Is Reiss hot or not? - Fashion - Life & Style - Evening Standard
       

Is Reiss hot or not?

While those of us lucky enough not to have to wear a suit to the office shop in Topshop, COS and Zara for everyday workwear, our suited and booted City friends are fans of Reiss. At least that's the assumption I've always made — considering it to be a store for people more focused on straightforward work clothes than fashion. So my aim was to decipher whether the middle-market chain could "do" fashion after all.

Entering the shop it was the very precise and clinical set-up of the store that struck me: little wonder all those accountants love it so much. Just by the door was a dull-looking rail of dresses, all very similar in style save for a few uninventive prints. Walking around I came across a selection of silky vests (£69), some slouchy satin shirt dresses in cream and khaki (£129) and some purple body-con dresses that seem to be uniform of choice for breakfast TV presenters these days (£159).

Most striking about the clothes on offer was a distinct lack of anything casual — formal dresses hang beside skirt suits and satin shirts — there's not a floral shift dress or T-shirt in sight. Reiss may dip a toe into high fashion — it has done a jumpsuit for this season and some lovely chinos (£89) — but it's not a brand dedicated to following what's on the catwalk.

Staff: Helpful and polite
Changing rooms: Beautifully decorated, very clean
Price: Very expensive for a chain, not always great value for money
Quality: Very good
Best buy: City shorts (£39.50)
Enquiries: 020 7473 9630

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