Everyone has been talking about it for years. In the past few weeks, the madness has culminated into a frenzy of Westfield related everything... So I went to have a look at what was supposed to be a whole new shopping experience, with designer shops, high end luxury blahblahblah.
As it turns out, well... It is just a shopping centre. A mall if you prefer. And not a very pleasant one either. The crowd is just plain unbearable (think Oxford St the week before Christmas), the shops are just the same old high street chains (Topshop-check, H&M-check, Zara-check, M&S-check...) & the "designer" section is composed so far of a branch of Tiffany's that would make Truman Capote turn in his grave. All the other high end or designer shops are still closed, and supposed to open in November. Some won't even open till March 2009.
As it turns out, well... It is just a shopping centre. A mall if you prefer. And not a very pleasant one either. The crowd is just plain unbearable (think Oxford St the week before Christmas), the shops are just the same old high street chains (Topshop-check, H&M-check, Zara-check, M&S-check...) & the "designer" section is composed so far of a branch of Tiffany's that would make Truman Capote turn in his grave. All the other high end or designer shops are still closed, and supposed to open in November. Some won't even open till March 2009.
This made me wonder what good being in a place like this would do to brands like Prada, Dior or Louis Vuitton. To me, seeing the shops there, filled with sticky fingered children and horrible people devalues their image massively. I find it sad that townies are possibly the biggest consumers when it comes to couture accessories. Do we really want the streets to be filled with women wearing ugg boots rip offs, velours tracksuits and a [insert designer name here] bag? I know I don't. And thanks to the Westfield, I am afraid this "trend" is only going to get worse.
To me it sums up everything that is wrong with people today. Call me elitist, a snob or a fashion nazi, but it was just vile.
To me it sums up everything that is wrong with people today. Call me elitist, a snob or a fashion nazi, but it was just vile.
On my way back I thought again about the architecture of the place. From the outside, it looks like a green monstrosity. From the inside... It is styled like a retro-futuristic spaceship, crossed with the atrium of the British Museum, only cheap looking and dated. There are shiny bits everywhere, no consistency, bits and bobs and things and ramps and patterns and white and cream and VISUAL OVERDOSE PLEASE MAKE IT STOP.
I can't even imagine the traffic hell that will be created around Shepherd's Bush either, as the roads don't seem to cope so well right now.I was pretty excited about this place, I suppose I fell victim to the media hype. Now I have seen it, I don't think I will be going there again. I don't even like Oxford Street!
The only visually pleasing experience was this shop, I unfortunately forgot its name, but their decorator or visual merchandiser did a good job with those frames at the back.
ps - You want to know the worst about the Westfield? There's an UGG shop.
I went there last Saturday - wanted to know what it looks like... Too many people everywhere! Not sure where is the recession that the media is talking about but clearly there is no recession in Shepherds Bush lol
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you about the Tiffany's, Dior and the likes. Very odd to see those types of shops in a mall !
*shudders at the idea of a Fugg boot shop*
ReplyDeleteI think I'll stick to Westfield Derby, no crowds, all the good high street stores, the department stores if I'm looking for designer goods surprisingly few chavvy types considering it's 5 minutes from Derby train station!
I love shopping, but the crowds drive me mad! I tend to do most of my Christmas shopping online because of this!
haha... malls are always hell. oddly enough, when westfield opened the big mall in san francisco... i found myself going there quite a bit. perhaps it was to re-connect with my southern california mall girl accent... but in reality, i went there because they had a cinema, and i really liked the food court (out the door... the slanted door's little sister had excellent food) and it was only 15min walk from my house.
ReplyDeletei remember jokingly saying, wow, it's like i'm in high school all over again. but oddly enough, i think for the amount of times i had been there, i only purchased two items of clothing.
ewwwww an UGG shop, gross! ewwwwwwww
ReplyDeleteHaha, too bad UGGs don't look better, because they certainly are comfy.
ReplyDeleteAs-tu lu "Deluxe", un bouquin assez passionnant sur les évolutions (et dans certains cas, pour le pire) de l'industrie du luxe ?
ReplyDeleteI work right opposite this place (at the Beeb) so the idea of this place was great, in reality its just proven to be another gateway to the hellmouth. boo hiss boo!
ReplyDelete