Bicester Outlet Shopping Village

mr_goo

Had the unfortunate pleasure of dropping in on this place on the polite request of 'her indoors', whilst on way back from Stratford upon Avon. Same old thing as far as those of you who have visited similar tedious outlets around the country. Wall to wall Prada, Ralph Lauren, et all.
What struck me was this incredible amount of Chinese and Middle Eastern shoppers with armfulls of labelled bags being brandished about. They quite obviously will take their purchases back home and where them with pride and think they are a cut above their fellow citizens. Very 80s in attitude me thinks.
Also could not get my head around the Mid East women (many in full garb) with their purchases. What is the point, they clearly cannot wear any designer stuff in public as they use more traditional and very conservative attire. Could someone more enlightened explain this to me.

rolf_f

Mr Goo wrote:

Also could not get my head around the Mid East women (many in full garb) with their purchases. What is the point, they clearly cannot wear any designer stuff in public as they use more traditional and very conservative attire. Could someone more enlightened explain this to me.

I think there is a tendency to react against having to go around dressed as Daleks by wearing all sorts of stuff underneath - stuff that might make your eyes go :shock: !

Gazzaputt

Mr Goo wrote:

Also could not get my head around the Mid East women (many in full garb) with their purchases. What is the point, they clearly cannot wear any designer stuff in public as they use more traditional and very conservative attire. Could someone more enlightened explain this to me.

Under that garb they're all tackled up to the nines!

t4tomo

I flew qatar air one time and the lady who travelled a couple of seats over boarded in Doha in full Burka and disemabrked in Heathrow in full designer gear including hot pants! She had teh body for it too, made waiting behind her in passport control very pleasant.

Wunnunda

It's the (extremely expensive looking) eye make-up that gives it away!

CambsNewbie

Apparently this place is actively marketed to Chinese tourists in London.

Personally can't stand the place!

CiB

It's about 5 minutes away from my office window. Can't say I ever go there though, the car park's always chokka for a start.

Nothing to add; just thought I'd flag up that I'm in Bicester too.

Carry on.

zanelad

I can't stand the place. I've been with Mrs Z but even she wonders what the attraction is.

I hate that it clogs up the A34 if we drive home from Oxford on that road.

I never think about the traffic until it's too late and I'm stuck in it, like last Monday. Doh.

Bobbinogs

Gazzaputt wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

Also could not get my head around the Mid East women (many in full garb) with their purchases. What is the point, they clearly cannot wear any designer stuff in public as they use more traditional and very conservative attire. Could someone more enlightened explain this to me.

Under that garb they're all tackled up to the nines!

I thought they were all starkers, like a tart in a fur coat...or may be that's just me with too much thinking time

p9uma

I live about five minutes from BIcester Village, I can't stand the pace either. What I find odd that that place is full of stuff that is made in the far east, and people from the far east come over here to buy it and take it back to the far east!

There are two very good restaurants there though, a Carluccio's and a Thai restaurant, can't remember the name, but the enemy and I cycle there for a bit of dinner from time to time, usually about the time the shops are closing. Very good vfm grub.

Monkeypump

Not sure what the problem is - it's an outlet shopping village, so you kinda know what you're gonna get when you go there. It's very 'designer', but there are some good deals to be had. Personally, I prefer Gunhwharf Quays.

I do find the number of tourists puzzling, but they bus them in (I assume from London?) by the coachload. Very odd, as I didn't think the UK was that cheap, but they do the same for outlet villages in Boston and New York.

I think the Thai restaurant is Busaba Eathai - branches also to be found in London. Very tasty and good value, as said above.

upperoilcan

These places only cater for those looking for designer gear without having to pay top dollar for it due to
most of the clothing being either old stock,damaged/seconds.....

You get what you pay for...........

Monkeypump

upperoilcan wrote:

These places only cater for those looking for designer gear without having to pay top dollar for it due to
most of the clothing being either old stock,damaged/seconds.....

You get what you pay for...........

So I'm wearing last seasons clothes, for half the usual price? Oh my, I must inform my stylist! :roll:

Yes, you get what you pay for - which is often a very good bargain. The North Face cycle jerseys I bought for £20 a few weeks ago are great, as are other things I've bought previously. And being 6'5" means often the outlets are the best place to find things that fit!

upperoilcan

Monkeypump wrote:

upperoilcan wrote:

These places only cater for those looking for designer gear without having to pay top dollar for it due to
most of the clothing being either old stock,damaged/seconds.....

You get what you pay for...........

So I'm wearing last seasons clothes, for half the usual price? Oh my, I must inform my stylist! :roll:

Yes, you get what you pay for - which is often a very good bargain. The North Face cycle jerseys I bought for £20 a few weeks ago are great, as are other things I've bought previously. And being 6'5" means often the outlets are the best place to find things that fit!

I said old stock,last years probably aint even close.

Nothing against those who buy from these places,just aint my cuppa tea.

symo

Is it true that there be a Paul Smith outlet there?

p9uma

symo wrote:

Is it true that there be a Paul Smith outlet there?

There was last time I looked, but it may not be there now, stores come and go and move about a lot there.

Brommers76

I live in Bicester and the traffic is a massive pain but I find it quite funny going there for the reasons that the OP mentioned. I like going in wearing my decorating clothes on the odd occasion I buy a nice shirt or get the oh a new purse. The security guards get twitchy. Paul Smith is there btw.

p9uma

Brommers76 wrote:

I live in Bicester and the traffic is a massive pain but I find it quite funny going there for the reasons that the OP mentioned. I like going in wearing my decorating clothes on the odd occasion I buy a nice shirt or get the oh a new purse. The security guards get twitchy. Paul Smith is there btw.

Do you ride around Stratton Audly, I've seen someone recently on a CAAD 10?

mouth

There's a similar place round my way and the Adidas unit was chucking out current Sky tops and GB bibs at £20 and £45 respectively.

Don't forge that the non-EU shoppers can reclaim all the VAT they pay when they exit the country. Not 100% how it works but at outlet prices and then take 20% off that wearing clothes from two years ago probably makes a bit of sense.

CiB

Since Kate ((c) All Papers) confessed to a liking for the place, it keeps cropping up in the papers. Latest bit of filler here...

Bicester Village PR puff

Meh. It's not a bad place to work, mainly because it's 20 miles away so a nice commute and the middle of town is a bit better than some I've been to, but I'd never have had the outlet village place down as a destination to which one must be invited to carry out female bonding, and not go alone. Mwah mwah indeed

timmyturbo

it depends if your buying functional clothes and shoes or designer vanity surely ?? they have an outlet village in swindon . they were doing hiking trainers in the timerland store £85 reduced to £40 , and then buy one get one free !! i bought 4 pairs , 2 for me and 2 for the bird . Admittedly this was 3 years ago . i still have one pair that are operational .
Now are we suggesting that if i dont want to look like a pillock , that i should go to the high street and pay full whack to maintain my Kudos ??
They are pretty soulless places , but i am an in and out shopper .i did my christmass shopping there , and got 4 main presents there in 25 mins for at least 60% off . (-: