Zara comes to Melbourne

Giving affordable fashion a run for its money, Zara is what I would call a refreshing inclusion to Melbourne's Bourke St Mall. Despite the long cues and mixed reviews, it is not the hype which impresses me, it's the quality of the clothing and the affordability.

There are pieces which cost well into the 100's of dollars. However the majority of the pieces are clean, crisp and will make a great inclusion into a Melbournian's wardrobe.

That being said Zara is a billion dollar company world wide. Everybody wants a piece of it. So it is not surprising that they can afford to create pieces that are cutting edge and yet cost 1/5 of their ordinary high fashion counterparts.

So it's good bye Portmans, Cue and Witchery and hello Zara.
Eat your hearts out fashionistas!

Zara Melbourne facade.
3 levels: 1 for men, 1 for women and 1 for children.

Some of the options from the range.
Simple designs in bold colours, that allow you to add your own personal flair with accessories.

My picks from Zara: - Pink blazer (pictured) $199
                                     - Basic Denim Jeans $49.95 (there are many different styles)
                                     - Long sleeve basics from $19.95 (Favourite colours: teal and nude)
                                     - Cardigans $29.95 (Favourite colours: teal and black)

TIPS for shopping ZARA:

No.1 TIP: Know what you are looking for. Make a list of key piece you may be after (ie. pants, tops, blazers). The store may be busy for a while and even though they control how many people enter and leave it is pretty packed in there. You don't want to get lost in the hype. There are many ranges and repeats of things in the different ranges at different price ranges. SO know what you are after and you'll avoid chaos.
Styling: Start with a good pair of jeans and add a basic t-shirt for a clean look. Add accessories to personalise and be bold with a power blazer for a real statement outfit. 
There are a lot of brights instore at the moment in time for Summer 12. They're in-store early so unless you like to be the centre of attention you may want to buy them stocking up for summer as opposed to buying them for now.

Sizing: European sizings are used. Know what your size it before you go in to make it easier to shop. Try online conversion charts.
They tend to be shorter in the smaller sizes.
Pants tend to hug around the ankle.
Be sure to brave the long line to the fitting room in order to ensure you get a great fit. You may be surprised as the sizings are different in all 3 ranges: Zara TRF, Zara Woman, and Zara Basics.