British conservatism from Marks & Spencer

October 15, 2008 at 20:46 | Maryna Irkliyenko
The British brand Marks & Spencer was created by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in 1884 and, since then, the brand has gained a reputation for conservatism and good quality.

Last year, the brand finally arrived in Kyiv by opening a shop at Komod shopping mall at Livoberezhna metro station and, later, at other locations in Kyiv.

Walking through the shop, I got the impression of shopping at a supermarket with its big spaces and racks with clothes that resemble food counters, and even shopping baskets at the entrance.

While Marks & Spencer prices are considered mid-range, prices for some items are a little over the medium. For example, jeans cost Hr 200 to Hr 400 for men and Hr 240 to Hr 554 for women, while jackets are Hr 640 to Hr 740 (for women) and Hr 1,450 (for men). Underwear is priced at Hr 119 to Hr 290 for a bra and Hr 85 to Hr 160 for panties. A set of three men’s trunks go for Hr 150 to Hr 260. Among classic business clothes, a good selection of men’s shirts for Hr 199 to Hr 400 can be also found there. The selection of shoes is not so big. It is represented by just a few models of men shoes for Hr 500, and rare for Ukraine. Soft Ugg boots are present at Marks & Spenser in a sandy color for just Hr 290. For some special occasion, you can get a beautiful evening cocktail dress with gradient coloring, starting black at the top and gradually changing into red at the bottom for Hr 1,190.

Marks & Spencer is full of innovative ideas. For example, they have jeans made from bottle-processed materials; fresh-feet socks for your feet to breathe; men’s shirts that don’t need to be ironed; and jackets and ties that can be washed in a regular washing machine. As a result, you can save lots of money on expensive dry cleaning.

In November, Marks & Spenser is going to treat its clients to a limited edition collection designed by Patricia Field, a famous designer and stylist of “Sex and the City,” “Ugly Betty” TV series and the movie “The Devil Wears Prada.” The collection is all about New York styles and embodies the splashy lifestyle, focusing primarily on dresses as well as a capsule collection of tops, pants and accessories. In Kyiv, the collection will be available at Marks & Spenser from mid-November only at Karavan shopping center.


Marks & Spencer (Karavan, 12 Luhova, 499-8714; Komod, 4 Lunacharskoho, 593-3669; Promenada, 17-21 Bahhovutivska, 499-2886).