Hush… I’ve been keeping this a secret.
Between you and I, most of my twenties I’ve been busy racking up serious motorway miles on the M40 for designer goodness at Bicester Village. Big designers mainly; Prada, Dior, Saint Laurent …errr a lot of Stella McCartney. It became a monthly habit back last year when they launched the direct train from Marylebone – too easy – and it’s a habit I’ve found impossible to kick.
Think about it: designers release so many collections through the year so it’s feasible to score a Céline AW15 pump from Bicester Village right now and it still be current stock online/in department stores globally. I know I checked. Chloé, Givenchy and Balenciaga have moved in …surely this makes Bicester with the mister always a good idea.
When Bicester Village offered for me and my mister to come hang out, pick out our my fave shoes, vogue in front of the camera for a promo film, wine o’clock at the Soho House Farm shop, AND THEN shop for more shoes to take home …I shuffled YOLO’ing all the way there.
As a thanks to Bicester Village for let’s face it MAKING MY MARCH and in keeping with the shoe focus happening – over the next 2 months – I’m penning you 4 tips for scoring the best finds and doing Bicester right.
Enjoy!
{ISABEL MARANT snakeskin booties from KURT GEIGER}
1. Log on to the wifi – it’s free – and I like the security of knowing when I’m buried under a Missoni mountain (major espacdrille alert), and while Mr. Luxe has popped out for fresh air, I can still whatsapp him shoefies from where i sit. Game changer.
{open toe booties from GINA}
2. Lesser known brands are peppered between the big guns. I know Gina’s fairly established and granted it’s sandwiched between Ralph Lauren and Prada but I was blown away by these booties, they were unexpected and the last pair left in my size – il destino.
{embellished pink sandals from OSCAR DE LA RENTA}
3. Keep energy levels up by eating/sipping little AND OFTEN. I punctuate my day at the same trusty haunts; pistachio and vanilla ice-cream at Amorino, processo and olives at Villandry, cali rolls from Itsu, then if we drive up I always finish the day at the Northern tip of the village (Le Pain Quotidien is newly opened) for a celebratory supper. It’s super handy for the valet.
{metallic horse-bit ankle boots from GUCCI}
4. Be trend savvy. Big hitters this season include metallics, fluff, grandma pumps and statement sandals. Currently keepin’ a close eye on the Gucci store for when the Alessandro Michele magic drops in.
{ISABEL MARANT ETOILE white sneakers from KURT GEIGER}
Climbed into these badboys for the last shoot and haven’t taken them off since….
L x
pink embellished knit | MARKUS LUPFER for VERY EXCLUSIVE
leather mini skirt | GESTUZ
pinstripe blazer | GESTUZ
sunglasses | TAYLOR MORRIS
black cut out boots | BALENCIAGA
white high top sneakers | ISABEL MARANT scored at BICESTER VILLAGE
leather cross body | FENDI
watch | MVMT WATCHES
In collaboration with BICESTER VILLAGE. All words, styling and creative direction my own.