Laura Ashley

Laura Ashley is probably my mother’s favorite store. Everything here — the kitchenware, the photo frames, the furniture — is very floral, very cream, very pastel. Stuff like this is right up my mother’s alley, and it’s hard to tear her away once she’s inside!
When I was younger, my mother bought my bed sheets, blanket covers and pillow covers here. The theme was little ballerinas, and the covers had tiny ballerinas with their even tinier tutus dancing in a pretty pink expanse. I had a cushion cover to go with it, and I still have that, actually! Their bed stuff (I can’t think of the word for it at the moment!) is all really cute and girly — they all have adorable prints that every little girl would love, like sweet little daisies and embroidered hearts. There are sets for boys too with themes like cars and football!
The home décor here is gorgeous too — we have quite a couple of photo frames from Laura Ashley, and have gifted them to friends. The little things like coasters, lids for mugs and candle holders are all so pretty and daintily designed that just admiring them in the shop is fun. My mother’s been eyeing this gorgeous cream-​colored lampshade with a little bit of lace and embroidery going around it for the longest time. But unfortunately, we don’t have a lamp that would fit that lampshade… But maybe someday!
Laura Ashley also does clothes, but to be honest, I don’t think they’re very nice. They’re all kind of shapeless and look a little too old-​fashioned. I do remember my aunt buying a too here a couple years back that looked pretty good, but that’s about it — neither my mother not I go for the clothes’ section when we’re here!
Everything at Laura Ashley is so pretty, but also quite expensive. While I often see huge sale signs on the store windows, the discounts are never very significant — fifteen percent off at best. Overall, this is a great place to look around in if you’re a fan of these kind of dainty, floral and not at all over-​the-​top patterns. Do watch that wallet though, because nothing really comes cheap here!