Oasis

Ah, Oasis. How appropriately Mancunian. Okay, we’re not talking about the Gallagher-​led band here, although I’m currently racking my brains to think of another shop which shares its name with a musical outfit. Answers on a postcard please, and send Drumstick lollies.
Oasis is a King Street shop I love, but only during sale time. Still, the boutique boulevard setting always makes for a relaxed and attractive browse, and if you can wait long enough for the sales, it’s worthwhile. You can get some really stylish smart clothes here, as well as gorgeous summer stuff — two noteworthy items of mine that fall into those categories are a grey asymmetrical short sleeved and fitted smart dress, ideal for the office or posh lunches, and a crocheted white three quarter length sleeve dress which just cried out long summer evenings and appealed to the hippy in me. These cost me around £35 (down from over £70) and a tenner respectively. Can’t really argue with that…
The King Street branch also has an upstairs which means there’s plenty of variety on offer, including accessories, jewellery, shoes, bags, scarves and so on. Plus it has that boutiquey feel, as do all the shops along this road set within their old, pretty buildings. Oasis during sale time, it really does live up to its name. Refreshment in the desert that is, not a bunch of swearing Mancunians. Although I haven’t been in there when the staff are stressed out, mind…