The european version of Top Shop. (H&M)

Member Name: leighsady

Product:	H&M
Date:	18/05/08 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reaonable prices, good cutting, follows the seasonal trends.

Disadvantages: Unisex changing rooms with large bracket gaps on the doors!

H & M are probably one of my favourite high street fashion clothes stores - they are pretty much the european version of Top Shop, and in my opinion, even better. With the same swiftness to match the recent catwalk crazes and the current season's trends, even New Look are having difficulty keeping up with the competition.


H&M's target market falls in line of the same league as Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins and New Look. It predominantly targets women between 18-30 yrs but over past several years they have expanded to cover fashion for teens, children, women over 30+ and also menswear.


Their appeal to me is mainly down to their sizes and cutting. I am of slim build and usually a size 6-8, I say 'usually' because sometimes I can end up buying a size 10/12 or occasionally even a size 6 wouldn't fit me. Ladies, I'm sure you all know what I mean, for some reason the sizes and measurements are not the same across the different companies.


But anyway, H & M seems to be a place where many of their tops and shirts fit me better.

They seem to have two sizing ranges - the numerical system (i.e. sizes 8, 10, 12 etc,) and this is also combined with european sizing measurements, and the alphabetical one (i.e. S, M, L...and so on). They don't appear to do size 6 yet, though they do do XS which I think is more or less the equivalent, as I find the S sizes often too big.


When you walk into one of their shops, it is a lot more subtle than you would expect when compared with its competitors, however, I do prefer this subtle European tones rather than a brash noisy environment. All the sales assistants always look trendy - probably a requirement on the job description.

Compared to the other fashion stores H&M do not have a store card, nor does it offer any special incentives for loyal customers, these has been as long as one of it's early stores opened and I don't think this is likely to change either. Their prices I find are actually very reasonable, to the point that I don't really think much of them not having a discount card - H&M are usually about £5-£10 cheaper than their competition anyway, and though I have noticed steady increases, I'm sure this is also down to inflation so it is not really unreasonable.


The only thing that I don't like about H&M is that they have unisex changing rooms - I may sound like a prude, but even in this day and age I don't think it's appropriate to have unisex changing rooms - particularly when their cubicle doors each have large bracket gaps at eye level. Another thing is they also have male staff manning the female changing rooms - this is not just H&M, I have noticed this at other shops too. Not only do I feel uncomfortable, but I'm sure the male staff must feel awkward too.


For their trendy in season styles, high quality cuts and reasonable prices they are definitely one of the best. Apart from having to try all the clothes at home, H&M definitely makes it into my wardrobe!






©Leighsady 2008

Summary: Reasonable quality at a fair price.