Shopwatch
Forever 21, Westfield Stratford
The third Forever 21 to open in the UK is enormous and is one of the anchors at Westfield Stratford, but is it in a position to capitalise on Peacocks’ troubles?
Superdry, Croydon
The young fashion chain’s arrival is a much-needed boost for the town after last year’s riots and a lack of recent retail excitement.
Louis Vuitton Maison Vs Mulberry
Christmas remains important at the high end of the market, but when it comes to designer bags, will it be a Vuitton or Mulberry? With price not an issue in this rarified market, it’s all about the finer details.
Forever 21, Oxford Street
Young fashion retailer Forever 21 has opened its first London store, but how will this American import fare against the local value-led competition?
Men’s Shoe Salon, Harrods, London
Whether you want £35 espadrilles or £12,000 crocodile-skin shoes, the luxury retailer’s revamped men’s footwear department is a welcoming environment.
New Look, Oxford Street
With major changes within the team at the helm of New Look, it seemed a good time to revisit the London flagship to gauge its effect on the shopfloor
Accessorize, Oxford Street
What was just another shop on London’s main retail strip has been given a makeover, turning the accessories retailer into a true destination.
Stores offer a wealth of creative retailing
It was a good year for indies, for blockbusting fashion statements and pop-up shops, but not every new opening or store revamp was up to scratch.
TK Maxx, City of London
Bankers and stockbrokers get to enjoy a more upmarket incarnation of the off-price retailer, with labels such as Chloé and Versace at bargain prices.
Biba, House of Fraser, London
In spite of the high-profile spat with founder Barbara Hulanicki, Biba’s arrival in House of Fraser’s Oxford Street store is finding favour with shoppers.
Selfridges Shoe Galleries, London
Selfridges has opened the world’s largest footwear department with a splash of cash and stylings that will leave the competition wondering how to respond.
Club Monaco, Toronto, Canada
Unheard of in Europe, the Polo Ralph Lauren-owned chain’s slick approach to visual merchandising has made it a major force in North America and Asia
Louis Vuitton, New Bond Street
Extraordinary furnishings and deep pockets are the norm when you enter the rarified atmosphere of the luxury brand’snew London flagship
Fat Face, Brighton
A former post office is the venue for the lifestyle retailer’s distinctive new store, which has a laid-back feel in keeping with Brighton’s surfer chic
Barratts, Oxford Street, London
Footwear chain Barratts has raised its game on Oxford Street with a revamp that brings one of the thoroughfare’s more tired stalwarts up to date
Wolf & Badger, Notting Hill, London
The art gallery-like space in this high-end store gives new design talent the chance to display their wares to the moneyed shoppers of Notting Hill.
New Look Shoes & Accessories, Bristol
Until very recently, New Look ruled the roost in the fashion footwear stakes. With an enormous range and an uncanny knack of having the right style at the right price, each store seemed to sell out almost as quickly as stock appeared.
John Smedley
The 225-year-old luxury knitwear brand’s shopfit in London pays tribute to its Derbyshire mill.
Louis Vuitton, London
Open space complemented by chic fittings give the luxury brand’s new store an air of subtle opulence
Furla, London
Luxury accessories brand Furla hopes to create ripples of excitement with a wave-inspired store concept.
Sainsbury’s Tu, London
The supermarket has given its clothing brand Tu more space than ever at its Sydenham store in south London.
Williams & Griffin, Colchester
Despite attracting a broad mix of shoppers, Williams & Griffin has retained an intimate approach to retail.
Zara, Oxford Circus
Fast fashion has been given a luxury makeover in the Spanish retailer’s central London flagship.
Uniqlo, London
Japanese casualwear chain Uniqlo hopes its new Oxford Street flagship store will boost the brand and double UK sales.
Religion, Notting Hill
Will west London shoppers be worshipping at this cult young fashion brand’s Portobello Road store?
Replay, Carnaby Street
The denim brand’s store in this young fashion mecca has been given a welcome revamp, but does it live up to last year’s excellent Paris flagship?
M&S Vs Next
It’s a tough time for the mid-market, so how are two of its prime movers looking in the run-up to Christmas? We visited M&S and Next’s Oxford Street stores, where the battle for festive sales is at its most intense
Oasis, Argyll Street, London
The intriguing new interior at the womenswear chain’s flagship, complete with iPads and limited-edition garments, is likely to put it back on must-visit lists.
Primark and New Look, Oxford Street, London
New Look and Primark have turned the far west end of Oxford Street into a Mecca for bargain hunters, but depending on which retailer you visit, the value shopping experience can vary widely
Monsoon, Oxford Street
This flagship store’s refurbishment and Summer of Love-style product is set off perfectly by an early burst of hot weather, wooing central London shoppers.
Harrods London, Women's Shoe Department
No expense has been spared in the makeover of Harrods’ women’s footwear department and the money has been well spent, with the glamorous surroundings complementing the luxury offer.
Edition, Newburgh Street, London
An excellent designer offer, high street price tags and an attractive shopfit mean Debenhams is onto a winner with its first-ever pop-up store
Replay, Paris
The Belle Époque-inspired storefit at the denim brand’s French flagship should put shoppers in the mood to spend.
High & Mighty, London
The chain for tall and large men has revamped its flagship as its new owner, mail-order group N Brown, looks to grow beyond its 14-store UK presence
Uniqlo, Bluewater
The fast fashion retailer has opened a store outside London - just. Located in Bluewater, its second foray beyond the capital should prove productive.
Benetton, Oxford Circus, London
The refurbished UK flagship retains the Italian lifestyle chain’s colourful signature identity yet gives it a more mature feel with high-quality furnishings.
Desigual, Paris
The future looks bright in terms of both product and sales at the Spanish chain, which has made a statement of intent with its new Paris flagship
John Lewis, Welwyn Garden City
After a successful trial in Cardiff, the retailer’s fashion floor is rolling out to sites such as the Hertfordshire town
TK Maxx Woman, Putney, London
Off-price retailer TK Maxx has launched its new women-only concept in southwest London, mixing designer bargains with cheap-as-chips brands
Harvey Nichols, London
The luxury department store has revamped its flagship’s fourth floor and upped its fashion quota with a younger, more accessibly priced offer
New Look, Oxford Street, London
New Look sits firmly in the value sector and shoppers entering one of its stores do so with the expectation of not having to dig too deep when making a purchase. In days gone by, they would probably also have expected a stripped-for-action store environment, cheap and cheerful, bright and breezy - the retail equivalent of a no-frills airline.
LK Bennett, Bluewater, Kent
Upmarket women’s footwear and fashion retailer LK Bennett has relocated its Bluewater shop to a larger site with a new premium concept
Arnotts Project, Dublin
Arnotts’ new Project store in Dublin’s Jervis Shopping Centre, aimed at a younger shopper than its nearby flagship, is an inspired example of how to deal with an extra 80,000sq ft of unexpected retail space.
Victorinox, London
The Swiss Army knife creator’s flagship store displays the same sharp attention to detail as its iconic product.
Musto, Brighton
The 35-year-old sailing brand makes the most of its rugged reputation with an in-store revamp.
Liberty of London
Liberty has successfully blended traditional styling with a contemporary edge in its new own-label store.
Banana Republic, London
After debuting on Regent Street, Gap’s sister chain is determined to live up to the hype surrounding its UK launch.
Celine at Harrods, London
Celine returns to Harrods with a ready-to-wear shop-in-shop that aims to stand out from the crowd.


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