'It's a fashion editor's dream' – inside Coggles' new Alderley Edge boutique

Boutiques like this are rare in Greater Manchester these days; one with extremely well curated designer fashions and so unashamedly fancy you half expect to find Anna Wintour loitering behind the cash desk. Indeed, the new Coggles boutique at Alderley Edge is just that: a fashion editor’s dream. 

In fact, on first visit we noticed Coggles have called in the Ganni ‘pink passion’ leather jacket that caused the fashion press to come over all lusty-eyed. This boutique knows its trend pieces. Kudos. 

But Coggles has been curating designer collections since 1974. Founded by Victoria Bage in York, the story goes that she caught her husband having an affair with his secretary. She promptly divorced him and named the store after the secretary 'Sarah Coggles' to remind him of the mistake he had made. It’s so scornful it’s delicious.

But that was then.

Today, Coggles has made a gallant return back to bricks and mortar after being swept up by The Hut Group. After a few years selling solely online, the new bosses chose to set up the premium boutique in affluent Alderley Edge as a safe bet. They’ve transformed a former bank on London Road and taken full advantage of the old vaults, it's emptied of money and now filled with the designer shoe value equivalent. 

Coggles is about slow fashion, investment pieces and designer craftsmanship

The boutique sees both designer menswear and womenswear living side-by-side - we’re talking Kenzo to Isabel Marant to Maison Margiela, here. We learned they’ve even sourced collectible trainers once seen on Kanye West (they’re trainers only Kanye West could love) and have an upcoming shipment of new Margiela pieces that will excite the most knowledgeable of label lovers. In a former storeroom, there’s a dedicated interiors section, filled with luxury candles and avant-garde living fixtures. You can also peruse premium beauty products like Aesop and Eve Lom. If it’s top quality, Coggles stock it.

Unsurprisingly, this is expensive. Footballer favourites such as Buscemi trainers (with 18K gold locks) can cost between £700 and £1000. We could barely find much clothing under the £200 mark, but if you were looking for affordability you wouldn’t be cruising around the Cheshire triangle. 

Coggles is about slow fashion, investment pieces and designer craftsmanship – purchased to last more than one fashion season. In terms of style, Coggles is a modern store and can be both trendy and timeless with a happy balance between luxe urbanwear and high-fashion glamour.

It's refreshing to see Coggles with a physical presence again

After a few years spent competing with other luxury online retailers such as Netaporter and Matches, it’s refreshing to see Coggles with a physical presence again. It marks what some property execs are calling ‘showrooming’ where online fashion stores are ‘increasingly turning to physical stores to bolster sales and reinforce customer loyalty’. With this in mind, Coggles also want to reconnect with its customer base and is offering a VIP service, including private fittings (with a secret entrance for high calibre customers).

Despite all the designer labels and grandeur, Coggles manages not to feel pretentious or intimidating. Open, airy and attractive, the store is designed to be inviting and its customers are welcome to try on clothes (even if you're simply fantasising).