High street shopping for brief expat visit

[Ohthepressure]

Hi all

I've been living in Australia for the last 10 years, with infrequent visits home (even less frequent thanks to COVID.) I am coming back for a quick visit next weekend and I am after suggestions of places to look at for clothes and beauty, on the high street (Cardiff) or swift online delivery. For example is the Boots beauty range still any good? I am coming with a light suitcase and without a husband to whinge about shopping. Bring it on!

I'm not a fashionista, hell I'm not even fashionable. Early 50s, increasingly apple shaped 16-18, 5'6" and grey haired (although a nice grey if I do say so myself...)

I'm looking for places to check out, including supermarket fashion, as although Aussie clothing is OK, there's such a small range that you end up wearing the same as your work colleague. So from basics like t-shirts (v neck) or cardigans, work shoes, even decent tights, or things like jeans and fit and flare or wrap type dresses.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Next have some lovely things in at the moment!

Cos and Arket for quality basics. M&S have really upped their game since the COVID inspired loungewear phase...
Boots launched a new skincare (peptide) range just this week. Making the biggest noise since Protect and Perfect came out really.

If Cardiff has a big M&S I would head there, the big ones have Beauty stuff in too and not just they’re own brand

Agree that next has some nice stuff in at the moment. I was pleasantly surprised as they've been a bit rubbish the last 12 months or so

Boots skincare is good they have just this week released a new product called future renew which everyone seems to be raving about at the moment

M&S also has some nice summer basics in at the moment & their perfumes are nice

I don't know Cardiff but if they have a primark have a mooch in there for vest tops. I got some lovely shorts from our local one last week. Not too short and wide legged.

We came from somewhere with less shopping choices than Aus.
I used to bring back:
Shoes (me and kids school shoes)
Bras
Trousers for me (long legs)
Swimming costumes, pool toys, googles.
Kids books
Shampoo
And.... Glace Cherries and bovril.... I accept these last 2 are probably pretty niche tho!

I'd head to M&S, next, clarks, boots. Whatever the biggest supermarket is near you, and Primark.

That's a great start, thanks, I was wondering what the latest Boots product range was! M&S sounds like a good destination too.

And I actually do have Bovril, a friend brought some back from me as soon as the borders opened. The Bovril here, even in the UK speciality shops, is vegetarian!!

I'm an expat as well and head to Boots, Next, M&S and Pimark. The supermarkets also get some nice bits in sometimes.

John Lewis so you get to see loads or brands under one roof.

I would hope there’s a tkmaxx in Cardiff - it can be a bit of a jumble sale but well worth it

If you have time to get to Cribbs Causeway, they have an amazing Harrods Beauty now

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=st+david%27s+cardiff+shops&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#trex=m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:rln,rc_ludocids:16256910417521814721,ru_gwp:0%252C7,ru_lqi:ChhzdCBkYXZpZCdzIGNhcmRpZmYgc2hvcHNI8Ji4Blo0EAAQARADGAAYARgCGAMiGHN0IGRhdmlkJ3MgY2FyZGlmZiBzaG9wcyoGCAIQABABKgIIA5IBD3Nob3BwaW5nX2NlbnRlcpoBI0NoWkRTVWhOTUc5blMwVkpRMEZuU1VOaGFGbElSa2QzRUFFqgE8CggvbS8waGhkYhABKg4iCnN0IGRhdmlkJ3MoADIeEAEiGtwgeclK54jku7UiXsmmR9v3UDfQl0tp-K-p,ru_phdesc:4OVrEuBvDOE,trex_id:MzBfvd&lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D
looks like there’s some good options here I like Hobbs and Reiss for work wear

Huge Primark on Queen St, also decent M&S and Next. Boots and Superdrug.

in the new St David’s shopping centre, you’ve got a nice H&M, lots of shoe shops, John Lewis.

Sainsbury’s have good clothes, though the main Cardiff one isn’t brilliant.

There is a nice Matalan & Next in Queen Street Cardiff also M&S across the rd and Boots , John Lewis through the arcade as well , unfortunately Debenhams , Morgan's and Howells have closed, but some nice independent shops in the Arcades and a TK Max in that area too.

Thanks everyone!