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One of those is Monsoon.
I personally discovered it about a year ago, when a friend recommended it to me. Since then its one of my favourite.
THE COMPANY
The company was founded in 1972 and was originally oriented on ethnic styles from Malta, India and the Far East. Later they created ... Read review
Advantages: Amazing fabrics and lovely colours, excellent customer service Disadvantages: Can't think of anything except for quite high prices
...differenciated fashion accessorize range. Then Monsoon Children appeared -- amazing outfits and accessorizes for babies (0-24 months), girls and boys from 2 years up to the teen age. One more range is Homewear -- amazing and very ethnic things to make your house feel cosy and comfortable. Finally, there is Menswear and Men's Accessorize.
Today the company has branches in most European countries, in the USA and in the Far East, having earned ... ...branch, you will see that Monsoon is very different from any kind of High Street Retailer. The windows are being redecorated very often allowing you see all the new collection best items, giving you an idea of wonderful outfits you can get combining various garments. I find it really easy to browse in the shop. The clothes are usually arranged by the colour which allowes you to find matching items quickly.
MONSOON RANGES
more
When I go shopping for clothes I take it seriously. I go to many shops and only buy exactly the things I need and want, even if it is sale. For me the priorities are the following: quality, lasting time, classy and expensive look of clothes, and they have to be a bit different from the fashion stream so that I stand out from the crowd. There are only a few High Street shops where I stay for a long time while shopping and where I actually buy most of my outfits. One of those is Monsoon. I personally discovered it about a year ago, when a friend recommended it to me. Since then its one of my favourite.
THE COMPANY
The company was founded in 1972 and was originally oriented on ethnic styles from Malta, India and the Far East. Later they created Accessorize -- a very differenciated fashion accessorize range. Then Monsoon Children appeared -- amazing outfits and accessorizes for babies (0-24 months), girls and boys from 2 years up to the teen age. One more range is Homewear -- amazing and very ethnic things to make your house feel cosy and comfortable. Finally, there is Menswear and Men's Accessorize. Today the company has branches in most European countries, in the USA and in the Far East, having earned their reputation for very differenciated high quality products and excellent customer service, where the customer truely is a king/queen.
SHOP DESIGN
When you come in any branch, you will see that Monsoon is very different from any kind of High Street Retailer. The windows are being redecorated very often allowing you see all the new collection best items, giving you an idea of wonderful outfits you can get combining various garments. I find it really easy to browse in the shop. The clothes are usually arranged by the colour which allowes you to find matching items quickly.
MONSOON RANGES
Basically I would say they have 3 main ranges: casual wear, occasion wear and bridal wear. Then there is children wear (not in every branch) and Menswear (separate shops). The bridal and occasion wear are absolutely irresistable!
SIZES
Monsoon offers clothes in sizes from 6 to 22. Size 6 is available from bigger branches only, and some garments only go up to the size 18. Thers are a lot of dresses and occasion wear separates for bigger sizes. As it is sometimes hard to find a beautiful outfit for a special event if you are size 18 or 20, I recommend checking Monsoon Stores -- there is a lot to choose from. And if the branch you are in does not hve the size you want -- don't worry. Do not hesitate to ask the staff to call the nearest branches for the size you are looking for, they are always happy to help.
PRICES
Prices are rather high I have to admit. For a strapless top you could pay from J24 to J50. A skirt is from J40, tops are from J28. Dresses could cost about J50-60, and evening wear is from J80-90 (these are the prices of the new 2006 collection I remembered ). Sounds like it is an awful lot of money for an outfit. But how much is being sure that nobody around is wearing exactly the same garment?
QUALITY AND FABRICS
What attracts me in Monsoon is that they use a lot of natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk. These always look appropriate for any occasion and last long. Also they are god for your skin -- no irritation. Finally, these materials are always fashionable, so your clothes will never look old-fashioned. To check the quality just have a closer look at any garment with embroidery -- such fine work... Or examine the seams -- they are all straight wth nothing sticking out. From my own experience -- things last long even though I wear them a lot. A thing to note is that some garments require hand wash due to delicate fabrics they are made from.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
As I mentioned before, staff are happy to help, smile all the time and really give a good honest second opinion and some advise on what goes with what. What I appreciate most is that they take an effort to get you another size or a similar garment when you are in the fitting room. All this makes shopping experience in Monsoon shops very special and personalised. Overall opinion -- try it and you will never want to go somewhere else.
...got a job working in Monsoon just in between university and had encouraged me to take a look in here. It's not that I don't like the shop but I used to go in and feel they had nice clothes but they were a bit overpriced for what they were. I like paying a lot for clothes but not in a high street shop where you know they are mass produced. Anyway, last time I was in the shop was very nicely laid out as always. The clothes are always in order of size ... ...time they were t-shirts with Monsoon on them and during non sales they are in Monsoon clothing and are again easy to spot. They are always smartly presented and usually know what they are talking about, depending on the store. However, the other day I liked a top and asked the woman for a smaller size to which she replied you can use the website, that was really unhelpful as that would cost me about £4 more on postage when she could have phoned neighbouring ...
ms19 31.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monsoon (Shop)
Advantages: Great quality clothing Disadvantages: Pricey.
Monsoon & Accessorize are 1 company (which I didn't know), which sell Womans wear, Childrens wear, Menswear, Home wear and jewellery.
Company History
Monsoon was founded in 1973 by Peter Simon following a period of selling shaggy wollen coats on the Portabello road and hand block printed clothes from Rajasthan to anyone who would buy them. The unusual focus was always clothes with an ethnic origian for faraway places, including dresses from Afgahanistan ... ...Monsoon & Accessorize stores throughout the UK and Eire. All Monsoon Accessorize suppliers are asked to commit to the Monsoon Accessorize Code of Conduct, which is based on the ethical trading initiative base code. The Monsoon Trust
Thie Monsoon Accessorize trust was set up in 1994. The trust aims to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children, young people and woman in south asia with projects focusing on education, health and income generation. ...
kiss_me2070 01.04.2007 (13.06.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monsoon (Shop)
About Monsoon:
Monsoon was founded in 1973 by Peter Simon after he started to sell hairy woollen coats on the Portobello Road in London. The original concept was for ethnic clothes from around the world. The first shop opened in the same year followed by Accessorise a year later. The chain has expanded to over 390 stores across the world including in Italy, Russia and the Middle East.
My perception: I had always thought of Monsoon as a store for ... ...local store:
Like all stores, Monsoon is clearly marked in big white letters on a purple background. There is always an elaborate window display that changes with the seasons.
Entering the store: Most stores seem to have a burly looking body guard standing by the door along with a bored looking sales assistant who is meant to welcoming shoppers but generally stands there looking miserable (I used to work retail part time when I was at college, ...
Katieshaz 23.04.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monsoon (Shop)
Advantages: wonderful evening wear, great quality, thier sales Disadvantages: prices are expensive especially fo day wear
...are often outside my budget. Monsoon is certainly one of these stores.
What is Monsoon?
Monsoon is the main store in the Monsoon group. It has a sister store Accessorise and has also spawned a fragrance of the same name. It was founded in 1972 and you can find its stores in any large town or city. I have had experience of the King Street branch in Manchester and the Port Street one in Stirling. Apparently there is now one in Dumfries so it must ... ...homeware collection
Who is Monsoon aimed at?
I would say Monsoon is aimed at someone who likes fairly classic, quality clothing. The clothes are modern but are not over fashionable. I would say it would suit a stylish lady perhaps in her 30s. It is certainly the top end of the High Street. I would think it is aimed at the same market as Laura Ashley and perhaps Next. The range
I am not to sure of the children’s clothes that Monsoon sells as I ...
duskmaiden 06.11.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monsoon (Shop)
Advantages: Excellent Quality, Range and Customer Service Disadvantages: None
...my size. Monsoon was my next stop and I was very pleasantly surprised. I have always loved the clothes and the range of accessories they offer, and told myself that when I have a higher income (or a credit card) that I would treat myself to an item or two. The clothes are all fantastic quality and natural fibres and silks feature heavily, which is important to me as I feel these flatter everyone's shape much better than man-made fabrics. Of the dresses ... ...bought off the peg in Monsoon I found it a little on the tight side. Despite this it was was still very flattering and maybe it will encourage me to go for that weekly walk I keep promising myself!
Summary: Well worth treating yourself, or the man in your life, or a little one, as the quality justifies the price tag. Just remember to try it to get the optimum fit.
Happy shopping! ...
Vixterbelle 08.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monsoon (Shop)
Value for money
Layout & presentation
Selection & range
Availability
In store customer service
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Advantages: great variety Disadvantages: expensive
Accessorize is the shop to go to if you need to add an accessory to your outfit. My local branch is quite small so I trend to try to go to the bigger stores when I go shopping so I have more variety when it comes to picking the ideal accessory. You normally find accessories linked with the clothes shopMonsoon.
Accessorize is a shop that has everything from jewellery, earrings, necklaces, rings and broaches, hats, a winter hat or a hat or fascinator for that special occasion, bags, scarf's, gloves, footwear, make-up and belts. You are spoilt for choice in the shop and it is set out in colour's so you can go straight to the section that you need without having to look around if you are pushed for time.
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Advantages: Accessorize shops are found practically everywhere Disadvantages: The Prices are outrageous and not really suited for sudent budgets
Accesorize a branch of Monsoon, is a shop most people would go to when looking for accessories, however I do not believe it is good value for money. Today, while out shopping, a saw an average looking pair of flip flops for 10 pounds even though other stores sell the same thing for as little as 4 pounds.
The store does have a good selection but students may not be able to afford even some basic things in that shop.
I, personally am not ready to pay 10 pounds for hair slides when I can get almost the same things in Claires Accessories for a lot cheaper.
Accessorize is good as they are easy to find but as a student in an already expense city, you might be better off else where as the little things do add up. ...
Advantages: Unique, unusual and.. I can't think of another 'U' word so i'll stick with gorgeous! Disadvantages: Can be very over priced at times.
Accessorize is a lovely accessories shop (hence the name!) that has stemmed from Monsoon, a luxury clothes shop which is quite pricy but nice to treat yourself for special occasions with their gorgeous quality clothes.
I personally think that they have an excellent range of products that are suitable for all ages. They have beautiful, classic handbags in velvet etc. that people like my grandma and possibly my mum would love but then they also havecute little stationary sets and stickers etc. for little girls. However, they mostly appeal to teenagers and young adults like me with their bright, quirky colours and funky designs.
They sell handbags (mostly a bit over priced at £40!), hats (berets, beanies etc.), flip-flops, bikinis, scarves, gloves, a huge range of unusual jewellery (such as chunky rings, glittery bangles, dangly earrings ...
