What to Buy at Harvey Nichols
Don't expect to stock up on shoes for the kids or to buy a microwave. This store is about fashion and beauty, pure and simple. The emphasis is on women's fashion though men are given some space to get lost in (in London the basement and the sub-basement!) so as not to distract the women from the serious business of playing among the very latest selection of British and international designers.The shop prides itself on being up to the minute. Check the brand directory on the Harvey Nichols website and you might find Jimmy Choo, but forget about Manolo Blahnik - so last year. It's the kind of place where they feature a pair of £530 Brian Atwood shoes, last seen on Madonna, and opine that they will fly out of the store.
There is also a selection of home fashions - designery bed and bath gear, dried flowers, some furniture, gift items, occasional toys - but this is the sort of "Living" department for impulsive - and expensive - afterthoughts rather than serious home decorating.
Most branches have several restaurants, cafes and bars and the Harvey Nichols Foodmarkets carry through the theme of trendy, design-led commestibles. Tiny bottles of exotic oils, tins of expensive sweets, imported cheeses and meats, exquisite takeaway sushi.
So is This About Looking or Buying?
That all depends on your budget, my dears - as Sex and the City's Samantha might say. Even if you can't afford much of what's on offer, stop by the cosmetics counters and the ground floor accessories departments just to people watch. Then pop upstairs to one of the store's cafes and bars - to munch on leaves and absorb the Ab Fab vibe.Where to Find Harvey Nichols Department Stores
There are six branches in the UK, including:- London
- Bristol, the newest UK branch
- Manchester
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham, in the city's most exclusive shopping centre, The Mailbox.
- Leeds, the first Harvey Nicks outside of London, in Leeds' chi chi Victoria Quarter.
