Showing posts with label press event. Show all posts
Showing posts with label press event. Show all posts

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Boux Avenue opened their 18th store last month in the White Rose shopping centre in Leeds and I was lucky enough to be there for the first day the doors opened for business.  I attended the press event shortly before the official store opening which gave me the opportunity to really check out what the store has to offer.  If you were wondering how Boux Avenue's stores are laid out and how to shop there, consider this is my helping hand and personal tour.

Boux Avenue, Leeds
The Store
Walking into Boux Avenue is akin to stepping into a fine boutique hotel (if you disregard the lingerie); the chic monochrome colour scheme, venetian style cabinets with half glass drawers and the spacious shop floor as polished as the light fittings above them.  The decor of framed product imagery, complete with image alternating picture frames, lends to the personable boudoir feel.  This store is as much about the experience as it is about the actual products it sells: glamour with a touch of sparkle.







Display of gorgeous boudoir goodies
The Layout

Finding a specific type of lingerie is simply laid out too.  Everyday lingerie is sited at both sizes of the store front, with swimwear on the right in the next section opposite the till followed by underwear solutions in the bottom corner.


Everyday lingerie

Swimwear stand & Solutions corner


Sexy lingerie

Swimwear section
Next to the till on the right you'll find the more glamorous, sexy sets then there's the bridal section in the corner.  
Free standing displays bear selections of nightwear, playful items such as tutus and camisole sets.  It was so easy to find where you wanted to be.



The Detail
While an array of lingerie lines the walls of the store, the secret's in the cabinets.  Drawers are organised vertically exclusively housing specific band sizes.  Open a drawer and you'll find neat rows of bras filed in order of cup size.  It's a world away from scavenging through racks in the hope of finding your size at the back and more disabled friendly because of this too.  The drawers glided open and I found my size without fuss, efficiently locating the top '30' drawer and the 'G' cup at the back of the drawer.

The back size sorted drawers

The Fitting Rooms
Trying on underwear is an intimate experience and the set up of the fitting rooms here very much recognises this.  The line of rooms with their individually named doors looks more like a hotel corridor. 




Upon entering my allocated room I found it to be quite spacious with plenty room to move around in.  There were three hooks for hanging garments and belongings and a huge mirror.  




The concierge intercom is an especially helpful function which allows you reliable contact with assistants and your fitter, and I preferred this to the typical buzz button in some other shops, or lack of assistance in many!  Beneath the intercom are three switches to tailor lighting to your requirement which ranges from bright light to a dimmer glow, but the bottom night light switch unfortunately didn't work for me.  Also, the door, as reassuringly chunky as it was, didn't properly lock, so if I was shopping in there on a normal day I would be dubious of it's fallible closure.



My Conclusion
As a boudoir girl I covet feminine detail and girly interiors so Boux Avenue's aesthetics have me giddy at the door.  The store is impressive and smart and represents what is true retail therapy to me.  

I love how orderly the bra sizing system is and how it means you don't need to be six foot tall and on tip toes to reach your size which is ideal for petite ladies and those with mobility issues.  I was disappointed that my door didn't lock properly and then to find one of the light switches didn't work didn't bode well with it being opening day so I'm hoping these were just teething issues and rectified promptly.  

The assistants were insanely friendly and happy to help without being irritating which is a huge positive.  I never like being bugged while I'm shopping so it was lovely to be acknowledged in the store and allowed to peruse at my own pace.  




I love Boux Avenue's ranges but I'm still crossing my fingers with the hope they'll eventually produce some 28 backs right up to the larger cups.  That would make me one happy Boux Belle.  :-)




Becky x

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Last week Mr BB and I ventured down to Leeds for the grand opening of Boux Avenue's 18th store in the White Rose shopping centre.  We were invited to the exclusive press event to meet owner Theo Paphitis and check out the glossy new store.  I was really excited to be one of the first to set foot through the doors.




On arrival we were welcomed by two very glam looking Boux Belles wearing gorgeous black basques and pencil skirts who were handing out leaflets and goodies to passers by.  The shop front was cordoned off ready for the opening but we were whisked in, offered drinks (apple & mango juice!) and I was soon snapping away at the pretty sights.


Theo and the Boux Belles (or the promo girls!)

There actually weren't many people present which was good because it meant I had the space to peruse and take pictures at my leisure.  There were a few photographers including Sean, quite a few Boux Avenue store staff, managerial bods, PR peeps and probably just a couple other bloggers.  Theo arrived a little later into the event and had a look around the store himself.  I leapt in and introduced myself to him, asking for pic for the blog.  When I said I'd come from Richmond he thought I'd come all the way up from Surrey.  Yeah... I'm a stalker like that.  lol  By the way I'm not.  And I come from North Yorks.  :-)


Theo Paphitis and Me

Image by Sean J Connolly Photography



The staff were all super friendly and accommodating.  I was offered a fitting and accepted - why not be the first to be fitted in Leeds store?  My fitting assistant was so lovely and easy going.  I'll be reviewing my fitting in another post so if you want to see what I tried on and what my experience was like, stay tuned... 

There were lots of gorgeous pieces that caught my eye.  Some bras I'm so gutted don't come in larger cups so if you wear a smaller cup than me be sure to snap them up!


'Fleur' longline bra

'Vixie' Lace Petticoat



'Georgia' mesh bra

'Jenny' gingham bra

This is what I wore on the day: 'Hello Darling' top from H&M, black skirt from Primark, floral skinny belt, my Morgan De Toi jacket (which I haven't worn for a few years and bought even longer ago), bow and spot tights and my floral ankle boots.


Eagle eyes may also spot the Cath Kidston lanyard around my neck, which is the new Strawberry Fields design.  Cute!


This is 'Mr BB' dude baby himself, Sean!


When the press event was over we popped off for a quick bite to eat before heading back to the store for the proper opening.  By this time loads of people had gathered around the tape and I could barely get through, but thankfully security recognised us and helped us through to the front press section.  A little too late I decided to record Theo's little speech so it's cut off a tad at the beginning, but here it is anyway...



And here's the christening...

Theo Paphitis launches Boux Avenue, Leeds

Image by Sean J Connolly Photography



I'll shortly be posting a few more pieces from the Boux Avenue press day including a store review and fitting review.

Chow for now!

Becky x


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