Skims, the wildly popular clothing brand co-founded and launched by Kim Kardashian, has brought its swimwear collection to Europe for the first time ever.
The best-selling range of swimming costumes and bikinis is available to shop at the first-ever European Skims pop-up in London, as well as being stocked in Manchester.
Selfridges department stores in both the Trafford Centre and in the city centre will have an edit of the collection for customers to shop.
Down south, the Corner Shop at Selfridges London has become an immersive Skims experience, designed to replicate a Summer Los Angeles poolside oasis, down to the diving boards and palm trees.
Shoppers will even be able to grab custom Skims ice cream treats by Chin Chin Labs while they browse.
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It’s been designed in partnership with the brand’s long-time collaborator, Willo Perron of Perron-Roettinger.
The Skims swimwear edit available to shop at Selfridges Manchester Trafford and Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square will include the brand’s signature cuts in multiple coverage levels and colourways.
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The Skims swim collection, now available to shop in ManchesterThe Skims swim collection, now available to shop in Manchester. Credit: SuppliedThe Skims swim collection, now available to shop in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The pop-up experience and arrival into Europe follows the opening of a Skims Summer Pop-Up in New York, where visitors waited in a queue for more than two hours every day to shop.
The brand has also revealed plans to expand into free-standing stores across the UK and Europe within the next three years.
Jens Grede, co-founder and CEO at Skims said: “I’m thrilled to open our first international pop-up experience at the iconic Selfridges Corner Shop. We expect demand and buzz to be high as this is the first time SKIMS Swim will be available in retail outside of the U.S.
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“The pop-up experience will set the tone for the future of Skims in London, as the cultural and fashion destination is a key market for our global expansion.”
The Skims pop-up space in Selfridges London. Credit: SuppliedThe Skims pop-up space in Selfridges London. Credit: Supplied
Robert Norton, Chief Commercial Officer at Skims, said: “As we look to establish SKIMS as a global brand, Selfridges London is the optimal starting point for the next phase of SKIMS journey with our existing customer base in the UK and unparalleled business at Selfridges to date.
“The pop-up experience and expansion of our permanent shop-in-shop space at Selfridges set the framework for our global retail strategy, and we will continue to leverage multi-brand partnerships this year as we plan to open 35 shop-in-shops in the U.S. and internationally.”
Bosse Myhr, Selfridges Director of Womenswear and Menswear, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome SKIMS Swim to the Selfridges Corner Shop, continuing to build on our long-standing relationship with the brand.
“We know our customers love SKIMS product and its distinct point of view. We are looking forward to Selfridges customers being the first to explore the SKIMS Swim collection in Europe, with an extraordinary shopping experience that will get everyone in the mood for summer.”
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Skims is available to shop in Manchester now at Selfridges store, while stocks last.
Featured image: Supplied
Shopping
River Island reopens Manchester Arndale store – and it’s unrecognisable
Daisy Jackson
River Island in the Manchester Arndale shopping centre is ready to reopen after a major makeover, and it’s bigger than ever.
The stunning space now spans 13,947 square feet and comes with interactive fitting rooms where you can order extra sizes on an iPad, self-checkouts, and a limited-edition collection exclusive to the Arndale.
The huge shop’s refurb follows a similar move at their Trafford Centre store, where River Island moved into the former Topshop unit.
Now, the three-storey store in the heart of the Arndale has been given a lick of duck-egg blue, and transformed into a beachy paradise.
Officially throwing its doors open this morning, Thursday 25 April, with Lucy Mecklenburgh cutting the ribbon, the huge shop is already welcoming hordes of shoppers.
Over the weekend, you’ll spot plenty of activations to celebrate River Island’s relaunch.
There are people carrying gigantic shopping bags handing out scratch cards with different discounts on, a Spin the Wheel with prizes, free coffees, a pop-up flower cart and loads more.
And the first people to spend more than £55 on each day between 25 and 28 April will receive a limited-edition tote bag.
High-tech changing rooms at the new River Island in the Manchester ArndaleAccessories in River Island’s new Manchester Arndale storeThe kids’ clothing collection in River IslandAccessories in River Island’s new Manchester Arndale store
This new River Island store has a limited-edition collection of one-off, premium pieces featuring exclusive fabrics and luxury detailing.
The 19-piece, bohemian-inspired collection starts at £45 and will only be available in the Arndale store.
Inside you’ll find all the usual River Island goodies, including a huge amount of holiday shop items, plus denim, occasion-wear, shoes, handbags, and kids’ clothing.
The new River Island store will open on 25 April in The Arndale shopping centre in Manchester.
Sephora confirms opening date for new megastore at Manchester’s Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
Beauty fans rejoice – Sephora has finally announced plans to open a store in Manchester, and soon.
The world-famous retailer, which stops luxury skincare and makeup brands as well as cult items, has secured a spot in the Trafford Centre.
This will be the third UK store for Sephora, which currently has two shops down in London, and its first trip up north.
And after a fair bit of teasing and plenty of rumours, they’ve confirmed that their next megastore will be right here in Greater Manchester.
Hoardings have appeared inside the Trafford Centre, plastered in Sephora’s black and white branding, around a unit next to AllSaints.
The signs read: “Manchester, you called it. Our first Northern store in 2024.”
Sephora says it will ‘redefine the beauty landscape in the North with an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of beauty enthusiasts’.
Cult brands stocked at Sephora include Huda Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Glossier and Makeup by Mario.
Sephora wrote on Instagram: “You heard correctly — Sephora is coming to the TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER.
“Get your shopping baskets ready as we’re on our way up north! More to be revealed soon, see you in 2024…”
The Trafford Centre shared: “You asked, we listened! The wait is over….your @sephorauk opens late Spring 2024.”
Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “We are extremely excited to bring Sephora to Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities for beauty in the UK.
“Expanding our presence beyond London is something that consumers have been screaming out for, and we are listening hard to them when deciding where to go next.
“The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our third store.”
Russell Loveland, managing director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “This iconic beauty giant already has a cult following, and our own social media has been blowing up with enquiries from excited customers eager for Sephora to open.
“We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which will be its first store in the North of England, and know it will be a fantastic success and a great addition to our strong international brand lineup.”
One person commented on Sephora’s Instagram post: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”
Another said: “OMG ITS HAPPENING, STAY CALM”
And someone wrote on Trafford Centre’s post: “Omg omg can’t wait.”
Daisy Jackson -
22nd June 2023 
