London, New York, Paris and, er, Bicester...how to bag a bargain Beckham
Ambitious fashionista Victoria Beckham Red alert... Rivkie spots a dress reduced from £1,224 to £612 yesterday VICTORIA Beckham has quietly opened a new branch of her ailing fashion store at the country’s poshest designer outlet centre – and is offering discounts of up to 80 per cent.
The former Spice Girl has taken up residence at Bicester Village in Oxfordshire where shoppers can stock up on everything from Burberry to Celine.
The Victoria Beckham outlet store opened two months ago to far less pomp and ceremony than when her flagship store opened its doors in London’s Mayfair in 2014. Coats that would have
WITH a celebrity client list that spans everyone from Hollywood’s Gwyneth Paltrow to supermodel Naomi Campbell, does Victoria Beckham’s new Bicester shopping experience match up to the real thing? Can you finally dress like a star at a fraction of the price?
Two months after opening on what is believed to be a short lease, business at Victoria Beckham appears brisk.
And it isn’t surprising. Store staff were friendly but not overbearing, allowing us to shop at our leisure but on hand to answer questions.
Prices were still not cheap. The first wool camel coat we looked at would set you back £1,125, even if it was discounted from £2,250.
The selection however was impressive, with numerous recognisable pieces including a near identical box bag to one carried by the Duchess of Sussex just last week.
Losses
The original price tag was a hefty £1,495 but at the Bicester store it cost just £598.
There was also a similar version of a striped dress worn by US First Lady Melania Trump last summer during her visit to the UK, reduced from £1,395 to £697.50.
Overall the store was well stocked, although limited on sizing. But there were numerous accessories and a good selection of sunglasses at 70 per cent off.
There were also items from the Victoria by Victoria Beckham companion line to the more expensive, ready-to-wear range.
Customers can buy into the brand at around £150 for a dress, which is well worth the investment. Victoria’s Bicester Village outlet store opened to far less fanfare than her Dover Street flagship cost more than £2,000 last season in her central London branch are now just over £1,000 and handbags that were a touch under £1,500 are available for less than £600.
Despite making a triumphant return to London Fashion Week last season, it is no secret that Victoria’s self-titled label is struggling. It reported a staggering £10.2million loss in 2017.
Daily Express deputy fashion editor RIVKIE BAUM heads over to Bicester to check out the new store and see if she can spot any bargains... Rivkie outside the outlet in Bicester where a dress, circled, like one worn by Mrs Trump, right, is on sale
shop but it is by no means as much of a failure as it sounds.
Despite recording huge losses – £10.2million in 2017 – Beckham’s brand is in its infancy and is still establishing itself with younger consumers.
It will take the former pop star more than her name to trade off if hers is to rival the houses of Dior and Mulberry.
While I wouldn’t dream of entering Victoria’s Mayfair store, at an outlet like Bicester I get the same luxury shopping experience and can still afford my rent.
It is a shrewd move for the mother of four. The designer outlet centre is full of the biggest names in fashion including Burberry and Stella McCartney.
There is no shame in going where the money is to attract new customers.