American photographer Bill Cunningham once said, ‘Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life.’ And whatever your lifestyle may be, everyone needs some retail therapy once in a while. You might be looking for the latest Armani knitwear or a low-key luxury handbag – all of which you’ll find in Northern Ireland’s capital city of Belfast, which has seen a selling surge in designer labels in the last decade. Take a look below at the best womenswear boutiques you should visit this year.
Emporio
Emporio rests on a side street off the suburban Lisburn Road, a beautiful avenue with numerous shops, cafés and eateries. It’s one of Belfast’s most respected boutiques, and for good reason. It has more than 30 years of experience in style and 28 world collections, including ranges from Armani, Caterina Lucchi and Oska.
Envoy of Belfast is a remarkable boutique that encompasses fresh millennial style and excellent craftsmanship in all of their collections, with pieces from Acne Studios and French designer, Casey Casey. They aim to marry the vintage and the modern in a sleek store located on Wellington Street, in Belfast’s City Centre. For more collections, you can visit their online store here. It is perfect for lesser-known brands, with top collections from European designers and stores.
Peel Fashion boutique is a beautiful open-spaced mini department store with chic collections and beautiful jewellery and accessory pieces from around the world. The store aims to sell affordable brands to the younger generations and embrace a new modern combination of sophistication and edge, with collections that reflect the growing fashion industry around them. Peel Fashion also owns Peel 2, a sale shop that sells end-of-line clothes for up to 80% off – yes, really – so that many people can enjoy a designer label!
If you don’t want to splurge on high-end designer clothes, Liberty Blue offers a decent alternative. It’s somewhere in between high street and boutique, specialising in vintage clothing lines and beautiful accessory items. Perfect for the budget shopper, you will find beautiful jumpsuits and elegant dresses for under £100 for any occasion.
Deja Vu has a classic-chic atmosphere inside its boutique, filled with the latest collections from Karen Millen and Gucci alike. The boutique includes Prada and Louboutin shoe collections, along with the celebrated Louis Vuitton handbags, making it a popular choice for the locals. It’s one for the stylish Parisian at heart!
Blush Boutique is another addition to the Lisburn Road shopping district, specialising in designer bridal wear and wedding collections, including ranges from major UK designers La Sposa and Alan Hannah. They’re also Northern Ireland’s only retailer of Temperley of London. Each collection is luxurious and impeccably detailed for bridal occasions.
Cubana houses some of the most unusual collections in fashion, all of which are exclusive to their boutique, in Belfast. Most of their colourful dresses, coats and handbags are straight off the catwalk, featured in Northern Ireland’s fashion shows and events year-round. They’ll also offer a personal shopper who has 20 years of experience – so you know you are in good hands.
