Palmers

There are knickers on balloons in Palmers' window display. This is not a new occurrence. There have been knickers on balloons in there since at least May last year, where I believe it all began with lace-edged Sloggis in turquoise, pink and peach. Walking around the store this week, I start to get it. The message coming across seems very definitely to be: "these clothes are all fab - let's celebrate and enjoy!" Even the knickers? Apparently so.

On arrival, I was greeted with smiles all round, and from the manager Giselle, the word "welcome". My visit, as it happens, turned out to be one of the most relaxed and fun experiences I have ever had in a shop that stocks names such as Windsmoor, Gerry Weber and First Avenue.

Casually elegant - the ground floor fashions dept

Upstairs there are beautifully cut classic clothes. And on the ground floor are the younger ranges. I browsed them at my leisure and found it is astonishingly easy to put together coordinating items, even across the ranges. Holding a soft, low necked sweater against myself, I found that a mental image of a casually elegant me had materialised, and that this would be totally perfect for her.

Not that I'm not casually elegant already, you understand ;-)

Moving swiftly (and gracefully) downstairs, I found footwear, and homed straight in on a pair of black lace-up boots with a small heel, of a type I have been looking for without luck, for ages. This puts Palmers firmly on my map for future shoe shopping trips.

There are bags, too - beautiful ones, accessories, watches, tights, travel bags and chic luggage sets, and two very friendly assistants with whom I had an entertaining chat about pashminas and what sort of occasion you might wear one to ...

Fragrances and cosmetics

As well as fashions, accessories and lingerie, Palmers' Buttermarket store also stocks cosmetics and perfumes, which is, as their website says, "almost everything you need for a complete make-over." Indeed it is, and there's plenty of help available - a professional bra fitting service, fashion advice, and expert attention from trained staff with cosmetics and skincare products. I have to say that putting a new look together from all the fantastic ranges Palmers brings us, in its own very stylish and special way, would probably be quite easy. As well as a lot of fun.

Palmers' Homestore

In fact it's all a bit of a girls' paradise. I love gorgeous bits and pieces for the house, could probably comfort buy them in quantity, and Palmers' Homestore on St Andrew's Street South is full of them - as well as plenty of giftware too. There's everything here you'd need to entertain guests at home, from canteens of cutlery, to funky little swirly glasses - see the photo on the bottom right below!

The kitchenware department is the perfect place to pick up the latest gadgets you might have seen celebrity chefs using on TV. Everything you need for cooking, baking and storing food. Even those ... erm ... thingummies you put in drawers to store knives and forks in, made in a solid material and with pretty patterns on, instead of the usual boring plastic kind. I could do with a crumb extractor for my own kitchen drawer, but didn't notice one of those ...

Anything for the bedroom and bathroom? Yes - it's all upstairs - linens for the bedroom, bathroom and dining room, towels, curtains and cushions! And if you're feeling tired by now, you might also like to visit The Coffee Stop for a cappucino and slice of home made gateau. Or choose from the delicious selection of luncheon fare. Mine will be the toasted ham and cheese croque monsieur topped with bechamel sauce and melty cheese. The smoked salmon panini look nice too, and so do those cakes!

Deliciousness at the CoffeeStop

Palmers is fab. Happy shopping everyone.

Palmers Fashion Store, Buttermarket, Bury St Edmunds, Tel: (01284) 753388.
Palmers Homestore, St Andrew's Street South, Bury St Edmunds, Tel: (01284) 764000.