Milan, Paris, New York and Now Liverpool…

The days when the local fashion in Liverpool was for the Harry Enfield inspired permed wigs, moustache and shell suit are long gone! Liverpool City Centre, not to mention the wider community of Merseyside itself, has now become something of a fashion driven hotspot, where you are as likely to be seen in the latest Armani or Vivienne Westwood creation, as you are a pair of trainers and jogging bottoms!

The first place to head for the fashion conscious visitor is the Metquarter (0151 224 2390, www.metquarter.me.uk). This shopping complex, which opened shortly before Liverpool One, is situated in the historic Whitechapel off the main shopping routes of Lord Street and Church Street. The fashion conscious shopper can find plenty of designer labels inside, such as DKNY, All Saints, Levis, Secret Drawer, Hobbs, L.K Bennet, Hugo Boss, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel, Gieves and Hawkes and Armani. Not to mention the shoes on offer by Kate Kuba and Kurt Geiger.

Whilst the fashion conscious shopper could spend all their time in the Metquarter, to do so would be neglecting the myriad of other fashion boutiques that have opened across the city in the past few years. Another City Centre mall, where the emphasis is firmly on style and elegance, is Cavern Walks Shopping Centre (0151 236 9082, www.cavern-walks.co.uk). Here you will find jewellery by Christopher James as well as some of the biggest names in British fashion; VIP Dressing Room, Cello Boutique, Solely Shoes, Cricket, Drome Couture and the doyen of good (or bad, depending on your view) taste Vivienne Westwood all have shops in the mall, which is situated just along from the famous Cavern Club, the birthplace of the Beatles, that gives it its name.

Of course, no slave to fashion could ignore the wealth of opportunity that is gifted them by the brand new Liverpool One (0151 709 7780, www.liverpool-one.com). At Liverpool One you can even hire your own personal stylist (0151 232 3140), to revamp your existing wardrobe! If you prefer to undertake this arduous task alone, then you are spoilt for choice. From the larger department stores, such as Debenhams and John Lewis, to famous high street brands such as Gap, Oasis, Monsoon or Jaeger, down to the more refined choices of Cath Kidston, Radley and Blue Inc. There are more stylish shops than you can shake a designer handbag at in this 1.65m square foot of shopper’s paradise!

If you don’t want to pay the premium prices of designer clothing, then a walk up Church Street and Bold Street in the City Centre is ideal. These thoroughfares are the heart of the City Centre and have plenty of high street stores, such as Karen Millen, Dune, Kookai, Topshop, Solo and Schuh! to keep the most demanding fashion shopper amused, without putting excessive strain on the credit card!

If you prefer to pick your way around a market to pick up bargains or to buy the raw materials for your own fashion creation, then Liverpool offers two outstanding and world renown markets well suited for this. St. Johns Market (0151 708 8948) in the City Centre is well worth checking out for bargain hunters and if your visit takes in a Sunday then the Heritage Market (0151 207 7227, www.heritagemarket.co.uk) along the dock road, a short walk or taxi ride from the City Centre, is well worthy of a visit, if only for the fact that it is housed in two of the huge former tobacco warehouses that once served the mighty port of Liverpool.

A short car or train journey will bring you to Southport Town Centre, famous for the excellent Lord Street and Chapel Street quarter. Chester City Centre is also easily reachable on car or train for a trip around the elegant City centre which houses a huge variety of quirky shops against the backdrop of this Roman town. Finally, no trip to Merseyside would be complete for any fashionista without taking in Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet (0151 348 5600), situated just off the M53, the huge retail park offers some of the biggest names in fashion, Calvin Klein, Gap, Kurt Geiger, Ted Baker, French Connection, Ralph Lauren and Burberry at fantastically reduced prices.

It is easy to see why Liverpool is quickly gaining the reputation as the Fashion Capital of the North!