Austin Reed is based in Liverpool One and sells a marvellous variety of formal clothes for both sexes including menswear, in particular suits. I found this shop to be very well laid out with each item of clothing such as shirts, neatly stacked and priced on shelves. Their suits were noticeably of the highest quality, although not exactly branded. Most of their clothes are generally on the expensive side so even for the sale season, prices are still high-end. However, Austin Reed is a more than decent shop to purchase a treat and with friendly staff always ready to help, you can’t really ask for more other than to lower the prices(which of course isn’t possible)!
Dom M.
Place rating: 4 Liverpool, United Kingdom
Austin Reed make some excellent suits and the selection in this Liverpool ONE example follows this standard. Although I wouldn’t venture to buy one in a normal non-sale guise, the suits I looked at had modern appeal without dipping into the trendy(and therefore temporary) style of formal wear. Having previously owned a suit from Austin Reed, I can vouch for the quality and this shop seems to be presented in a way just as efficient as other retailers I’ve been to before. Austin Reed do some pretty decent looking jeans too, but I think I’ll wait until I’m a bit older before going down their casual wear line! A good place to go in search of formal wear without the need for the perceived ponse of the MetQuarter.
Sarah-Jane B.
Place rating: 3 Brighton, United Kingdom
Maybe I’m reading too much into it but I can’t help thinking Austin Reed’s current window display is a protest against the recent government coalition. There’s no anti-Lib Dem signs but if you look closely at the conservatively dressed wax-work models you’ll see their usual heads have been replaced with horse heads! Inside the store, it’s business as usual with a predictable range of stylish suits, classic suits and power suits for both men and women. Most of it is too navy blue for my taste but I quite like the Cut capsule range by Saville Row tailor Richard James. For those that already have more suits than David Cameron, there’s a range of smart casual clothes including polo shirts, sweaters, jumpers, dresses and flowery skirts.
Matthew H.
Place rating: 4 Liverpool, United Kingdom
In contrast to its neighbour Suits You Austin Reed is a great place to pick up a decent suit that won’t make you want to jab a biro in your eye. Carrying a selection of their own good quality two-piece and three piece suits(although frankly, outside of a wedding, it’s difficult to wear a three piece suit without looking like a member of the 1947 shadow cabinet) as well as ties of all hues and thickness and shirts with a range of cuffs and collars the shop is trove for affordable tailoring. This branch is light and well laid out, with shirts put in shelving holes along the back wall and jackets hanging on either side of the shop, organised by cut. The staff are a little bit overzealous when it comes to actually trying to get you to walk out with the suits but were helpful nonetheless. Price-wise you can expect to spend up to £500 and there are plenty of decent examples for under £200. Nice.