In Urban Outfitters, no-one can hear you scream

Alternative fashion giant Urban Outfitters finally opened its York town doors last Friday after months of suspense and (having ordered vast amounts from their online store) I was eager to experience actually going into one of their stores.

My attention was immediately drawn to a pair of gorgeous edgy-looking jeans; they were ripped, bleached and only slightly on the expensive side at £60. Unfortunately the label couldn’t tell me what fit or size they were and neither could the shop assistant stood next to them – “you’ll just have to try them on and see, you know?” she enthusiastically informed me. The jeans remained firmly in-place on the shelf and I mooched upstairs, hoping there would be better things to come.

The first floor is also dedicated to womens clothing but with the addition of ‘boutique shelves’, each dedicated to a different brand of dresses, lacy camisoles and bold prints – and a shoe section that would make any 80’s pop star proud. Surrounded by cute camis and flowing Vaudeville & Burlesque dresses I was in heaven, and I found myself in the fitting-room queue within minutes.

I’ve always admired the ease of mens shopping and my trip to the mens floor only served to fuel my jealousy. The basement was a haven of tranquillity compared to upstairs. There were plenty of colours and styles available – simple chinos and shoes were accompanied by witty novelty t-shirts and retro Casio watches and livened up by bright boxers, patterned belts and trilby hats.

The clothes are unbearably cool – you won’t find UO’s style and quality anywhere else on the high street, and the range is so wide you’re likely to find clothes whatever your personal taste. You can place orders on the in-store iMac and they offer a 10% student discount on top of promotional offers throughout the year.

In terms of shopping experience; if you’ve ever endured a trip to Abercrombie and Fitch on London’s Saville Row then you’ll be well-prepared for the loud ‘day-time party’ atmosphere in here. Aside from the differences in price and lack of pretentiousness, the main bonus of Urban Outfitters is that it’s well-lit enough for you to see what you’ve bought before you’ve paid for it…

Womens:

Look out for: Lacy camisoles, patterned denim and quirky satchels.
Top Tip: If you’re struggling for a going-out bag this season then why not invest in a classic Cambridge Satchel in the 11-inch size, detatch the straps and use as a clutch?

Mens:

Look out for: Colour-blocked chinos, silk patterned belts and lace-up plimsolls.
Top Tip: Keep what’s on show colour co-ordinated, and mix it up with clashing prints on your pants and socks.