Reiss-a-lot

Don’t ask me why after a few too many dirty martinis and a disgustingly overt hunger for McDonalds Fillet o’ Fish burger, I still stopped at the Reiss store in Covent Garden to take these pictures. 

It just struck me that increasingly, I have been developing a bit of a hankering for some Reiss things.  I heaped some praise on its menswear (ok, so I’m biased – the boyf does pick some exeedingly good pieces from there!).  The hankering probably started when I did a lot of Reiss-inspecting when I was bored in terminal 3 at Heathrow a few weeks ago.  They seem to have incorporated a lot of those all-important ‘deets’ into their pieces which makes me consider pulling the wallet out.  Ruffles, origami pleating, applique, interesting choice of materials are all done in a way that isn’t overly mumsy/fussy (there are some stores…not naming names that get the ‘deets’ very very wrong…), utilising the technique/craft aspects of the current trends to their full advantage so that you don’t feel like you’re buying a fast fashion piece

In particular the skirts this season are altogether very charming.  I can see these working in all sorts of different contexts.

Yet the problem comes when I get to the point of pulling my wallet out.  Reiss seems to be forever one of those stores that I will hold out on.  When you see ¬£95 price tags on said skirts above, I start ‘Umm-ing’ and ‘Ahh-ing’ as to whether I’d find something more fabulous for less via eBay/sample sales/sheer luck.  I imagine glossy investment banker types look at Reiss clothes and start licking their chops thinking ‘Oooh….BARGAIN!’ and I’ve seen them in there with armfuls of clothes.  Alas, I doubt I’d ever be glossy or an ‘investment banker type’ so I’m now just waiting for the point when I’ll just go for it despite the umms and ahhs… 

15 comments

  1. I agree Susie. I too have spent many a random moment looking round at the clothes and coming out with nothing. Reiss have some lovely clothes but the prices are… not so much! They get more affordable in the sales though, if you can remember to go.

  2. Aren’t we all waiting for that moment, aren’t we all…[sigh]…
    xx

  3. I feel EXACTLY the same about Reiss. I go in, I paw, I um and ah and then just can’t quite muster the passion to actually dig into my purse. Too expensive.

  4. yeah, exactly. and I have just read the article about the Grazia spread and I saw the pictures of yourself under the Grazia article, and I just wanted to say that you look cool both in the article and in everyday life, and if I’m not much mistaken: aren’t you wearing a house of holland tee in one of the pictures? just by the way, because I am totally in love with those t-shirts. I think I’m gonna get “I’ll show you who’s boss Kate Moss”.
    Best,
    Cate

  5. I fall in love with peices from Reiss all the time when I just see them on the hanger, and I am not adverse to spending that sort of money if I really love something. The problem is that 90% of the time, I fall out of love with Reiss things as soon as I try them on. The cut is so often terrible! I’ve heard people say that they only design for thin people, but I am a size 8 so that is not the problem for me. I actually think they only design for tall people as the tops are all so long and most of the skirts so volumnous that they drown short legs. Shame!

  6. Wow…. I haven’t even advanced to trying anything on yet apart from some coats which seemed fine (I actually found the sizing generous!). Thanks for the insight though Deborarh…. size aside, it’s those prices that are stopping me…. oh well…
    Rollergirl: Yeah.. a little too glossy perhaps!

  7. the reiss skirts aren’t me at all but i always leave wishing i’d bought one if only to look at whenever my eyes get hungry. the details, colours and fabrics used are just stunning!

  8. I’ve just got back to my desk after finding exactly the same problem in Whistles…
    Canary Wahrf lawyer types everywhere, pawing the goods with scorn, but still being the only ones prepared to pay over the odds for such gooods.
    I mus t say though, both Reiss and Whistles have some amazing stuff in at the moment.
    http://mainstreamliving.blogspot.com/

  9. Oh there’s more to come yet in Reiss.. I have the pleasure of working in the Newcastle store and this week we’re getting the fabulous sleeveless sequinned shirt in store for ¬£95 called the Camille that was featured in Grazia’s top 10 and another which I’m buying tomorrow called “Sharla”. It’s expensive stuff but my gosh it’s pretty!
    I love this blog- good work Susie! Very pretty pic in Grazia too 🙂 x

  10. omg i just bought that white skirt in purple; the pleating is gorgeous and it was on sale!
    I also got a pair of purple elbow length leather gloves from Reiss, and my best friend bought the ruffle top dress.

  11. PaPP: Yeah…the are expanding Stateside aren’t they….
    Rebecca Amir: Yes…I group Whistles and Reiss in the same lot…Whistles is a bit more boho-ish and girly though…
    laurrren_a: Get you with your staff discount! I’m quite jealous! Welcome to Style Bubble by the by!
    anon: Purple elbow length leather gloves… I’m very much there…
    Late answer for Cate: Yes I was wearing a Christopher Kane HoH t-shirt… though worn with vintage petticoat and floral waistcoat it was a little less ‘in yer face’.

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