Beat the weather – pop in for a shop
With icy winds and a dusting of snow covering the ground, shoppers at The Centre, Livingston are escaping the cold weather and looking for some cosy but stylish additions to their winter wardrobes.
When our Street Style Squad visited The Centre earlier this month, bags were bulging with on-trend puffer jackets from Superdry, parkas from Cotswold Outdoor, colourful knits from M&S, funky scarves and hairbands from H&M and gorgeous beach playsuits from River Island’s beachwear range for those lucky enough to be heading abroad for some much-needed sun.
Six stylish shoppers were selected to share their fabulous new purchases in return for gift cards worth £25, courtesy of The Centre, which can be used in over 90 stores and all restaurants in the shopping centre.
First up on our style radar was Nicola Dimarco (53), a sales team co-ordinator from Dundee.
Nicola was visiting The Centre with her partner to track down a few new additions to her wardrobe, including a dress for an upcoming wedding, winter boots and trainers.
Nicola found the perfect wedding outfit in Debenhams, a stylish dress by Red Herring for £39.
She said: “The dress will be great for my niece’s wedding – the print really jumped out at me and I like the length as it finishes mid-calf so you can wear a nice pair of shoes and they won’t be hidden away.”
Our next lucky shopper was Lynn
Mulheron ( 45), an area manager from Glasgow.
Lynn had just come out of River Island with her baby daughter when the Street Style Squad caught up with her – and her bags were overflowing with stylish pieces for all the family.
Lynn said: “I just came along today to browse the shops while I’m on maternity leave – I love the River Island here.
“It’s a big store and there’s lots to choose from. I couldn’t resist this gorgeous knitted cardigan outfit for £28 with a cute pom-pom on the hood.”
The next person to catch our Style Squad’s eye was Siobhan Thornton ( 29) from Dunfermline.
Siobhan is a supervisor at Edinburgh Airport and was making the most of her day off by enjoying a day of retail therapy at The Centre with her sister.
Siobhan had just been to Primark where she’d invested in a cream suedette jacket for £25.
She said: “I spotted this coat online so I was really pleased to find it in store in my size. It’s a great price and suits my style – I’ll probably wear it open with a pair of jeans for daytime then switch to wearing it with some black leather trousers for an evening out.”
Our next shopper with a passion for fashion was Melissa Paterson ( 26) from Livingston.
Melissa is an engineer but is currently on maternity leave and was visiting The Centre to pick up a gift for her husband.
She’d treated him to a pair of Nike Air Max trainers from JD Sports.
Melissa said: “I’ve also found a couple of presents for my niece and nephew and a cute snowsuit for my daughter.”
The Street Style Squad couldn’t wait to check out the purchases of Gus Gunn, a 56-year-old factory worker from Dundee.
Gus was enjoying a day out at the shops with his partner, keeping an eye out for any sales bargains along the way.
He’d just been to Burton where he’d picked up a simple long-sleeved polo shirt and a stylish burgundy shirt, both £12 each in the sale.
He said: “I’m mostly here to carry the bags but it’s nice when I spot something for me. The grey polo shirt is great for everyday-wear and I really like the colour and the print of the burgundy shirt – I’ll probably save it for summer and wear it with shorts.”
Our final stylish shopper was Calum Peat (24) from the Isle of Man.
Calum was visiting family in the area and had popped in to The Centre. He’d just been to Topman and bought a knitted beanie and a scarf to ward off the winter chill.
Calum said: “It’s so cold today I couldn’t be without a hat and scarf. I forgot to bring them with me so I’ve treated myself to some new ones from Topshop.”
Ashley Bisland, deputy centre director at The Centre, said: “Our shoppers always have a great sense of style and this month they have been investing in key winter wardrobe staples, iconic footwear and a few bargains in the winter sales.
“We hope the six lucky shoppers chosen by the Street Style Squad enjoy spending their gift cards with us very soon.”