viagra serif;”>Lauren Treacy experiences the delights of what Cath Kidston shops and designs have to offer
case serif;”>Fashion has always held a certain fascination with the timeless, the classic, the elegant, and never more so than in recent years with the increasing popularity of vintage fashions. Such a sentiment has never seemed more true when one steps inside what can only be described as the feminine wonderland of a Cath Kidston store. Here the fabulous vintage trends that we have seen emerge in popularity over the past number of years flourish before your eyes, and, best of all, this is a label you can obtain at a reasonable price!
From the very moment you step over the threshold it’s like you’ve taken a step back in time to the days when floral prints and polka dots were all the rage. Brightly painted antique furniture decorates the stores, and instantly one is provided with the idea that everything here has a story behind it. Cath Kidston is truly the essence of all things vintage.
For those of you who don’t know, Cath Kidston is a British designer who founded Cath Kidston ltd in 1993 and opened a small shop in London’s Holland Park, selling hand embroidered tea towels and brightly painted renovated furniture. Now, 19 years later the vintage movement has grown so fast that many place Cath Kidston as the queen of vintage nostalgia, considering her partially responsible for beginning the current obsession with all things kitsch. Today, with nearly one hundred shops spread across the UK, Ireland, China, Japan, Thailand and Taiwan, she has established a cult following, with many people falling in love with her beautiful designs, at such a bargain price.
Here in the Republic of Ireland there are two Cath Kidston stores, one in the Pembrooke District of Dundrum Shopping Centre, and the other an outlet store in Kildare Village. The two stores give us a very wide variety of choice as shoppers. The Dundrum store features the current collections, offering some fabulous finds such as a brightly patterned floral notebook for €12.00, perfect for taking notes and keeping things organised! It is also possible to purchase a vast array of bags here, including a beautifully designed “Antique Rose” messenger bag at €46.00, a timeless piece you’re sure to have for many years to come.
Upon taking a trip to the Kildare store, what can only be described as a bargain hunters dream, one is greeted by the brightly painted baby pink, blue and soft yellow walls. They are warm and inviting, as are the staff members, outfitted in adorable floral printed half aprons, who despite working in a store where the prices are all at least 30% cheaper than their Dundrum store counterparts, offer nothing less than the one-on-one treatment that has become almost synonymous with the Kidston shopping experience.
In this store you can purchase many exquisite accessories for under €60.00. Many of Cath Kidston’s iconic handbags retail here at €30.00, brightly patterned makeup bags are sold for €8.50, and the ever-coveted floral and polka dotted wallets sell for €18.00. The prices for what is becoming an ever more popular brand are truly jaw-dropping.
With the increasing popularity of vintage fashion this is one affordable designer label that certainly shouldn’t be passed up.
