A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I’m a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate. I’m really spoilt for choice here – but these are some of my favourites for the festive season

The items I have picked are my personal choices – I haven’t been paid to feature them.  

      PYJAMA SET, The Luxe Company, West Park.  £348

What?  £348?  What?  Yes.  It is a lot of money.  But they’re fabulous.  There’s a kimono jacket and there’s silk, lace and some transparency going on.  The pyjama bottoms are wide legged with a deep hem that gives them a good strong line and they hang well.   They’re flattering.  They’re made in Italy and inspired by renaissance Florence.  I would be delighted if someone bought them for me.  The Luxe Company have a great collection of classy lounge and sleep wear, and the shop stocks homewares too.  Highly recommended if you’re stuck for ideas.

LANTERN, Oxfam, Montpelier Parade. £8.99

Charity shops are great for ethically sourced and often unusual gifts.  I found this lovely lantern which just needs a tea light to add a bit of seasonal sparkle. It’s part of the ‘Sourced by Oxfam’ range – independent businesses, social enterprises or co-operatives that share the charity’s values.  This comes from Asha Handicrafts, who support artisans in India. You can get your fair trade Divine chocolate Christmas coins (obligatory in a Christmas stocking I believe) here too.

SHEEPSKIN LADIES SLIPPER, Westmorland Sheepskins, Montpelier Parade.  £69

Sheepskin slipper with a metallic gold trim anyone?  Yes I thought so.  These are from the Swedish (read very tasteful) Shepherd range.  There are plenty of other styles, and men’s slippers as well.  Nothing wrong with a pair of slippers, especially if they’re really good quality, super-tasteful ones, for Christmas.

 BAROQUE PEARL EARRINGS, India Mahon Jewellery, Montpelier Mews £396.

Wow.  These are just gorgeous. Baroque pearls – the ones which are irregular, non spherical and I think the most attractive – are very fashionable. These earrings are some of the best I’ve spotted on my shopping adventures.  They’ll look good with day or evening wear, whether you’re in jeans or a posh frock.  The store also carries jewellery in gold and silver with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires.  It also offers a custom design service using fairtrade gold.

Plus there’s a beautiful – fully colour co-ordinated –  golden retriever in the shop sometimes too, so its all-round well worth a visit.

VINTAGE CRAVATS AND SCARVES, Space Vintage, The Ginnel, £10

Don’t say you’ve never been tempted to a cravat.  Or, when all other options have been exhausted when you’re looking for something for a male loved one, to buy a cravat for someone else. Ironic or not, fancy dress or not, if you’re running out of Christmas gift ideas, I would have a rummage through.  It takes a certain amount of panache to carry one off, but maybe you, or a  a man in your life, can rise to the occasion.

CAP, Hats on Top, Station Parade. £19.50

A well dressed man, particularly of a certain age, often benefits from a cap.  This shop with its hundreds of hats for men and women, to suit all occasions, surely has ‘the one’.   This flat cap has nice country ‘Harrogate-y ‘ feel, but you could equally well go for one in corduroy, or even a Peaky Blinder, a Fedora or a Trilby.  Hats on Top also do bespoke.

MENS TRENCH COAT, Jaeger at Marks and Spencer, Cambridge Street, £279

Hurrah Jaeger have a concession in M & S. How Jaeger has been missed in Harrogate since it closed its doors in Cambridge Crescent earlier this year. Judging by a steady stream of quite excited fellow browsers I chatted to, this new strategy, of teaming up with established brands, might just help the troubled national treasure department store pull through.  I hope so.  There’s a good selection of women’s clothes, and I particularly liked this men’s trench coat.  It’s water resistant with a detachable gilet.  But its main attraction is its clean, simple, elegant lines.

THONG, Rigby and Peller, Station Bridge, £56

I’ve been a Rigby and Peller devotee ever since they sorted out my friend’s cleavage (madame was very ‘close set’ apparently). Equipped with a new top of the range bra she launched into a passionate affair, which turned into 20 plus happy years and several dogs together. Underwear might be a cliché for Christmas – but when it’s nice who cares?

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, Antique Market, Montpelier Mews. £10 each

For a 50s/60s kitch vibe (Christmas isn’t supposed to be tasteful so I think its okay) these are perfect.  My favourite is the bird, which still has its fibre tail intact.  I have one at home that belonged to my parents.  But minus the tail, so might be snapping this oe up myself.

Get down there quick and Happy Christmas Stray Ferreters.

Read More: 

• Getting your home ready for Christmas? These local businesses have what you need
• Christmas Events: diary of festivities in the Harrogate district

A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I’m a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate. This month, I’ve been looking at all the lovely things you can buy for children.

The items I have picked are my personal choices – I haven’t been paid to feature them.  

BRIDESMAIDS DRESS, Monsoon, St James St.  From £55.

This is understated and elegant, as these frocks go, in ivory with accents of pink in the waist sash and corsage.  And great value, especially if you have a whole bevvy of bridesmaids to kit out.

If you know a little girl who loves all things sparkly, she’ll find shoes, bags, party dresses, hair accessories and everything else in pastels, sequins and jewels here.  Plus Monsoon does a couple of really smart non-sparkly ‘Sunday best’ coats which take me back.  I believe it’s compulsory to complete that look with some patent shoes, which Monsoon can also supply you with.

QUILTED JACKET, JoJo Maman Bebe, Oxford Street. £32

Speaking of Sunday best, a young chap could do worse than sport this navy smart-casual number.  Sized from 6 months to 6 years – never a scruffy moment for the very young man about Harrogate.  Wouldn’t look out of place on a small royal, surely?  In fact, I think heir-but-three to the throne (and 49 on GQ’s list of ’50 Best Dressed Men in Britain’) Prince George of Cambridge might have worn this look, if not the garment itself.

You don’t need me to tell you that JoJo Maman Bebe is an upmarket, French-inspired chain.

Great swimming accessories and bathtime ranges too.

HAMISH HIGHLAND COWS, The White Company, St James St. £22

There’s a really strong selection of gifts for children to be had here – and the range is particularly good for babies and infants.  Plus, it being The White Company, they’re excellent quality.

Everything feels super soft, smells lovely and is very tasteful.  So if there’s a newborn to be celebrated or a little one to spoil, this is a good place to start.  Real cows, particularly ones with horns can be quite scary, especially to us city folk, but these are adorable.

PIRATE SHIP IN A TIN, Jespers, Oxford St. Around £12

There are loads of crafts, games, puzzles and art materials in Jespers to keep children creative – and happy.  The ‘gift in a tin’ range is fantastic: you can build a pirate ship or a fighter plane, press some flowers, sew a lama, or start your first garden. Great for gifts, or just for a long journey.

Plus, adults who have a ‘thing’ for stationary (eg me) can indulge their inner geek by browsing Jespers superb collection in the impressively refurbished store.

It’s been in Harrogate since 1901 and still has the feel of a lovely, loved, family firm.

VINTAGE BIRTHDAY CARDS, Space Vintage, The Ginnel. £2 each

I love the 50s/60s vibe of these cards, and the simpler, more innocent times they take you back to.   So what if the adults appreciate that more than the kids on the receiving end?  Buying vintage is much better for the planet – a consumerist version of recycling – so is a good thing.

Space Vintage also stock old Ladybird books and toys from times gone by.

DONKEYS, Maturi Bag and Baggage, Parliament Street.  prices vary, from about £18

Editor’s pick: “I love a donkey.  My sister and I had very similar ones, with the dark eyes and cute noses.  We loved them so much they went bald from excess handling in the end.”

What an interesting, old fashioned store.  Besides bags and baggage, Maturi also sells hundreds, maybe thousands of ‘collectable’ soft toys for children.  All the big names in teddies are here: Hermann, Aurora world, Jellycat plus many, many more.

But beware: an animal soft toy collecting habit is potentially very expensive as there are no end of them.  In this store alone, two full walls of the things.

DOLLS, Tiger Fifty7, Cold Bath Road.  £35 each

Just gorgeous and highly original, these are dolls to be kept, treasured and passed down the generations. From ‘RosieGirl London’, Rosie also makes a RuPaul Drag Race doll, Frida Kahlo, David Bowie, Vivienne Westwood, NHS workers, and Dolly Parton dolls (a one-off in the collection – she’s got boobs) that you can buy online. So perhaps RosieGirl is also on her way to becoming collectable.  She deserves to be.

Tiger Fifty7 is a fantastic independent shop if you’re looking for toys, clothes, gifts, for newborns to teens.  They will also sell your ‘pre-loved’ designer children’s wear for you.

BABY VEST, Sophie likes… Beulah Street. £15

Sophie (I presume) sells ‘quirky girly gifts’, including a nice selection for babies and children, including personalised jewellery.

My personal favourite though – what every baby needs – is a vest or bib celebrating their birthright and good luck at hailing from ‘god’s own country’. (Warning – disputed title of course.  See also: New Zealand, parts of the US and Zimbabwe, and the rest)

There’s also an ‘ey up’ and an ‘ow do’ vest and bib combo which would cover you if you’re generically northern, not exclusively Yorkshire.

That’s all from your secret shopping champion for now, but I’ll be back in December with a Christmas special.

A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I’m a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate. This month, I’ve been checking out menswear. Plus, the sales are on in lots of places, so get out there quick.

The items I have picked are my personal choices – I haven’t been paid to feature them.  

SUMMER SHIRT, OWL, Montpelier Gardens. £80 (reduced from £160)

Everything is half price in OWL: they’re moving so everything must go.  Come September they’ll be in their new premises at number 31 Montpelier Gardens, just round the corner.  Phew. This shirt   As well as plenty of mens’ clothes to choose from, they do some snazzy accessories – I also particularly liked the minimalist, black bags from the cult Tokyo label Indispensable.

Editor’s Choice: “My son loves this shop – it’s one of the best places to buy clothes and gifts for men in Harrogate. I wish them the best of luck in their new home.”

ORTIGIA GIFT SET, Hoopers, St James Street, £53.

Downstairs in the basement of Harrogate’s designer-led department store, there is a small but perfectly formed selection of men’s stuff – clothes, cufflinks, ties, Barbour bits and pieces and games.  This gift sets are not necessarily just for men – I suspect they may be strategically placed as a gift idea.  If you’re a man you could give them to someone else of course, or just enjoy them yourself.  Some of the packaging features manly animals and the scents are quite ‘masculine’ if you need the reassurance.  You get shower gel, soap, hand cream and a candle. And by the way, Ortigia products are vegan and aren’t tested on animals.

FJALLRAVN KANKEN KEB JACKET, Cotswold Outdoor, West Park. £275

No, I don’t know how to pronounce it either, but I like their gear.  You’ll recognize their backpacks, originally designed for Swedish schoolchildren to help prevent back problems, because they’re everywhere.  (For good reason: they’re probably the best backpacks ever).  Scandi design is their thing, and this jacket is made for hardy trekking in all weathers (it has a storm hood!).  So it’s extremely practical and very stylish too.   It’s got a bit of a parka / Liam Gallagher / swagger / vibe.  Tempting.

FRED PERRY GRIP BAG, G23, Cambridge Road £95

Staying with the swagger, you could do worse than rolling up at the gym or to a weekend away with this Fred Perry iconic grip bag.  G23 do lots of other classic casual labels – Levi’s, Carhartt, Hilfiger.  Smart.

Read More: 

• Secret Shopper:  gems to be found away from the high street
• Sneak Peek: the return of Ripon’s department store

VINTAGE SWISS WATCH, Space Vintage, The Ginnel.  £145.

By Montine. I love vintage watches. Gorgeous.

Space vintage also sells old cameras, cufflinks, ties and cravats, leather luggage, clothes, and old Beanos and Superman comics for all your manly needs.

GOLF SHOES, Ecco, St James Street. £200

Golf?  Really?  I was quite taken with these as a trainer / fashion type item.

But of course feel free to wear them to play golf as well.

RRD JEANS, Lynx, West Park.  £208

Trousers are hard to photograph and without seeing them on you don’t get the full effect. But trust me these jeans are very well cut, flattering and the fabric is – just, well – revolutionary.   It’s a stretchy, super light lycra, which works really well on these clothes.  RRD stands for Roberto Ricci Designs and his background is water sports. He’s taken surfing fabrics and slim cut style into everyday wear.  He’s also Italian and knows what looks good. Lynx also stock RRD chinos (not the sort you see advertised in the back of the Telegraph – RRD chinos are actually attractive) and shorts. Fortunately RRD do women’s clothes too so I might give them a try myself.

A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I’m a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate.

This month, I’ve been a bit further afield – just away from the high streets and a short walk out of the town centre.  Here’s a small selection from the amazing range of independent shops I found. I hope you can pay them a visit too.  Enjoy.

The items I have picked are my personal choices – I haven’t been paid to feature them.  

HG KIDS T-SHIRT, Tiger Fifty 7, 57 Cold Bath Road.  £24 – £34

Editor’s Choice: “These T-shirts promote Harrogate, kids, and mental health.  Three good things.”  Tiger Fifty 7 has joined forces with Wellspring Therapy and Training, a local charity based in Starbeck that provides much needed counselling for adults and young people – many of whom as we know have really struggled during the pandemic.  Wellspring clients are asked to pay what they can afford and the charge for those on income-related benefits is much reduced. The T-shirt comes in three designs and is available in sizes to fit toddlers to adults and  £10 from each sale goes to Wellspring.  Please support. https://wellspringtherapy.co.uk

You’ll also find gorgeous gifts, toys and clothing for newborns to teens as well as pre-loved kids’ high-end clothes.  And Tiger will help you sell your outgrown designer items via their website. Another good idea.  Oh yes and kids can play downstairs whilst you shop.

VINTAGE KIMONO, Catherine Smith Vintage, 57A Cold Bath Road. £125.

Editor: “Er, can I have two favourites?”  Well just this time.

Next door on Cold Bath Road, this is a seriously good vintage clothes shop.  The owner somehow sources major pieces, including my personal favourites – seventies labels like Ossie Clark (how does she do it? I presume it’s a trade secret) – but also designer staples like Hermes and Armani.  So you’ll find high end label garments in perfect condition (Armani tuxedo trouser suit for £245 anyone?) as well as more affordable nightwear, lovely summer dresses, silk scarves, jewellery, mens’ accessories and more.

A good selection of authentic Japanese vintage kimonos – short informal jackets traditionally worn over kimonos – caught my eye.  They would look great with jeans, and they’re perfect for a festival (if you can find one).

DUBARRY BOOTS, Brown Trout &Co, 26 Cold Bath Road. From £329

Not THE Dubarry boots that I’m confidently informed 80% of Harrogate women already have (the welly-shaped leather and suede mix ones), this slimmer fitting pair is from their ‘lifestyle’ range.

The Brown Trout is a treasure trove of all things country pursuits, particularly shooting and fishing related.  You can buy a pair of shooting socks (fringed, patterned, they go just beneath your shooting breeks and they’re a work of art), beautiful salmon flies tied in Yorkshire, or a session with a fly fishing or shooting tutor.  Gift cards available.

HORNSEA CORNROSE TEA AND COFFEE JARS, Bo’Grove Antiques and Vintage Emporium, 53 Grove Road.  £8 each

Hornsea Cornrose Pottery (one of the iconic designs from the family firm formerly based in Hornsea, in East Yorkshire), is collectable and these jars will sit well with the mid century furniture lots of us are going for now.  This is a good price.

As well as an antiques centre (there’s a selection of homewares, retro childrens’ toys and should you need them, vintage tools) you’ll also find a lovely café and a good range of plants for sale too.  Bo’Grove has recently expanded into town, with a greengrocers on Commercial Street and a vintage store and café on Oxford Street.  But don’t forget the original: Bo’Grove is an out of town gem well worth the visit.

THAI SILK COAT, Circa Vintage Boutique, 24 Regent Parade. £45

Staying vintage, this Thai silk coat is particularly gorgeous and perfectly tailored.  From the iconic label Siam Macha, its 100% silk and hand woven.  It is a size 8 though!  Already well known for their clothes, Circa have recently expanded their vintage bric a brac, homewares and furniture and added original contemporary homewares (candles, prints, giftcards etc) to their range, so they’re well worth a visit whether you’re buying for yourself or a lucky friend.

CONICAL BAG, Shine, 130 King’s Road.  £18.50

Shine is a great shop for gifts: with really reasonably priced, lovely jewellery, scarves and wraps and soaps and lotions, they also have a good selection of bags.  There’s an Italian soft leather range but they also do some really elegant synthetics for the vegan-inclined among us.  This ‘Conical Bag’ (which has a shoulder strap as well as a hand strap) looks very expensive, but it’s not.

Read More: 

• Secret Shopper: Harrogate homeware gifts and clever essentials
• Secret Shopper:  Bling, blouses and boxes from Harrogate’s independent stores

A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I’m a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate. This month, I’ve chosen a small selection from Harrogate’s home wares specialists that I hope you’ll like.  From the chains to the independents, from budget to bijou there are plenty of purchases to tempt you in town. 

The items I have picked are my personal choices – I haven’t been paid to feature them.  

POCKET BLUETOOTH SPEAKER, The Luxe Company, 20 West Park.  £49.99

Editor’s choice: “It’s quite retro and very stylish. This is a great shop for gifts – and there’s a lot in the store that’s very reasonably priced as well as high end treat purchases.”

The boss, as ever, is right.  I also spotted a lovely water carafe and glass (24.99) and an elegant range of white ribbed ceramics (£20 for a dinner plate) that won’t break the bank. In the back of the store there’s a beautiful selection of night and beach wear, plus some fancy (but still very tasteful) cashmere lounge gear that will break the bank. But that’s what shops like this are for, once in a while.  Luxe started out online-only, but they’re convinced the high street has a future and customers like looking and touching in a shop like this – so they opened their flagship store a couple of years ago. I’m glad they did.

Naturally hand crafted, the speaker comes in bamboo, walnut and cherry wood.  Handy for use around the house, for travelling of course, and for all the outdoor socialising to come this summer…

HOME OFFICE STORAGE, Paperchase, 40 St James St. From £6.

Working from home looks set to stay for many of us, at least for the forseeable future.

So if you’re operating a study/office in the spare bedroom this ‘Kraft’ range from Paperchase offers a tasteful (and affordable) way to keep the place organised.

There are boxes, box files, expanding files and concertina wallets, and they come in black, too.

PICQUOT WARE TEA AND COFFEE SET, Space, The Ginnel. £68

Not all covetable design is Scandi you know: this quintessential mid century must-have is English and dates from 1947.  Picquot ware was manufactured in a metal works that had made aircraft parts during the second world war and is made from a special aluminium alloy, ‘Magnailliuman’, that polishes up beautifully whilst retaining its vintage patina. The handles are sycamore.  Space has a really good range of mid century furniture (besides vintage clothes, bric a brac and great jewellery): I also spotted a nest of teak tables in perfect condition for £95 and a telephone table with integrated padded seat (remember them?) for £170.

I already have one of these Picquot sets and can vouch for its non-drip pouring, so at a very fair price, this one is yours for the taking.

QUEEN BEE VELVET CUSHION, Woods, 65/69 Station Parade £220

I know I know, it’s very expensive, so not for everyone and not an everyday purchase.  A focal point to a room maybe.  But it is really nice – what more can I say?

Woods of Harrogate is a five-generation family business that first opened as a fine linen store in Harrogate at the end of the 19^th century, so its clearly getting something very right. It’s since broadened its offer which now spans bathroom accessories, home fragrance, even children’s toys. And they’ll do your interior design, too.

RE-USABLE SANDWICH BAGS, Lakeland, 48 St James St. £9.99 for a pack of 8.

Definitely an everyday item, I was very happy to come across these. Lots of people will be used to shopping from Lakeland online, but for those really committed gadget-inclined shoppers amongst us, nothing satisfies like a find you make when you have a real life root round a shop.

These re-usable sandwich bags are freezer and dishwasher safe, and they’re free of all the bad stuff you’d get in lots of plastics: BPA, PVC, phthalates and latex. There’s a snack size, too. Next I’m tempted to a flan tin with a detachable perforated base – the way to finally prevent a soggy bottom? (£11.99 and wondrously named ‘PerfoBake’)

DINNER SET, ProCook, 7-11 Princes Street.

Everything for the serious cook is to be had here: from top of the range knives to a bean slicer you never knew you needed.

This ‘Oslo’ stoneware dinner set is £129 for 16 pieces.  It’s substantial yet still stylish and the grey will work well in lots of contemporary kitchens.  There are some elegant white bone china sets too, including the ‘Harrogate’ range which will have you overflowing with civic pride.  Plus, the staff at ProCook are really helpful: I bought a heavy cast iron casserole as a gift, and, since they didn’t have the colour I wanted in store, they ordered it from the warehouse and delivered it direct to my friend, for free.

Another triumph for Harrogate as it delivers, yet again, for your committed consumer champion.

A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I’m a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate. This month, I’m here to show you what’s caught my eye in Harrogate’s independent outlets. The high street is great. But alongside the big brands, what really makes a place special for shopping are the one-offs: local small businesses where you can really feel the love and passion for what they sell.  So give them a bit of love back and buy from them!.

The items I have picked are my personal choices – I have not been paid to feature them.  

EARRINGS, Boho Chic, West Park.  £35

Boho Chic has been sourcing clothes and accessories from across the globe since 2009.  It’s a small, friendly boutique and feels like a happy business. With a colourful range of spring, summer – and yes, even beach wear – it made me feel like summer might really happen.  And a big plus for me – they have lots of reasonably priced jewellery with pearly and other sparkly features.  These earrings caught my eye but I could have happily picked out plenty more.

PICNIC SET, Foxy Antiques and Interiors, Commercial Street £65.

All power to Commercial Street which is fast carving out an identity for itself as the destination for independent foody shopping (more on that another month).  It also is home to interiors specialist Foxy, which only opened in December (in the middle of the pandemic – full marks for bottle!).  This is a properly whacky place for when you need some taxidermy, a fiberglass ET, original art or some retro commercial signage.  I bought a set of 60s frosted glass tumblers (only £24) – so sadly for you, those are no longer available. But I was also tempted by the romance of a balmy picnic with this hamper. It has everything you’d need from lovely crockery to cutlery and a salt and pepper set:  just fill up with choice items from the food stores up the road.

BLOUSE, Porters, St James St  £75

This recent arrival to St James Street – next to Coopers – is classy with affordable as well as some higher end labels.  In womenswear, upstairs, they carry Scotch and Soda (a favourite line of mine) as well as some less established ranges.  Broderie Anglaise is big this year (which is good because its lovely) and this blouse is smart and summery.  There’s also a shirt dress version for £95 that I think would look stunning.  Menswear has been selected with a clever eye, with plenty of unstructured casual jackets, including some from Universal Works – pricey but definitely dapper.  Fashion conscious friends of mine have had to search this label out online, but you lucky Harrogate shoppers can try them on in your local high street independent.

LITERARY TRAVEL MUGS. John Atkinson Books, Royal Parade £20

Editor’s choice: “Surely no one wants to add to landfill by buying takeaway coffee cups?” asks the editor as I sheepishly admit to forgetting my travel cup (again).  These literary  mugs could be the answer, and they also say to the world “I’m a learned, well read fun type”, which I like doing. They would make great presents – as might the first editions sold by this dealer in fine and rare books.  If you had fifteen grand or so to spare for, say, a first issue Conan Doyle.  Maybe just stick to the Sherlock mugs then?  Book prices do start at under £99 but anyway, I loved just looking at these historic editions, many with beautiful period covers. Artworks, in fact. Being in their presence was enough.

STORAGE BASKETS, Westmorland, Montpelier Parade £20 and £16.50

Sheepskin specialists are not just for winter..  There’s many a beautiful warm slipper to be found here, but they also sell boots, accessories, gorgeous leather aprons for kids doing crafts, and homewares.  I particularly liked these storage boxes which are native to Yorkshire: from a range produced by a mother and daughter team whose family members worked in the rag trade in Ossett, West Yorkshire, recycling woolen cloth. Now the pair work with local mills to source environmentally sustainable fabrics.

SCARF / SUMMER WRAP, Dizzy Duck, Albert Street £14

More cheerful summer clothes to choose from here, but experience tells us it is always wise to have a cardie or at least a warm wrap on hand. Of course you could always use it as a scarf too – its extremely soft and I loved the velvet contrast ribbon trim.  And there’s another version with a rainbow edging.  Very reasonably priced so it might be tempting to buy both…

More next month!  Keep shopping and keep Harrogate great.

A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I am a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate. Just in case you don’t know how lucky you are to have this thriving town centre with its fabulous independents alongside the high street big names, I’m here to show you what’s caught my eye in the excitement of the first week of the stores reopening. The items I have picked are my personal choices – I have not been paid to feature them.  

WALKING BOOTS

Joules, James Street. £89.95

Let’s face it, after nearly three months of trudging through mud with one other person, our walking boots are completely knackered by over-use aren’t they? With lots more outdoor socializing on the agenda, spring walks will look even more tempting, and stylish, with these cute, lightweight, super comfy upgrades.

BACKPACK

Marks and Spencer, Cambridge Street. £39.50  

It’s tucked away in the menswear section upstairs – but this backpack is perfectly suitable for women too.  The rubberized finish is very cool as well as water repellent, and there’s a handy internal padded laptop compartment. My only complaint is that the Harrogate branch doesn’t stock the larger rucksack with a fold-over top in the same fabric, nor (that I can see) the range of rainwear jackets in the same material – also missing. This range is very fashionable and about a half to two thirds the price of a similar Scandinavian version which might have inspired it. Plus, from my extensive consumer research (ie going round the shops whenever I can), I know that there are other covetable items that M&S aren’t carrying in Harrogate, either. Why not M&S?

LAVADA SOAP

Hoopers, St James Street. £4.75

Editor’s choice: “The best soap in the world”, apparently.  Well, it’s an Italian, triple milled natural vegetal soap from Florence so she may well be on to something. As well as lavender they do an iris and a cedar scented version which is more masculine. Plus, it being Hoopers, there’s a whole table of other tempting soaps from this and other brands, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

PYJAMA SETS

Jigsaw, James St.  Short sleeve and shorts set £80, Long sleeve and long leg set £85

I love Toile De Jouy patterns on fabric, and blue on white is my favourite of all.  I’m immediately transported to 18th century country life: I can almost hear the harpsichord tinkling in the background. On closer inspection this particular print features punks with spiky clothes and Mohican haircuts and racing cars, which makes it even better.

STRIPEY TRAINERS AND BAG

Moda in Pelle, West Park.   Trainers £109.95,  Bag £89.95.

Strictly speaking you may not need any more trainers but the metallic rainbow stripes are just so cheerful.  The bag has an adjustable chain handle, two inner compartments, zip pocket and a phone holder. The fashion jury is out on the wisdom of full accessory co-ordination but if you want to – hell, why not?

MOTHER OF PEARL ART DECO EVENING BAG,

Antique Market, Montpelier Mews. £68.

Bear with me on this.  It’s a beautiful, glamorous piece of craftsmanship and history, in great condition, plus I reckon its big enough to fit your phone and bank cards in. Totally unique and a very fair price. I hope it soon finds a careful owner who will treasure it.

More next month!  Keep shopping and keep Harrogate great.

If you have seen something that might catch our Secret Shoppers eye please email the Stray Ferret on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and mark it for her attention. </strong