28 things life (and Schitt’s Creek) taught me last year
28 things life (and Schitt’s Creek) taught me last year

Sarah Finnan

Step inside artist Anita Groener’s Dublin studio, full of tiny, beautiful things
Step inside artist Anita Groener’s Dublin studio, full of tiny, beautiful things

Katie Byrne

A funeral celebrant shares the end of life planning tips to set in motion now
A funeral celebrant shares the end of life planning tips to set in motion now

Lizzie Gore-Grimes

Expert advice for becoming an at-home wine connoisseur
Expert advice for becoming an at-home wine connoisseur

Sarah Gill

An equestrian stables is amongst this Kildare home’s most standout features
An equestrian stables is amongst this Kildare home’s most standout features

Sarah Finnan

Fashion’s MAGA makeover
Fashion’s MAGA makeover

Holly O'Neill

Planning to prioritise your career in 2025? This event is perfect for anyone considering a Business Masters or MBA
Planning to prioritise your career in 2025? This event is perfect for anyone considering a...

Megan Burns

A January escape to Sheen Falls Lodge: The perfect, luxury getaway
A January escape to Sheen Falls Lodge: The perfect, luxury getaway

Dominique McMullan

Living room inspiration to save from Irish homes
Living room inspiration to save from Irish homes

Megan Burns

January’s best new beauty launches
January’s best new beauty launches

Holly O'Neill

Image / Fashion

Have you been to Bicester Village? If you want high fashion at low prices, it’s worth the air fare


By Marie Kelly
16th Oct 2019
Have you been to Bicester Village? If you want high fashion at low prices, it’s worth the air fare

If you haven’t been to Bicester Village, then take fashion director Marie Kelly’s advice and book your flight now. She’s sold on the offering of exciting fashion at accessible prices.


Last week, I travelled to Bicester Village in Oxfordshire, the sister outlet to Kildare Village, and wow… if you love fashion as much as I do and haven’t yet visited, then book your flight now. Only an hour outside London (there’s a direct train from Marylebone Station), it’s home to the most exciting selection of outlet stores in Europe.

I love labels such as Acne Studios, Celine and Zadig & Voltaire, but I can’t afford to pay full price for them. At Bicester, these brands, along with others like Saint Laurent, Chloé, Gucci, Prada, Alexander McQueen and Salvatore Ferragamo sit side by side offering exquisite pieces at significantly less than the original prices.

If I’m being honest, my excitement is less about specific brand names and more about the fact that I can buy quality pieces at accessible prices. Not every item there is within my reach – I spotted a leather Acne Studios bag that I adored, but it was still €700 – but so much of it was. Yes, you’ll spend a lot more per item than you will in Zara, but who doesn’t want to invest in a piece that’s made to last, and will elicit envious coo-ing noises from those around you?

My best buy there last week was a pair of Acne Studio kick flare corduroy trousers. They cost €160 and there’s a similar pair in teal on the current Acne website that cost €320. I think if I’d had longer to spend at Bicester, I would have also bought an Acne scarf and LK Bennett boots (I own a pair already and the quality and comfort they offer is superb). The Acne scarf was so divine in a shade of pink specific to the brand (it worked with Pantone to develop this soft salmon pink hue), I’m thinking of going back before Christmas just to pick it up.

Flared corduroy trousers, €320 at acnestudios.com

While I was there, the British Fashion Council had installed an incredible pop-up shop featuring 30 designers including Erdem, Paper London (one of my new favourite brands) and Hillier Bartley. It’s the second year for the BFC pop-up, and like Kildare Village, Bicester is massively engaged in creating new and exciting fashion experiences for its visitors. Kildare Village has a partnership with IMMA right now that means incredible works of art can be viewed in the village itself.

The BFC pop-up at Bicester Village, the sister outlet of Kildare Village

While at Bicester, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Desirée Bollier, a fabulously stylish woman who is instrumental in developing interesting partnerships between the Village and creative institutions and individuals. She was so inspiring in how she spoke about how the fashion industry and retail outlets can support emerging designers and help to create spaces that fulfil more than just our shopping needs.

The pop-up closes the first week in November, so you may not catch it this time round. But keep an eye out next year as I’m sure it’ll return having had such a great reception from visitors. In the meantime, pop down to Kildare Village and check out the IMMA pop-up shop and the incredible installations there.


Read more: Fashion Director’s cut: 5 street style looks I’m buying into for AW19

Read more: 5 fashion secrets from seriously stylish women

Read more: H&M’s latest Conscious collection launches tomorrow