Jigsaw (Shop)

...buy me anything. Anything from Jigsaw will be OK," I told him in anticipation of Christmas. As Jigsaw was also (just about) directly across the road from his office, I figured he would have no excuse.

Now, the thing about Jigsaw is that I love the idea of the clothes, I love the layout of the shops, and I have purchased several nice things there. Shopping at Jigsaw makes me feel like I am really treating myself to something a ...
...review, I should note that Jigsaw sell clothing for men, women and children. This opinion focuses primarily on the women's range, as I have not yet had a reason to spend much time buying clothes for either men or children.

According to the Jigsaw website, which was recently launched in May, Jigsaw originated in London, with its first shop in Hempstead opening in 1972. The aim of the designers is to provide fashionable, high quality ... more

I used to date a guy who was terrible at buying birthday presents. One year he got me this little ceramic rhino which I happened to see in the shop directly across from his office about a week later- it cost £2.50 and was made in Taiwan or similar. OK, so it’s the thought that counts, but it was clear to me that he wasn't doing very much thinking.

"Go to Jigsaw, and buy me anything. Anything from Jigsaw will be OK," I told him in anticipation of Christmas. As Jigsaw was also (just about) directly across the road from his office, I figured he would have no excuse.

Now, the thing about Jigsaw is that I love the idea of the clothes, I love the layout of the shops, and I have purchased several nice things there. Shopping at Jigsaw makes me feel like I am really treating myself to something a bit special, with the clothes tending to be a bit out of my price range. I'm not entirely convinced the clothes are really that great in terms of actual quality, but as usual, I tend to fall for the whole package of shopping there- image over substance strikes again.

Before I launch into my review, I should note that Jigsaw sell clothing for men, women and children. This opinion focuses primarily on the women's range, as I have not yet had a reason to spend much time buying clothes for either men or children.

According to the Jigsaw website, which was recently launched in May, Jigsaw originated in London, with its first shop in Hempstead opening in 1972. The aim of the designers is to provide fashionable, high quality clothes at reasonable prices. It is clear from the tone of the site, and from the emphasis on quality design that Jigsaw wishes to avoid being stigmatised as a High Street chain. In fact, the site comes right out and says that shopping at Jigsaw is not meant to be a "High Street experience". This attitude is prevalent in the shops itself, with a focus on distinctive shop fittings, layout and window displays- all of which strive to give the impression that the shopper is actually visiting a rather nice upmarket boutique. There are even leather couches and seats by a blazing fireplace with a selection of magazines for the bored partner.

The shop layout in the Edinburgh and Glasgow branches are similar in that they are big, with high ceilings, and a certain ambience. The clothes are laid out on glass table tops and glass shelves as well as wall cabinets and along metal rails around the shop. Items are laid out in relatively minimalist bundles. Unlike the Gap where they pile 'em high, the look at Jigsaw attempts to convey the impression that you've just wandered into your sister's closet and doesn't she have a lot of rather nice little things?

Studies have shown that most people turn to the right immediately upon entering the retail environment, so most of the new things tend to be found here. There is no clear division between more casual items and things like suits and coats, but there does tend to be a theme in terms of colour. Which makes it easy if you are looking for a pink jumper or a lilac shirt.

Colours at Jigsaw are important, and there often seems to be a lot of pastels and flowers or else strong maroons, greens and occasionally golds. There is a good range of fabrics, with a tendency toward lightweight cottons, linens and thin wools, although in the last year or so a lot of crumpled chiffony crinoline type items have appeared. I do wonder who would willingly go out of the house looking like they forgot to iron their shirt, but hey, that's fashion for you. The recent look at Jigsaw has been a sort of fifties retro styling, with things like net skirts, and pastel Converse basketball trainers. I'm not sure how well they pulled off this look, as there seemed to be a lot of these items in the Sale, but in my opinion it beats the whole Gypsy motif which was being shown everywhere at one point.

I do like the way Jigsaw offer a range of options, from basic capsule wardrobe items to the more offbeat and experimental designs. In one trip (if you could afford it) you can purchase a simple navy blue skirt and jacket for work as well as a bohemian pattered silk dress shot with gold threads with matching petticoat and pashmina for your cousin Lulu's wedding.

Jigsaw sizing tends to be a little weird, frankly. This is the main area of difficulty in having someone else choose your clothes, or if you venture to order online from the website. A small is a 1, and a medium is a 2, but they also do a few conventional 10's, 12's, 14's etc. Things tend to be cut a certain way, and of course it helps to be tall. I have never managed to buy a dress there, as the material seems to catch in all the wrong places even if it is my "size". I purchased a skirt some years ago which I have yet to wear, as it is simply too long and needs to be altered.

The sales assistants I have encountered are amiable enough, but not overwhelmingly friendly. Not one has ever gone out of their way to assist me with my choice of clothing or my size dilemmas. I needed to change two items which were unsuitable (OK, so maybe not everything from Jigsaw is good for a birthday present). There was no problem with the exchange itself, but the sales assistant was simply not interested in helping me find an alternative. I have to confess, I really really hate disinterested service, especially when the shop in question is presenting itself as something more special than the average High Street chain. Ironically, I find Gap, which is probably the quintessential High Street clothing chain, to have exemplary customer service in marked contrast to the cool indifference at Jigsaw. I would hope that some branches have good staff, but admittedly this is not the strong point of the Scottish shops.

What Jigsaw is good at is offering clothes which seem to catch a mood or a moment, and it's the sort of shop that is excellent if you are an impulse shopper. I might not normally consider wearing a certain colour or style, but if I see it at Jigsaw, I will often think again. The prices are the one thing that keep me in check- I know the goal is offer good designs at lower prices, but things do cost more. I love to stroke the gorgeous buttery leather jackets, but there is no way I am paying £600 for such a thing, and I do wonder how many people would actually spend that kind of money there.

The quality of the clothing is also extremely variable. You would think that paying a bit more would get you a better attention to detail, greater durability, etc, but sadly this is not always the case. I bought a black cardigan with many small buttons, which soon came loose and fell off. It's best to check things very carefully before you buy, and if you are not convinced about the finish, don't pay the prices. Other pieces have held up well over time. My favourite item is a long green jumper which looks and feels a bit like chain mail a la Joan of Arc. It can be worn as a long jumper or a very short dress and despite the fragility of the weave, has managed to last quite awhile.

It is also true that you may be able to find similar items, which is just as good for less money in another shop such as Gap or Next. I had this experience over the weekend. I wanted a new shirt for work, and Jigsaw had a beautiful button down item in pale pink. The price was £58, which seemed too high for someone like me on a tight budget, and I did manage to find two similar shirts for £29.50 each in Gap. Now, if someone were to buy it for me as a birthday present, that would be different….

Ultimately, I find shopping at Jigsaw a pleasant experience, one which is not always reliable in terms of value or service, but one which satisfies me on some other level in some indefinable way.

I have not tried ordering from the Jigsaw site, but it is a good source of information if you want to get a feel for the current styles or designs on offer. I was also interested and pleased to note that Jigsaw are supporting and promoting Haven Trust, in their work against breast cancer, and there is a news section with information on this, and on the company for anyone wanting to learn more. The website can be found on www.jigsaw-online.co.uk.
 

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