Prince Harry’s baggy shirts and jeans circa 2013 all make sense – he’s a TK Maxx fan

Prince Harry’s baggy shirts and jeans circa 2013 all make sense – he’s a TK Maxx fan

Before sporting a more polished look featuring luxury brands, Harry took a more everyman approach to fashion

 Prince Harry revealed in his memoir that he used to shop for 'everyday casual clothes' at the designer discount chain.

In London’s Kensington High Street branch of TK Maxx there are only two men browsing on the menswear floor. It’s just days after Prince Harry revealed in his memoir Spare that he used to shop for “everyday casual clothes” at the designer discount chain. Similar to Harry’s “system” which he explains in his book, both are “working up one rack and down another,” before standing in front of a mirror holding sweaters and jeans up against their bodies rather than using the changing rooms.

Maybe the royal is on to something?

Before moving to California and sporting a more polished look featuring luxury brands such as suits from Celine and Brioni, Harry took a more everyman approach to fashion. “Nice and comfortable,” is how he sums it up in his book.

The designer discount giant offers shopping at its most fundamental level. It describes its stores as “no frills”. Clothing is simply divided into categories such as tops.

The retailer manages to keep its prices low, up to 60% less than the recommended retail price, by buying current and past season stock from manufacturers that have produced too much and department stores that have overbought.

It's more likely Harry took a Supermarket Sweep approach, limiting the amount of time spent trawling through an endless mass of clothing with pieces crammed together.

Items and brands vary from store to store.

But in the menswear department at the Kensington High Street shop, Harry’s local branch, there are rails and rails of Ben Sherman checked shirts (GBP27.99), Tommy Hilfiger jeans (GBP49.99) and polo shirts from Gant (GBP39.99). Harry’s poorly fitting shirts and baggy jeans circa 2013 suddenly all make sense. There’s even a whole rack of his favourite woven belts.

A staff member confirms there are no stock rooms and they never know what items are coming in.

Instead, they receive a weekly delivery on a Sunday (some stores get daily) of stock which they place directly from the lorry on to the shop floor.

All shelving is on wheels so managers can alter the layout of the store to suit the ever changing roster.

Zawe Ashton: I’ve tried therapy and booze, but nothing helps as much as TK Maxx
Read more

Harry says he shopped 15 minutes before closing time. Staff say the only time the store is really busy is during the Christmas period, describing it as “madness”. It’s more likely Harry took a Supermarket Sweep approach, limiting the amount of time spent trawling through an endless mass of clothing with pieces crammed together.

Harry also claims that he was “particularly fond of their once-a-year sale”, a quote that has gone viral with many questioning if he actually understands how the discount store works.

A spokesperson for TK Maxx says: “Whilst we’re delighted Prince Harry is a big fan, we thought we should explain we don’t actually do sales.

Instead, we offer great value, style, and savings all year round.”

In his defence near the men’s changing rooms at Kensington High Street, there is a clearance section with yellow priced stickers offering even greater discounts. Think a Ben Sherman cord shirt for GBP18 and cargo Folk trousers for GBP24.99. Very on brand for the prince’s late noughties era.

The store’s staff confirm they have never actually seen Harry or any other royals.

However, “the Love Island crew” are regulars and they are excited to tell me they spotted the musician Stormzy a couple of weeks ago.

Stemming from the US where it’s known as TJ rather than TK, the first British TK Maxx opened in Bristol in 1994.

Ushering in a new way of shopping for designer pieces, there are now 352 standalone stores with almost half located in retail parks.

The sixth largest fashion group in the UK, in September it reported a turnover of GBP2.1bn, compared to GBP1.3bn in 2021.

The chain has garnered somewhat of a cult following over the years especially among the fashion crowd and no doubt Harry’s comments will fuel further interest.

The stylist Joseph Parker runs the Instagram account tkfashun where he highlights the best weekly finds in the Oxford Street branch.

Meanwhile, insiders say that the Ealing shop in west London is best for Vivienne Westwood while there’s always plenty of Marc Jacobs at the Fort Shopping Park branch in Manchester.

Topics

Reuse this content

canva listed on couponmatrix.ukcolumbia listed on couponmatrix.ukcrabtree-and-evelyn listed on couponmatrix.ukhappy-socks listed on couponmatrix.ukpublic-desire listed on couponmatrix.ukwagamama listed on couponmatrix.uk
canva listed on couponmatrix.ukBoth professional and amateur designers alike will have their hands full with Canva, the online design and publishing tool designed to turn great ideas into magnificent prints, media posts and memorabilia. Bring along a Canva discount code and you can secure a subscription that will bring your best concepts to life for a fraction of the normal price. Whether you’re beginning your own start-up, rebranding your business or just want some wacky custom printed t-shirts, there’s fun and success to be shared in equal measure with Canva.
columbia listed on couponmatrix.ukThere ain’t no mountain high enough for Columbia to conquer. As experts in providing quality clothing, footwear and accessories for outdoor enthusiasts worldwide, all an avid traveller needs to see new sights without breaking the bank is the latest Columbia discount code from Groupon. Be it for a family trek around The Lake District or a private endeavour up peaks abroad, know that you can trust Columbia clothing to help you go the distance.
crabtree-and-evelyn listed on couponmatrix.ukIf you’re searching for sumptuous soaps and fragrances, ones that you’ll relish over and over again but that won’t break the bank, the quest ends with Crabtree and Evelyn. Grab a Crabtree and Evelyn discount code and start shopping today to tap into a wonderful world of luxury products. With more than 60 years in the business, Crabtree and Evelyn have made a habit of creating gorgeous, luxuriant products that its customers really love.
happy-socks listed on couponmatrix.ukThanks to Happy Socks, dull, black, grey and white socks are now banished to the drawer of history - replaced by endless varieties of fun, vibrant, stylish and colourful designs. That means you'll be wanting to shop for socks more often, so you'll need our Happy Socks discount code to make sure you aren't forced to choose between your favourites. There are socks for ladies, gents, kids and even limited edition products to enjoy - so get ready to inject some serious style into your sock collection, and keep your feet looking fabulous at all times.
public-desire listed on couponmatrix.ukAmp up your style with Public Desire, the hottest online footwear brand created for fashion-forward girls on a budget. Pick out your favourite pair with an exclusive Public Desire discount code and fix up your feet for less. Whether you’re looking for a wear-with-anything pair of ankle boots or a stylish set of stilettos for your next night out, Public Desire’s got your look 100% sorted.
wagamama listed on couponmatrix.ukDig into a sizzling dish of delicious ingredients from Wagamama, the Japanese restaurant chain with an eye to delight. From broth-filled bowls of ramen to chicken katsu curry, you choose the mouth-watering meal you’d most like to eat for less with the help of our latest Wagamama discount code. With the option to eat-in, takeaway or even have their dishes delivered right to your door, you’re free to enjoy your Wagamama meal exactly where and how you like it.