Ask Angie: Shop Comparisons

Hil

Hi Angie...

My previous post about my intimidation confession refers... something that I have often wondered is whether you can do a comparison or draw parallels between our local South African stores and the international and particularly US stores. For example, I am guessing that our Stuttafords is similar to Nordstroms - but I may be very wrong? It would help me hugely to have a frame of reference!

Thanks! <3

13 years ago

Shopping

9 replies

Latest reply was from Hil

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sure! I'd be happy to draw some comparisons for you. I'll stick to US stores for now. The SA store is on the left with the US equivalent - or close enough - on the right.

Stuttafords - Nordstrom and Bloomingdales

The US has higher-end department stores than Nordstrom too: Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodmans spring to mind. Think Harrods and Harvey Nichols in the UK.

Edgars - Macys

Truworths and Daniel Hechter - Banana Republic

Miladys - Ann Taylor

Foschini - the Loft, Express, the Limited,

Ackermans - J.C. Penny, Sears, Kohls, KMart, Target

Pr. Price - Forever 21

Hypermarket - Target

Woolworths - Target (Woolies used to be just like Marks & Spencer but that is no longer the case)

There's a start anyway

13 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

woolies used to be stateside too...the last one i knew of closed in the early 90s.

it still had the ice cream / lunch counter.

ps: woolies lunch counters in greenboro, nc were crucial boycott areas during the anti-segregation movement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro_sit-ins

non fashion related but i go with stream of consciousness!

13 years ago

Hil

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Angie! That does help a lot. I loved pretending I was rich and famous sipping bubbles at Harvey Nicks when I was in the UK.

Interesting that you compare woolies to Target and put Ackermans in the same category.... In my opinion, woolies is a little more upmarket than Ackermans especially in some of their current ranges that they carry like Trenery and Country Road.

BJ - that is is fascinating. I wonder if that Woolworths was linked to our Woolworths. I know that woolies here and what was woolies in the UK were oddly not related.

13 years ago

Archer

Veteran

Interesting info for on-line shopping too. I had the impression that Forever 21 was closer to the middle than it is. Not meaning to hijack this just to build on it. Could you do a similar one for Australia (size is narrower but range is the same - I think) Plus, I suspect at the higher end everywhere, is beyond department store level, but that is just an observation. Interested to see if any validity in it. Not exactly scientifically interesting ...but....you know....much more interesting in this context. What do you say Angie?

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

bj1111, they are different stores!

Hil, SA Woolies used to be a lot more upmarket - the same as M&S in the UK (in fact the fashion buyers all worked together). When I was there last 4 years ago, I was disappointed to see it become so budget. Perhaps they have upped their game again since then?

Oh! Just looked at their site - looks like they have :). Looking very Banana Republic.

http://www.woolworths.co.za/Ho.....604470.cat

Where do you like to shop, Hil? Have I missed out any huge SA retailers?

Allison, I have never been to OZ so I'm afraid I can't do the comparison for you. As far as Target goes - from what I've gathered, it seems more upmarket in OZ than here in the US. Perhaps Forever 21 is too.

13 years ago

Kalli

Active Member

I love this topic, gives me more places to oogle if I ever go to SA.

13 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

What a fun topic!

I'm a bit sad about Woolworth's elsewhere not being the same as the old US one. But then I guess it *was* an American institution.

13 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Very interesting!

And interesting about there being all these unrelated Woolworths. Woolworths here in the U.S. was a venerable institution, the hallmark of an era. Grilled cheese at the lunch counter was a touchstone experience. I remember Woolworths as being rather like Target in goods but, you know, you dressed to go shopping at Woolworths. Well, you dressed to go out period, but Woolworths carried that sense of being in its walls to the very end.

13 years ago

Hil

(website)

Veteran

Woolies here is a bit of an institution too - their clothing is generally pretty good quality and their food stores are fab, especially for dinner party shopping.

Angie - you didn't mention Queenspark - I am guessing they are probably up there as a sort of mix between Milady's and Stuttafords - higher end clothes for a slightly more grown up shopper?

Me - I shop at Woolworths quite a bit for underwear and some outerwear. I buy a lot of staple items - t-shirts and jeans and other basics at the Pick 'n Pay Clothing store - the Hypermarket you refer to? Their stuff is inexpensive and reasonable quality and I find pretty good fits for my size. I used to shop at Foschini's plus size store - Donna Claire - but their clothes start at a size 16 which is now a little big for me - Yay!

Other stores I like are Cotton On - an Australian brand that is now here. I also love Big Blue for their quirky fashion (http://www.bigblue.co.za).

I guess I have shopped mostly cheap in the past, because I have always been very hesitant to spend a lot of money on plus size clothing which I have no intention of wearing long term, but as I edge closer to my happy size, I hope to start investing in my clothing a little more!

And Angie - if you ever come shopping in Jozi again I would LOVE to meet you for a coffee in Sandton City

13 years ago

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