Accessories galore (Accessorize)

Member Name: pink_glitter

Product:	Accessorize
Date:	18/10/08 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Jewellery is usually good quality, some nice things

Disadvantages: slightly overpriced for costume jewellery, seem to be less individual than they used to be

Accessorize is an accessories shop which is run by the same company who run the Monsoon fashion brand. Monsoon started selling accessories in their shops, which soon became incredibly popular, so in the 80's they started opening separate shops just stocking accessories, which is how accessorize came about. Often (although I don't think always) on high streets or in shopping centres, you will find the two shops next to each other.

I love accessories, and I probably have more accessories, such as handbags, hair bands/clips, and jewellery than I do clothes! Accessorize is somewhere I used to shop quite often, but it's rare I go in now, having found other places that sell things with styles closer to my own tastes.

~What they sell~

Accessorize sell a large selection of (not surprisingly!) accessories. This mainly consists of costume jewellery and handbags, although they stock many other things, such as purses, gloves, scarves, hair accessories, and even things like jewelled notebooks, pens and I've seen dog clothes in there too!

I think the styles of some of the items has changed quite a lot - obviously being the sort of shop it is, it has to move with current fashions and trends, but Accessorize always used to sell things (handbags especially) that looked quite unique, and different from anything else you would find on the high street, often with beading and embroidery, but although there is some of that still around, they seem to have gone more down a safer route over recent years, now stocking boring leather bags, that could be found almost anywhere else on the high street.

They now sell a range of sterling silver jewellery, which is quite well priced, but otherwise I do think they tend to be a little overpriced. There costume jewellery comes in many different styles, and there are great variations in price, but personally I don't think that I would pay over £20 for a necklace that was made of cheap metal.

I must say though, I did buy a silver-tone necklace from there in a panic one day around two years ago, when I was going out, and urgently needed something to match my top, and I still wear it now without any problems. Some cheaper jewellery can turn your neck green, or the silver can wear off, but this necklace seems to have lasted quite well, so their stuff is quite good quality.

~Stores and atmosphere~

One thing I've noticed about accessorize stores, is that they are often quite dark. It may be because the two stores I visit most often are in shopping centres rather than the high street, so are relying on artificial light, but they don't really have a bright and breezy atmosphere, but feel a little claustrophobic being dark, and due to the nature of the products they sell, quite cluttered.

~Staff~

I have always found the staff to be polite and helpful and never had any problems on that front. I once bought something that had a security tag stuck on the inside of the label, and every time I walked out I set the alarms off. The staff came over, and despite the fact it took them a while to realise why it was happening, they were polite and apologised to be.

Another thing I like, is that the staff generally leave you alone. I hate when shop assistants come up to me and try to help me all the time, as I like to be left alone to shop!

~Conclusion~

I do like accessorize, but like I said, I don't shop there very often any more as I find that I am not keen on a lot of the styles they do now. Although I have found that their costume jewellery is quite good quality and lasts well, I do think quite a lot of it is overpriced, which puts me off slightly. Still, I'm sure I will continue to shop there now and again, and if you're looking for accessories it's still a place I would recommend checking out.

Summary: Accessorize