11 Designer Shopping Destinations in Newcastle
Shop 'til you drop with our round-up of the city's top designer clothing stores
As the season changes, you’re probably looking to freshen up your wardrobe and find the new outfits you need to meet the world head on.
Newcastle has plenty of shops that stock big designer brands and unexpected haute couture bargains, so here’s a guide to some of the most notable.
Flannels, Northumberland Street
Flannels has been in operation for almost fifty years now and likes to think of itself as a disrupter when it comes to fashion. In practice, this means 50+ stylish stores selling the biggest fashion names – Balenciaga, Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen, Bathing Ape and the rest – alongside a recently launched beauty range.
Reiss, Blackett Street
Reiss has grown into one of the world’s leading fashion houses over the last half-century, and has a reputation for classic, elegant tailoring and affordable style. Stocking a few select brands rather than a scattershot range is just one aspect of Reiss’ more focused, personal approach, and there’s tailoring and after-care services available too.
END, Grey Street
One of the North East’s biggest fashion success stories, END has in just two decades gone from a Newcastle outlet to a small chain across the UK and even a branch in fashion capital Milan. Its flagship Grey Street store is stacked with the all the latest designer fashions, street wear, footwear and accessories – everything from Stussy to Carharrt, Stone Island to Gorpcore.
Michael Kors, Blackett Street
A big name in fashion since the early eighties, Michael Kors’ stores specialise in high-end accessories – watches, handbags, wallets and sunglasses – and a range of readywear for men and women, all bearing Michael Kor’s stamp of quality. You can pick up jewellery, fragrances and gifts too.
Moss Bros, Northumberland Street
Moss Bros is absolutely synonymous with suits and men’s tailoring - the first brand that occurs to most men when it’s time to get suited and booted, especially for a wedding, But as well as selling suits (or renting them), Moss Bros these days has expanded into a full range of formal and casual wear, so as well as getting a perfectly-tailored whistle for the big day, you might also walk away with some chinos, a blazer or a stylish attache case.
Leaf Clothing, Pilgrim Street
This Pilgrim Street institution has been a family-run fashion success story for almost five decades and is known for its personal touch, select stock and an ethos of ‘classics with a twist’. Their commitment to building up a relationship with their customers means they don’t sell online and are happy to guide you through their range of men and womenswear, shoes and accessories. They even offer a tailoring service.
Hugo Boss, Blackett Street
Fashion names don’t come much bigger than Hugo Boss, a behemoth in the world of design for almost a century. As you’d expect, the Monument Mall branch stocks all the items you’d expect - menswear, womenswear, accessories, sportswear and, of course, suits, all from one of the various Boss brands. There’s usually a collaboration underway too – right now it’s Porsche X Boss.
John Lewis, Eldon Square
Similarly straddling the high fashion / high street divide is John Lewis, equally happy kitting you out in a boxfresh pair of Levis or a Charles Tyrwhitt suit, a Jigsaw tea dress or some Birkenstock sandals. There’s almost always some sort of sale on as well, so get shopping!
Fenwick, Northumberland Street
Fenwick has a reputation for quality in all of its endeavours, especially as a high street stockist of big-name fashion brands. Whether you’re looking for something formal, for the beach or for the tennis court, Fenwick will have what you need and the staff to make sure you get exactly what works best. From Carhartt to Paul Smith, Marc Jacobs to Marni, and dozens more, Fenwick is the perfect place to put together a new wardrobe under one roof.
Vintage Standards, Northumberland Street
Vintage Standards prides itself on being the biggest source of quality vintage fashion items online and in their high street stores. Although the stock covers most areas, the emphasis is strongly on classic streetwear and casual, so think Ralph Lauren, Carhartt, Adidas and Burberry plus a vast amount of collectable denim.
TK Maxx, Northumberland Street
It’s almost impossible to come out of TK Maxx without a bargain or two. Sometimes it might be some Himalayan rock salt or a tiger-skin throw, but most often it’ll be clothing or footwear. Some of the biggest names on the high street and the catwalk find themselves on the TK Maxx racks, usually in very limited numbers. So it really is worth putting the time in to rummage properly and you might come away with something very special at a very special price.
Newcastle’s fashion stores really do have everything you could want, to suit most tastes and wallets, catering to the fashion forward and the dapper, the streetwise or the normcore. So with the new season upon us, it’s time to get into the streets and among the racks and create a new you.
