As far as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of brand’s stand-alone stores like Mango, Levi’s, 109F, Promod etc and rarely visit departments stores for clothes shopping. I always felt that department stores like Central, Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop or Westside had clothes that weren’t trendy, of poor quality, the staff wasn’t well-trained and the whole experience was no fun.
But a few weeks ago on my way to a lingerie brand’s store, I stopped at Sobo Central and explained to the sales assistant (SA) that I was looking for a sports bra. She immediately guessed my size and within a couple of minutes handed me sports bras from multiple brands. I tried them on, selected one, and bought it without thinking twice.
A few days later I won a Shoppers Stop gift voucher at an office event and went to the store at Inorbit Mall. Again, I had a surprisingly satisfying experience, despite the crazy crowds (it was the sale period).
And last weekend, I had another good time browsing at Lifestyle at Phoenix Mills. The SA at the Baggit counter helped me with laptop bags and I liked most of the accessory collections I saw. And when I hit the clothes section, I saw some known and not-so-well-known brands offering great deals on tshirts.
(Below: Esprit)
Result: I’m sold on department stores now!
That doesn’t mean I will skip brand stores altogether, but I will make it a point to check out a department store when I’m looking for good deals, when I have a long shopping list, or even when I’m not looking for something in particular. It would be such fun to buy a tee from Esprit or Bossini, jeans from Levi’s, matching skirt from 109F, then pair it with earrings from yet another brand. 
So where do you prefer to shop: department stores or brand stores? Take our poll and tell us why in the comments below!
