Fashion - shops and designers in Leeds

Shop Profile Ace Clothing, Duncan Street, Leeds

We met Sue Newal, owner of Ace Clothing, which opened back in 1977, making it one of Leeds' oldest independent fashion stores

Ace has come a long way from it’s origins as X Clothing on Call Lane (before it was the trendy end of town) to the shop they currently occupy on Duncan Street, which is rapidly becoming notorious for vintage inspired shops.

Ace isn’t just any independent clothes shop. Unlike many other shops of their kind they have stood the test of time and have been trading since 1977, making them one of the longest standing independent shops in Leeds. So what is the secret to owner Sue Newal’s success? "We’ve always stuck at it and we’ve always reinvested in…

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Shop Profile The Kooples' First Yorkshire Store

The Parisian brand moves into York's designer outlet. Suffice to say, we're excited

There is excitement in the fashion camp up here in the north of England following the opening of ultra-chic Parisian brand The Kooples’ first ever outlet store at Yorkshire’s McArthurGlen York Designer Outlet.

The Kooples is the place to go for oh-so-Parisian sharp, chic, vintage-inspired fashion for both men and women. It has only been going for four years, but brothers Alexander, Laurent and Raphael Elicha (sexy, eh?) have already opened 194 stores across Europe (with 27 in the UK alone) and they don’t show signs of slowing down as they make their debut in Yorkshire.

The Kooples says:…

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News VQ Named Great Place in Awards

The Leeds shopping destination beats off national competition at the Urbanism Awards

Following its recent success at the UK Property Awards, Leeds’ shopping development, Victoria Quarter, scooped another prestigious award on Friday 11^th November, when it was voted 2012’s Great   Place by the Academy of Urbanism.

The Urbanism Awards were initiated in 2006 to develop a strong evidence base for high quality, innovative and sustainable urbanism. The Awards process seeks to identify and recognise the best, most enduring or most improved urban environments at various levels of scale and to understand better the processes by which they are nurtured, used and enjoyed.

The annual Call for Entries was launched in…

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Shop Profile Illamasqua Opens in the Victoria Quarter

The brand that counts Courtney Love, Beth Ditto and Lady Gaga amongst its fans opens in Leeds

Last month saw the opening of iconic British makeup brand Illamasqua in Leeds’ home of high fashion, the Victoria Quarter. The cosmetic company, which has its beginnings here in Leeds, has been hailed by British Vogue as a cult beauty brand – and we can see why; with its dark and glamorously dissolute image, Illamasqua oozes ethereal mystery and vampiric sex appeal.

Collections like ‘Art of Darkness’, the signature ‘Freak Fragrance’, and a dramatically decadent poster campaign combine to give Illamasqua that sexy, sinister Tim Burton-film feel. And if that’s not enough to set your spine tingling, Illamasqua have…

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Feature You Really Quarter Visit

The Victoria Quarter celebrates two high fashion openings this month with NW3 for Hobbs and Illamasqua

We love the quirkyNW3 for Hobbsrange for cool workwear and preppy weekend dresses, so we’re very pleased that there’s a brand new standalone, next to the VQ’s Hobbs, which opened on 2^nd November. It is onlythe second solo NW3 store to be opened for the company and showcases the trend-led pieces over two levels.
Also choosing the VQ to open their second standalone is cult British makeup brand Illamasqua.

Since being deemed to having cult status by British Vogue when the brand was launched in November 2008 by founder and Joint MD, Leeds-born businessman Julian Kynaston, the industry has…

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Shop Profile Flagship Shadestation Opens

The VQ store relocates its collection of designer sunglasses, watches and jewellery

Shadestation, the UK’s largest independent sunglasses and watch retailer opened its flagship new store in the Victoria Quarterlast month. The 1,500 square feet store boasts a flagship Oakley store-in-store with its own Custom Programme kiosk, one of only two in the world, where customers can build their own unique shades with their choice of frame colour and finish, lens and tint.

The store, which used to have a smaller branch further up the arcade, also hosts more than 200 Rayban sunglasses and a collection of jewellery and watches from labels including Bibi, Danone, Coeur de Lion, Guess, Fossil, D&G…

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Shop Profile Michelsberg Tailoring

Leeds tailor to the stars, James Michelsberg opens VQ store with glittering party

Guests arrived from as far away as Amsterdam to be part of the launch of the bespoke tailor James Michelsberg‘s Victoria Quartershop last month.

“It was a fantastic evening”, says the Leeds tailor. “Not only was I surrounded by friends and family, but it was amazing to see the support from my fabulous loyal customers, fellow VQ tenants, and so many of my suppliers. All the top brass from John Fosters, Dugdales, Bateman Ogden, Taylor & Lodge, Scabal, Premier Worsteds, Dormeuil, Hainsworths and W.T.Johnson attended. When it comes to quality textiles, let’s face it, Yorkshire’s the best.”

Michelsberg…

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Shop Profile Wolford Flagship Opens

The luxury tights company chooses Leeds' Victoria Quarter for its first northern store

Luxury ready to wear and hosiery brand Wolfordlaunched its first store in the North of England in Leeds’ premier shopping destination Victoria Quarter last month.

The Wolford flagship store, opened on Thursday 14^th July, is part of the company’s continued expansion in Europe, and features the full Wolford ranges: legwear, bodywear, lingerie and swimwear.

The boutique design is all white and light wood, brushed steel and glass, the ambience bright and inviting, exuding a clear message of purity and feminine elegance from the windows to the internal fixtures.

Maria Venegas, retail manager for Wolford, said, “We are proud…

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Feature Lily Allen

Ali Schofield talks to the one-time singer and her half sister, Sarah Owen about Leeds, vintage and why she didn't want her fans to watch her on telly

There’s one thing I’ll say about Lily Cooper nee Allen’s new fashion line: the Jitterbug prom dress certainly hides a bump well. I meet the singer turned designer and her sister, Sarah Owen at Harvey Nichols just days before her wedding and the big reveal that she’s some three months pregnant last month. The next day she would cancel her appearance at Birmingham Harvey Nics on doctor’s orders.

The ruffle skirted dress might hide a pregnancy well, Lily doesn’t. While her sister rushes around Personal Shopping, freshly polished fingernails aloft, in a dressing gown, Lily sits quietly discussing vitamins on…

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Interview Bradley Taylor

We talk bags, brides and loving Leeds with the stylist and brains behind Mulberry's stunning window displays

The man who plans Mulberry‘s amazing window displays across the world is originally from Leeds. He also holds down a successful business styling celebrities for red carpet events and does a bit of presenting work on the side, recently hosting the Look of Leeds final. In fact, you’d be surprised that the now London-based, globe-trotting Bradley Taylor has time to sit down, let alone stop by at Oracle for a drink and a chat with Leeds Guide.

Well, you can take the boy out of Leeds…

"I’ve been away from Leeds now for probably about four years…

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