REISS – Royal Exchange

I’m not really a designer type of girl.
No, it’s not because I’m ‘an individual’ or that I want to create my own style by customising everything I own with pins and sequins. It’s because I’m skint.
However, sometimes, an occasion arises when it’s ok for you to spend £150 of your £200 wages in a month on a nice dress for a special occasion. My graduation prom last year was that occasion. And when I say £150 of my money, I really mean my Dad’s. I was just browsing in town one day, not even intending to buy anything in particular, when I saw the one, strewn across the shop window in a glitter of gorgeousness.
You know the feeling girls– it’s the kind of moment when you see something in a shop window and your head literally stops as your feet keep moving. It’s the kind of moment that makes you stop so abruptly that you cause a small pile up of pedestrians behind you. This was one of those moments.
I entered the shop and was greeted by the shop assistant who had obviously seen me drooling down her shop window. She asked me if I needed assistance and without a breathe I asked for ‘that’ dress in my size. She was very nice and extremely helpful, getting the dress for me and assisting me in the changing rooms, whilst offering my mum a seat and chatting away to her too. I tried it on, and even with my windswept hair and minimal make up, it looked amazing!
It was a coral coloured halter-​neck which came just below the knee, emblazoned with tiny crystals which shimmered for just the right amount of bling. I had to have it! Taking it off, I gave it to the shop assistant and uttered those famous last words ‘I’ll take it’.
For some reason, in my dress and sparkle filled brain, I had forgotten to check how much it was. Browsing the rest of the shop whilst the assistant wrapped the dress for me (and a very nice layout the rest of the shop has, clean, minimal and modern) the possibility of bankrupting my Dad crossed my mind. He went to pay for it, and we left the store. I later found out that it had cost £169, which was way over the budget my Dad had set!
Still, he allowed me to have it and I wore it to my Grad ball. I loved wearing it so much, I’ve worn it to two weddings and a christening since. It still looks as good as new, and none of the gems have fallen off. It’s timeless, and I think I’ll wear it to a wedding this May too.
Reiss is a shop where you buy classics; dresses or jackets which are timeless, an investment that won’t break the bank, but will most definitely turn heads!

As labels go Reiss is one of the more understated yet they remain highly fashionable. Reiss like to keep it simple and stylish and this is their strong point; a recognised label with a strong appeal to anybody who has a keen taste for style. They remain one of the few brands to crack America and have recently opened their franchise up to ASOS.
Within the UK they have stores on the ultra exclusive Multreese walk in Edinburgh and Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. Their Glasgow store has been open long before these news additions. As a label they remain a key-​stone to British fashion and this store is where you can experience Reiss for yourself.

The ladieswear section is upstairs in this corner building situated on Queen Street and Royal Exchange Square. It is a really bright spacious ladies department which is really well merchandised.
my only gripe (well 2) is the ever increasing emphasis on workwear and office type gear which lets face it is completly boring. The sizes tend to be really big made too which can be a pain although I hear they will soon be stocking size 4. So sometimes getting smaller sizes can be a bit nedle in a haystack although the staff will always try and order in when possible.
On the other side is the eveningwear which is a bit expensive but generally the quality of the fabrics and attention to detail is great with lots of matchy-​matchy accessory things if thats your bag.
If only they would stock a wee bit more evening although I suspect they don’t want to turn into another drab Karen Millen mother of the bride type place.