House of Fraser

Like all department stores with concessions, things can wildly vary and I once had a less good experience when buying a coat and there was no service as the staff were late in.
However the incredibly knowledgeable and high level of service I got when I just bought a pair of shoes meant I have to give them 5 stars!

Ah, House of Fraser, you classy, classy, monster you.
This is one of the upscale department stores on Oxford Street, selling everything from perfume (that they will try to spray you with as soon as you walk through the door) to designer glasses to expensive men’s and ladies’ ware and the likes. Although I’ve come here for only one thing: bedding.
Yes, bedding. There are a few things in life that you should probably treat yourself too and bedding is one of them, since you’re in your sheets so often. I’ve moved beyond college where I can buy the cheapest crap out there and now can actually afford to spend a little more. Although, this brings me to my next point…
The savings. House of Fraser runs crazy savings on sheets all the time. 70% off on good stuff. I bought two 500 thread count sheets yesterday for £48, so a little less than £25 a sheet. Pretty damn good lads, pretty damn good. (Especially because if you go to something like Argos and buy a basic scratchy sheet, it’s £15 a sheet. Soooo, not to bad at all.)
I’d never buy full price here but when they run deals, which are happening pretty much all the time, it’s a quality place to be. Happy dreams for me.

A decent selection of European shoes, I was rather disappointed by the fact that they carry so many «Made in China» brands, though.
Prices for good shoes are definitely better than in the US, even with the not-​so-​inviting currency exchange rate, these days.

If House of Fraser was a human being — and really, forgive me for anthropomorphising a department store — it would be a dead cert for an identity crisis. It’s sometimes difficult even to envisage House of Fraser which is a good indication of its lack of branding, let alone to identify what its niche really is.
Criticism aside, House of Fraser does have a good beauty section stocking most of the premium brands you’d find in Selfridges and many more than you’d find in Liberty’s diminutive beauty wing, and the accessories are worth a browse.
I don’t even bother with the clothing. It’s a bit middle-​aged, House of Fraser stocking the kind of labels that would probably feel more at home in a mail order catalogue. I gather Mary Portas is working on this slightly amorphous store at the moment though so the future looks optimistic. At present it’s probably sage to head to Selfridges or Liberty instead for a more rewarding department store experience.

Stuck in between the two department store giants, John Lewis and Selfridges, you will find the House of Fraser.
This Oxford Street House of Fraser is spread across 5 floors and sells pretty much everything. It is a rather glitzy shop with black sparkly walls and floors and other camp decorations, but as I was attempting to Christmas shop there this afternoon, I couldn’t help but think it was all a bit crammed and claustrophobic. But then again, these feelings might have just been triggered by my hangover which was doing a good job at reminding me of the awful amount of wine I had drank the night before.
The House of Fraser is not a very special store and it does not specialize in anything out of the ordinary, but it does have a good beauty department and a wide selection of perfumes. It is definitely not my 1^st choice when it comes to department stores, but it will do.