight… 

… and quite a few Mawi pieces that are recognisable by a mile away… 

Holly Fulton's smoky deco prints are also up for grabs… 

…as well as Marios Schwab's pearl-encrusted frocks… 

… and Emma Cook's animal-inspired prints in muted shades.  

The biggest surprise were these Osman pieces from his A/W 11-12 collection which feature a really beautiful stitched matelass√© in vibrant shades of orange and red.  I was particularly taken with the wide legged trousers that would work nicely with my fixation with this pic of the Brady Bunch, circa 1977.  

Another new face to the Bicester scene is Charlotte Olympia popping up with its own outlet store.  Fruit pumps at 50% off which is still isn't cheap but we are talking about a fruit bowl incarnated in shoe form. 

In other Bicester news: Prada S/S 11 faux fur stole in Muppets orange and turquoise SPOTTED for ¬£120, Celine's S/S 11 scarf print pieces are in stock and in abundance but still hideously expensive, Marni outlet store punching its weight above the rest in terms of prices, Church's outlet store is about to open and it looks like I'm going to be spending a lot of money at Bon Point, with friends and family members having buns in their ovens.  Bicester report over and out.