A UK perspective on the CATO fashion thread

[jeffreyrichards2015]

I mentioned in the thread started by Moonshadow on Cato fashion that I had done some research on UK retail outlets. I thought it best to post separately on my results.

I asked the same question - "Is it possible for me as a man to try on women's clothes in your store?"

This was a few years ago now but I received a very varied varied array of response. These were the answers:
--------

M&S - "We do not have a policy preventing men from trying on women's clothing in our stores. If you would like to do so, simply take your selected items to the men's changing rooms to try on, and the staff will be happy to assist. XX XX Retail Customer Services Your M&S Customer Service"

Debenhams - "We can confirm that Debenhams welcomes all customers to our stores, and we are happy to provide a service for everyone. If you wish to use our Dressing Rooms where we have individual cubicles, we would be happy for you to use the Female Dressing Room if presented as a woman, or the Male Dressing Rooms if presented as a man. Customer Advisor Debenhams Retail PLC."

John Lewis-

Apricot- "We are very happy for men to try on our clothing in our stores as long as it is done in a respectful manner. Several of our shop Managers have regular customers where this situation applies and we have had no problems. Thank you for your query and we look forward to seeing you in an Apricot store in the future. Kind Regards "

Austin Reed Group (Austin Reed, Country Casuals, Viyella) - "We are happy for you to buy and return in CC/Viyella stores, but as we have very small stores with small fitting room areas we would not be able to allow you to try on in store. Please do not hesitate to contact our customer service team on 01845 573120 if you require any further assistance." Kind Regards CC Customer Services Austin Reed/CC/Viyella"

Aurora fashions (Coast, Oasis & Warehouse)
Coast - "Response Via Email (XX XX) 20/05/2011 06.27 PM Please be advised if you call the store prior to your shopping trip a staff member will assist you with trying on any garments. Kind Regards."

Oasis - "Response Via Email () 22/05/2011 11.46 AM "Please be advised if you call the store prior to your shopping trip a staff member will assist you with trying on any garments."

Arcadia group -
Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Wallis.
Replied "21 May 2011 Ref: robertm1/588792. I can confirm that transgender customers are welcome in our stores. We have to bear in mind that some ladies prefer to be around other females when in the fitting room however we can always accommodate. If you let me know which store you would like to visit, I will call the Manager and let them know you will be going there. I look forward to hearing from you again. You may wish to reply to my personal email address which is michelle.roberts@arcadiagroup.co.uk. Yours sincerely Customer Service Team Leader

As long as you are dressed as a woman, you are able to use our female fitting rooms. However the Manager has told me today that there is in fact a large disabled fitting room in the store, which may be a bit more private for you to use. The policy is the same for all of our stores, you are welcome to use the fitting rooms if you are dressed as a female however wherever we can, we will try and me you as comfortable as possible during your visit.

H&M - "At H&M, we have no policy with regards to cross dressing, and our aim is to cater for all of our customers. Please feel free to use the male fitting rooms, regardless of what you are trying on. Alternatively, most of our stores have a unisex/disabled fitting room if you would like more privacy. If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us and a member of our team will help you further.
Kind regards, H&M Customer Services"

Hobbs - "With reference to your enquiry, Hobbs welcomes all customers. You may like to call your preferred store prior to your visit (http://www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1008), and book a Personal Shopper experience to help you put together the perfect outfits. Yours sincerely, HOBBS CUSTOMER SERVICES"

Jane Norman - "As we do not have a policy in place we would request that you visit your local store and speck to the manager on duty regarding this. If however you are unable to try the garments on but wish to purchase we are happy to refund full price or sale goods within 28 days of purchase."

Lipsy "Thank you for your email. Unfortunately as Lipsy is a 'ladies only' store, they only have 'ladies only' fitting rooms. Therefore you would be unable to try on the items you wish to buy. However, you may purchase the items and try them on at home and return them to the store if there are any issues."

Mango - Auto reply - not answered

New Look - "Our stores will have a policy in which a male can try on the ladies clothing, may I suggest that you contact your local New Look store and speak with the manager to find out their policy for this. New Look Customer Services"
-------------

[melsav]

Looking at your survey most of the stores do not have a problem with guys trying on female clothes. But did notice that a some of the store's assumed that you were transgender

[moonshadow]

I notice some of the stores have men's dressing rooms that obviously there wouldn't be a problem in using. Actually, it would be rather moot to say "you can't use the men's or women's room to try the outfit, but feel free to buy it, try it at home and bring it back if you don't like it".

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like only two flat out said "no".

A good percentage all around. Best of luck to you all across the pond!

[renesm1]

I'd guess that at the hold-out stores, the clothes are so tiny that most men would struggle to put them on at all!!

[Milfmog]

To add to the UK information, based on personal experience. I have tried on skirts in store in all the following:

Marks and Spencers (at least three different branches)
Primark
John Lewis
Matalan
Fat face
White Stuff
BHS
Evans
House of Fraser
Debenhams

I have not experienced any issues, sidelong glances or even observable smirks. The closest I had to refusals were at:

* John Lewis, where the sales girl asked her boss if I should use the fitting room on the floor I was on or go down to the menswear level two floors down (no need to leave the floor).

* Primark where the fitting rooms run from a single corridor going left for females and right for males. The slight hesitation was because all the mens fitting rooms were in use by women because the store was busy. The girl at the entrance hesitated and then said "So long as you don't mind women using the cubicles from the same corridor, I can't see any reason why you should have to wait"

Have fun,


Ian.

[renesm1]

Not sure if I'd want to use the female changing room as I was born male and identify as such. But it is great that we can try on skirts/dresses in the UK without too much bother.

I'm going to Oxford Street tomorrow to see if my experience tallies with what has been written here.

[STEVIE]

I reckon this goes largely with my own experience.
Add "Next" to the list, my first in-store try on was there, no problem.
Take the gear to Male, side, they don't care, it's a SALE!
Now, somebody correct me here. I seem to remember an exclusion from UK sex discrimination rules.
This meant that only same gender shop assistants worked in the appropriate changing areas. I presume this still stands?
If so, I think it reasonable for the "customer" to observe a similar protocol. For the purposes of the "Cafe", I would presume a masculine presentation.
If that means taking the thing home and returning it later or going elsewhere, so be it.
That's life!
Steve.
P.S. I have only tried on a new skirt in a shop when I already had a skirt on, that helps, believe it or not!