nice clothes shops Birmingham

[theDudesmummy]

Hi, anyone from Birmingham? I don't know the city at all but have to be there for a week for work next month, and while there I want to take the opportunity to do some clothes shopping in a big city. I live in the back of beyond in rural Ireland and generally work from home, so mostly shop online for clothes (mostly joggers and fleeces!), but I need something special for an occasion in April (my daughter's graduation from medical school). Any recommendations for nice shops? I will be on foot on the city centre. I like Monsoony-type dresses, but need to avoid something too "young" as I am very much not young. No real budget constraints for this special outfit.

Head for the Bullring. Big central shopping centre with probably all that you need! Enjoy, we are a hugely underrated city!!

Unless they’ve closed recently Birmingham has a Selfridges and a Harvey Nichols. The latter is in the Mailbox complex which had a few other upmarket shops last time I was there.

(Haven’t been for a few years so hope I’m not completely wrong now!)

High streets are dying. There are many closed down shops in the city centre but I think the Bullring will deliver on your needs.

Unfortunately, now that John Lewis os gone, Birmingham isn't brilliant for clothes shopping, unless you like Next, Mango and Zara (I don't much).

There's a big M&S which is mostly rubbish but good for jeans. Arket and Cos for t-shirts. All Saints. Selfridges doesn't have much that appeals to me, although there's a tiny Whistles bit. Harvey Nicks mostly sells expensive crap imo.

Oh there's a Monsoon in Grand Central.

Thanks for the info. I will take a look at Monsoon, and certainly try Selfridges (used to love Selfridges when I lived in London). Harvey Nicks might also be good, I did manage (many years ago) to buy a dress in London Harvey Nicks for my wedding (second marriage, not a "wedding dress"!). So I have quite a soft spot for it.

The HN in my nearest city is a sad relic now - so I hope the Birmingham branch is still worth visiting. (Late 80s and all through the 90s, Knightsbridge HN was essentially my second home. Tell us about your second wedding dress!)

While you’re in Birmingham you really must get a cab to the Barber Institute. Staggering amount of world class art in a small space. Also, if there’s anything on, get a ticket for a Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) concert. The IKON gallery is also generally worth a wander around. Both of these are in the city centre. From memory Birmingham is the opposite of dressy.

Thanks @CrkdLttrCrkdLttr, interesting info, thanks. I also spent a lot of time in London Harvey Nicks in my many years living in London.

My wedding "dress", since you ask, was actually an outfit, a beautiful candy striped midi skirt with a kind of a "flip" flounce at the hem, matching strappy cami top and floaty wrap. All in a transparant cream chiffon material with thin pale pink, pale blue and lilac stripes and with a cream lining. It was by some big designer but I cannot now recall who.

Catherine Walker? Bruce Oldfield? Bill Blass? (You’d have to be as ancient as I am to remember their clothes …)

This thread has made me nostalgic for my freewheeling youth, Jean Muir’s bob, and a cottage I once rented in the middle of a field in County Kerry …

Oh! Amanda Wakefield? (Though I don’t recall whether she actually sold at HN.) I do remember wandering - pointlessly - around her South Kensington (??) shop, as a student. I was probably wearing a vintage / charity shop cardigan and Monsoon skirt - and as likely to spend 700 twentieth century pounds on a cashmere camisole as I was to take up residence on Venus.

Amanda Wakeley … (Phone’s too young.)