Hollister comes to the UK

November 3rd, 2008 | Published in Clothes, Fashion, Shopping | 11 Comments

The Westfield London shopping centre opened on Friday. It’s the largest urban shopping centre in Europe, and right across the road from Television Centre, so me and my mate Charlie Brown went to check it out on Friday afternoon (after work of course).

I am annoyed that after Abercrombie, Hollister is now opening shops in the UK. Boo! I buy a lot of clothes there when I am out in Dallas – mainly just t-shirts and polo shirts, but now everyone is going to be wearing them. There is a Hollister in Westfield. So although I was annoyed about them coming to the UK, I was thinking I might drop some cash there anyway. It was not to be however…

The Hollister store (above) was not open yet. So double suck time. It does look bigger than the ones in Dallas though. Hollister have also opened a UK commerce site, which uses some techy system to work out where you are ordering from, and prices accordingly (i.e. doubles US costs). It’s a bit annoying in two respects. First off, postage to the UK is expensive (£20, although this includes duty and VAT fees), and secondly, I can’t order clothes now to be delivered to my parent’s house in Dallas that they can bring home. Anyway, it looks like I am now going to have to get my clothes in Ruehl when I’m in the US, as at least there aren’t any of them here yet.

As for Westfield London, I like it. It’s super enormous, but the best thing is that there are loads of shops there that are new to me, and that I hadn’t seen before. Like Cos. I can’t think of anymore right now, but there were some others. Charlie and I were there for two hours looking round, but it honestly felt like 20 minutes. I also managed for once to go into All Saints and not buy anything.

If you are in London, definitely go and check out Westfield London, it’s worth it just for the sheer scale of it. However, I did think people were going a bit over the top. There was an orchestra playing and a fashion show (see pic above) and everyone was just standing gawking at it. It’s a shopping centre people, that’s all!

daniel farr

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Poo

Yeh. Its Gaga

lisa

i dont see what the big deal is at my school you automaticlly cool if your have desighner clothes so you look the same and follow what everyone else is wearing because if no one wore it you wouldnt either

Rosanna Newman

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Molly

i do agree with this. because i think its gonna kinda loose its 'specialness'. like me, i get my hollisters in california when i go on holiday cus i know not everyone has it. now everyones gonna get these nice tops :) and look all alike.

the tshirts are ok priced (£18) but the polos and bags are abit overpriced.

rachel

hey, yeah i get your point about hating the fact that now people will be wearing abercrombie and hollister. i'm from northern ireland and when i first started ordering abercrombie and hollister over form america i was one of the few that wore but now seems EVERYONE is wearing it, which is annoying doesnt it make it 'special' anymore. lol

Simon

The postage fees are really high, I agree - although at least they include VAT and any import taxes. What I can't understand is why when they have stores over here, they can't start fulfilling their internet orders from here too, that way the high postage charges wouldn't apply!

Alice

I am so annoyed about the rip off pricing, especially postage, its a ridiculous amount and means I can't get my friend the christmas present I want as I don't have time to get to Westfield and cannot afford double the price of her present when you add postage to it! Grrr

Simon

Yeah I guess you're right! Just nice to wear something a bit different I guess - and also nice to go and see new stuff when I go over to the US, that I can't get here.

You're totally right about the rip off pricing as well - everything is about twice the price as it is in the US, although Abercrombie have argued that it's due to higher rent and 'people being prepared to pay a premium'.

Charlotte

What's wrong with everyone wearing A&F or Hollister? There are plenty of clothes to go around! Even if the stores weren't over here, enough Brits vacation in the US to get the stuff over there.
I am also very disappointed that once again we get ripped off with the pricing- going to leave all my Hollister shopping till my annual trip to Florida.....